PHILOSOPHY AND LOGIC.

We are thankful that we have one publishing house in this country, that has discernment and taste enough to give us publications of so elevated a character as the works of Professor Butler. Of his sermons we have already spoken. For the Lectures on Ancient Philosophy,* we cannot express our admiration in too ardent terms. They are unmatched in our language, and, we think, in any language for the treatinent of their theme. The Author is the farthest possible from viewing the speculations of the ancient Philosophers as a series of unexplained and inexplicable vagaries-a succession of monstrous phantasmagoria-the study of which is a kind of necessity to every person whose education is not wholly neglected. He expects to find a rational explanation of the grossest errors and the most extravagant theories. In the various phases of thought which were exhibited, he finds the natural movements. of the human intellect-intellects like our own-grappling with the same problems with which we are ever wrestling. The errors into which they were tempted are the same to which we are constantly exposed. The vague imaginations, the gross materialism, or the hopeless scepticism to which they yielded, are the same seductive tempters which beset the modern inquirer, though in different guise. The man who cannot penetrate the outward shell of words and phrases and doctrines, into the very kernel of ancient thought, who cannot clearly bring out the real subject matter and show its relation to modern inquiries, can neither find nor impart interest in the study of ancient Philosophy. To have done this is one merit of Professor Butler. We do not say it is his peculiar merit. The later and better German historians of Philosophy have done the same. It is their glory to have led the way, not only in restoring to modern eyes the private, social and public life of the ancients, but also in comprehending the drift and meaning of their philosophical speculations. They have doubtless greater exactness of erudition and patience of investigation than our Author. We are quite sure they fall below him in the gifts of lively illustration and of forcible and eloquent exposition. No discussion of the system of Plato

* Lectures on the History of Ancient Philosophy. By WILLIAM ARCHER BUTLER, M. A., Late Professor of Moral Philosophy in the University of Dublin. Edited from the Author's MSS., with Notes, by WILLIAM HEPWORTH THOMPSON, M. A., Fellow of Trinity College and Regius Professor of Greek in the University of Cambridge. In two Volumes. Philadelphia: Parry & McMillan. 1857. 8vo. pp. 436 and 415. Price $3.00.

can compare with his, for the union of exact knowledge, and clear conceptions, of a glowing yet subdued eloquence, and an affectionate and almost personal regard for the Divine Philosopher. For English readers and English students, none can be substituted for this, inasmuch as he addresses his audience from the English point of view, and gathers his examples, illustrations and proofs, from sources which will be fully and warmly appreciated by the English mind.

The seven Introductory Lectures, are a bold and eloquent vindication of Psychological and Philosophical studies, which are quite unsurpassed by anything in English Literature, for felicity of illustration and fire of eloquence. As an argument to English prejudices, fortified by the misinterpreted authority of Lord Bacon, it is ingenious and overpowering. For the scientific student who is thoroughly convinced, it might seem needlessly protracted and diffuse; but for the beginner who needs both to be convinced and excited, it is worthy of all praise, and constitutes a most valuable addition to our Philosophical Literature.

We need scarcely add that Prof. Butler is an earnest Christian, and decidedly a Christian philosopher. He views all speculations with a Christian faith, not mingling his faith and science incongruously together, but conducting his inquiries with a Christian sobriety and love of truth, and judging of all these peculations by the service which they render to the verities of the Christian Revelation.

We predict for these volumes a wide circulation among the numerous students of Philosophy in our country, and a permanent place in our standard Literature.

The work of Prof. Haven on Mental Philosophy,* recently published by Messrs. Gould & Lincoln, is in its form the best of the several textbooks on Mental Philosophy which have been recently offered to the American public. It is more methodical in its structure and complete in the topics discussed. The parts are better proportioned to each other the survey of the mind is more comprehensive-the transitions from one part to another are more natural, and the symmetry of the whole is more complete. The style of the Author is clear and felicitous -his sentences are well-shaped for philosophical writing, and his phrases and illustrations are fitted to sustain and quicken the interest of the reader, and especially of the elementary student. The author has aimed

* Mental Philosophy; including the Intellect, Sensibilities, and Will. By JOSEPH HAVEN, Professor of Intellectual and Moral Philosophy in Amherst College. Boston: Gould & Lincoln. 1857. 12mo. pp. 590.

to think for himself and to recast-certainly to reexpress the materials, which he has gathered from his own reading.

