The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-28
A Definition TO Be Memorized while
Waiting for the Turkey.

To THE EDITOR OF THE suN-sir: In
reply to "Inqulrer's" letter OF recent
date. in which he expressed q desire to
know more about the meaning of IDEAL
ism as metaphysical doctrine It may
be remarked that the FIRST thing to be
considered in that connection Is the radi-
cal difference between the point OF view
Of the metaphysician and that OF the
layman. The antecedents OF his think
ing and the angularity OF his outlook
are different. Indeed. the metaphysi-
clans mind invariably seeks the causes
OF appearances, the ultimate bases of
phenomena: while tho layman Is salts
6ed with solid objectivity' and Is con-
tent to accept the temporary limitations
which II imposes.
Such radical divergences both in the
sphere Of interests and in that Of con-
capitalization must necessarily mark of
the mental domain Of the metaphysician
from that OF the layman by barriers
which clearly distinguish the one from
the other. Primarily. then. in order
that any one may Judge adequately of
the consistency or verify OF metaphysi-
ral conclusions, he must first assume
the mental attitudes, viewpoints and
intellectual tendencies OF the metaphysi-
clan. In other words. there must be a
complete metamorphosis OF intellectual
habiliments not that the layman Is in
capable Of understanding metaphysical
truths plainly stated. but because meta
physical doctrines. dealing with uncon-
mon truths from uncommon standpoints,
require of those unaccustomed to the
thought reaches which they entail a re-
adjustment Of mental focus. the assump-
ton OF new mental angles OF conception.
Secondly, the other difficulties which
are by no means inccnsequentlal inhere
In the definition Of terms. The confu-
sion OF all those who run aground on
me rock ribbed coasts OF metaphysical
conceptions would he obviated once FOR
all II II were remembered that the
definition Is the basis and the determine
ing factor whose characteristics run
throughout the entire series Of deduc-
tons involved in any given inquiry. al
ways demanding a consistent loyalty to
It's original purpose.
Now IA TO the question Of idealism
involved In the assertion: Nothing Is
cal or has existence except ideas" the
eSnla nation rests obviously upon the
definition of idealism Itself Therefore,
II we accept the netaphysician's concep.
ton OF this doctrine-that everything
has an ideal nature and that this ideal
nature Is eternal and Interchangeable: that
so-called things are In fact processes of
becoming having as their limits the
eternal idea'ity IN accordance with which
they are becoming: that the process OF
becoming is constituted of nm infinite
series OF instantaneous appearances no
ane Of which can he said To he the rom
plete process or the so-called ching.
cur difficulty will vanish. The meta
physical view IL that the complete Ill
tegrlty Of things can be Viewed only as
an ideal representation: for clearly q
thing" IN process Of becoming can In
nc wise he identified with a single phase
" It's becoming. Hence. the only real ex-
lstence which a thing can be said to have
from the viewpoint Of the metaphysician
IA its ideal existence which is regarded
as complete and perfect In the highest
sense or these terms. For we must
either regard Il as the completed product
NJ the process of becoming or as an
| idealization. The metaphyslcian quite
logically chooses the latter.
Idealism ia. then. that metaphysical
doctrine which emphasizes the ideal ma
ture of things In contradistinction ~
their phenomenal or sensible nature.
which II regards as a mere temporary
aspect OF the process OF becoming, En-
istence implies eternal duration. the
multiple appearances which. in point Of
duration. are but instantaneous expos
ures constitute the INFINITE series which
make up tho duration aspect OF things
In general.
In view OF tho foregoing Il may be
seen how the metaphysician. according
TO his definition. may be consistent In
his regard for matter, since his mental
focus Is keyed for the ideal substruc-
ture Of that which appears as matter at
one time and as different quantity
| at another tlme The fault, dear In
Quirer, is not In the mstaphyslclan but
in ourselves. 'if you get whnt ] mean
NJ HANARANpA.
NEW YORK, November 81.