The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-05

with more dignity, but still less cheer
! fulness. there Is a sort of fraternity o,
dull despair, which unitcs in its rami-
| fications the entire world" NJ Finot's
diagnosis, sensible enough in the main.
runs into some amusing cAaggerati ions.
as in his account Of the snobbish wor-
ship Of wealth, which he fails to analyze
correctly only by the attribution OF one
quality which II does not possess: uni.
versatility. Must we teach contempt for
wealth." the philosopher asks: and an
swers his own query: mo. the aboli-
ton of its excessive worship will SUI.
fee" And so 1t Is with any number OF
other bad" things: not the thing bu,
the abuse Of it must be attacked. II is
not the world lf..t Is wrong. but the
people who live in It: and unhappiness
comes out Of conflict between the inter-
ests and desires Of individuals. There
fore let ,is write rules for happiness:
let us define and prescribe a happiness
that shall fifty combine the esoteric In
dividual life with the outward relations
to other peoples lives. to the life of the
community: let us make science Of
happiness"
To do that you will have to harmonizc
tho two ways OF looking at life: the sci
entific way and the religious way. When
science was purely material and reig-
ion harshly dogmatic their "reconcilia-
ton" made much trouble. NJ. Flnot says
they are not reconcilable; one Is the
product OF feeling. the other of intclll-
gence. They are exclusive, Independent:
but not In conflict. And he thinks that
science IL tending to recognize some
thing like personality back OF the me
emerge from the despotlsm of dogma.
Religions based on creeds. will give WY
to righteousness, "a quality Of conscious
ness"
OF course. NJ FIuot does not stat.
these things SO abruptly: his theories
do not appear on the stage nude AMI
unadorned He does not like William
James: James tried to reconcile Sci
ence and religion by making religion
science: but religious experience is
always individual. and If made objective
it must be naturally imposed upon all.
as scientific fact is. So for the French
man the philosophy of James reduces
to a "quasi-scientlfc varnish." But n
religion and science are matters OF
knowledge and belief, is not happiness
located in n third territory, a state Of
being? Is that material for a science
any more than religion IS?
Constructively. NJ. Finot breaches ~
romantic lingo the classic theme of hap
piness attainablc through goodness:
the affections as sources of happiness
love, friendship. family ties, patriotism,
humanity: the healthiness of active liv-
ing, and the power Of faith. Finally
his long sermon narrows down to q
plea for the teaching of happiness
which. by the definition earlier pro-
pounded Of happiness, means simply the
teaching of morality. Happiness mus,
be taught as we teach grammar or
foreign language"
The science Of happiness chiefly prove.
that the real happiness Of the individual =
Joined with that OF society. Personal han.
piness Is never In conflict with social hai-
piness so long as 1t allows itself to
guided by the true valu. OF the princip'.s
OF life. II Is the conventional corrcptioI,
elaborated through tho centuries. reHar J.
ing wealth, envy. the pleasures or the d',..-
ination Of men. which makes US seek obiec's
contrary 20 social prosperity. The contra.
d!ctions between individual and
social happiness are only apparent
chiefly due to superannuat-d education
whose conventional foundations have u,t
changed for Thousands OF wears
L Hf CURRICULUM All SlUu!eS must tenn
toward the liberation and development
of tho WILL education must he relieved
OF its present infection of desire to appear
instead of to be- The great teacher - |
be he who has conquered envy and .un
impart the knowledge how to combat L.
Young minds will be taught not con-
tempt for wealth but a sensible cumpr,-
hension of its merits. Courses in good
ness will be established. Experience
will nor be exalted as a teacher. 81 ship
captain does not learn his profession n
a series of shipwreCks" Tho viii to bo
happy must be developed. Tho ~
counts OF life" must be balanced dq o..
Avoid anger. he Il man. he full uf aiio,-
ton. work always. he always GORGEOUS:
these are the lessons. Impressive a~
catalogue Of the treasures of Vir'dr. this
seems 10 lack something III tho definite
specification necessary "a make useful
an educational programme: an extra
utopian millennium.
Not Yet have the "new" moraltsrs
succeeded in raising themselves y, t',.
bootstraps.
ANOTLED ACTDEcS 'rITD<>