In respect to correctness of thought, and exactness of statement, we have noticed important deficiencies. We offer a single critical remark, which is all our space will allow. The Author gives far too limited a definition of the Presentative power. He says, page 32, "Its distinction is to present to the mind, through the senses, objects external, sensible, as now and here present." Again he defines it, p. 59, to be "the power of cognizing external objects through the senses." He limits this power, from first to last, to Sense Perception. In doing so, he departs from the usage of Hamilton, and fails to give due prominence to a most important class of mental phenomena. That he departs from the usage of Hamilton, will be evident from the following, which we quote from the Notes on Reid, p. 809: "External Perception, or Perception simply, is the faculty presentative or intuitive of the phenomena of the Non-Ego, or Matter-Internal Perception, or Self-Consciousness, is the faculty presentative or intuitive of the phenomena of the Ego, or Mind." Again, p. 810, "Consciousness is a knowledge of what is now and here present to the mind. It is therefore only intuitive, and its objects exclusively presentative." We must confess our surprise, that with the liberal use which Prof. Haven has made of Hamilton's opinions, and the proper deference which he feels for his authority, he should have committed this oversight. The distinction does not, however, rest upon the authority of Hamilton alone. The German psychologists, from whom Hamilton adopted it, (not the name but the conception,) uniformly apply the equivalents intuitive and intuitions, to the direct. apprehension of mental operations, and phenomena, as well as to the cognition of sense or material objects. We have earlier authority for the same distinction, and that is John Locke, who says, B. II, Chap. 1, § 4, "The other Fountain from which experience furnishes the understanding with Ideas, is the Perception of the operations of our own minds within us,-which operations do furnish the understanding with another set of Ideas, which could not be had from things without; and such are Perception, Thinking, Doubting, Believing, Reasoning, Knowing, Willing-which we being conscious of, and observing in ourselves, do from these receive into our understandings as distinct ideas, as we do from bodies affecting our senses."

We are induced to protest against this oversight chiefly, because it has led Prof. Haven to overlook the importance and reach of the power itself, and to leave, comparatively, out of sight, the most impor

tant source of our knowledge. The direct tendency of this oversight is to carry psychology back to where it stood before Des Cartes. Prof. Haven is happily somewhat inconsistent with his own definition, for on p. 60, he does recognize the fact that in Perception there is a subjective as well as an objective element. But strangely enough, he limits the subjective element in this case to the affection of the "sentient organism," and does not at all recognize the fact that the mind cognizes its own activity, as distinguished from the object of perception. His second thoughts do not lead him to ask whether the mind has not a presentative knowledge of the mental operation involved in Perception It may be said also, that in his analysis of consciousness, he also substantially recognizes the power and its results which we deem so important. He does, indeed, but this only increases our surprise, that he could have overlooked them in his formal definition, and should have followed the lead of this incomplete definition in his entire work, so as seriously to vitiate the scientific excellence, and greatly to injure the practical value of his treatment of the mind. Thus he defines the Representative Power, "as the faculty of conceiving of them, [viz, external objects,] in their absence, and representing them to itself." p. 32. Hamilton says, "the Imagination or Phantasy, in its most extensive meaning, is the faculty representative of the phenomena, both of the external and internal worlds." p. 809.

Prof. Haven seems to have been thus misled from the outset, by a too hasty consideration of Sir William Hamilton's Remarks on Consciousness, and to have fallen into the oversight, of failing, in fact, to do justice to that power, (whether faculty or not, we do not discuss,) by which the mind cognizes its own operations, and to have almost dropped from his treatise the distinct recognition of those operations and states, which make up each man's intellectual world. It is singular that an author who provides the mind so liberally with original Intuitions, as of the Beautiful and the Right, should have failed to give prominence to that intuition of its own states, by which man is self-conscious, and without which his Intellect could have no dignity, and conscience would be an impossibility.

Dr. Gerhart's work has been also submitted to our inspection by the publishers, Messrs. Lindsay & Blakiston. The outline Treatise on

* An Introduction to the Study of Philosophy, with an Outline Treatise on Logic. By Rev. E. V. GERHART, D. D., President of Franklin and Marshall College. Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston. 1858. 12mo. pp. 359.

Logic, which occupies somewhat less than the last half of this volume, is translated, with a slight expansion, from the German treatise of Dr. Beck. The original is remarkably condensed, exact and methodical— an admirable specimen of the multum in parvo. We know not the treatise in which the principles of logic are exhibited so clearly and with so great exactness and rigor. We rejoice that it is given in the English language. We question, however, somewhat, whether in its present form, it is adapted to the wants of the beginner, in either Logic or Philosophy. Its terminology is abstract, and is illustrated by no examples in the concrete to throw light upon its origin or application. The elementary student needs, most of all, manifold and even repeated examples, and it is only by the constant and varied presentation of these, that the abstract can be made familiar. For the advanced student to whom these abstractions have become "household words," such a treatise is more satisfactory than any other. It is to him a suggestive index for his own acquisitions-a manual by which he can revise and correct his own knowledge. For those, also, who teach by lectures, it would seem an admirable text-book, from which to expound, and by which to examine.

The portion on Philosophy from Rev. Dr. Gerhart, is very much after the German fashion, in respect to phraseology and modes of thinking. It is especially interesting to the curious, as it furnishes an example of the way in which Philosophy is treated by certain schools of Theologians, in its relations to Christology. To present this view, would require a long analysis. To discuss it would be quite out of place, in such a notice as this. We can safely commend the discussion as deserving the attention of those philosophically disposed-for its novel views, as well as for the clearness and ability with which they are presented by the much respected Author.

We will call attention also to a charming little book* with the title of the Five Gateways of Knowledge. It treats of the five senses, and in a most fascinating style. Without the slightest tinge of scientific phraseology, there is conveyed a good deal of exact knowledge, while all the thoughts are presented in a playful manner, and suggest the most pleasing associations. The Author considers the senses from three

*The Five Gateways of Knowledge. By GEORGE WILSON, M. D., F. R. S., E. Regius Professor of Technology in the University of Edinburgh, &c., &c. Philadelphia: Parry & McMillan. 1857. 24mo. pp. 139. Price, 50 cents.