III. Yale College-Some Thoughts Respecting its Future. Second

602

Article,

Professor Timothy Dwight, Yale College.

IV, Modern Judaism,

Prof. J. M. Hoppin, Yale College. V. The Resources of the Church against Rationalism,

624

Rev. J. P. Thompson, D. D., New York City.

VI. Ruskin's New Lectures on Art,

659

Prof. H. N. Day, New Haven.

VII. A Voice from Squashville:" A Letter to the "New Englander" from the "Rev. Mr. Pickering,"

ARTICLE VIII.-NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS.

THEOLOGICAL AND RELIGIOUS.

Julius Müller's Doctrinal Essays,

678

705

705

Religious Thought in England, from the Reformation until the end of the last century. By Rev. John Hunt, M. A., Lecture Room Talks. By Henry Ward Beecher. Phonographically reported by T. J. Ellinwood,

A Treatise of the Preparation and Delivery of Sermons. By John A. Broadus, D. D., LL. D.,

First Steps in English Literature. By Arthur Gilman,

708

A Manual of Ancient History. By George Rawlinson, M. M.,

712

A Manual of the Ancient History of the East to the Commencement of the Median Wars. By Francois L'Enormant, and E. Chevallier,

Paris in December, 1851, or the Coup d'Etat of Napoleon III. By Eugéne Tenot. Translated from the 13th French edition. By S. W. Adams and A. H. Brandon,

-714

Disaster, Struggle, Triumph. By Mrs. Arabella M. Willson,

Poems. By Dante Gabriel Rosetti,

Recent Publications,

- 715

- 717

718

THE

NEW EN ENGLANDER.

No. CXIII.

OCTOBER, 187 0.

ARTICLE I.-PRESIDENT FAIRCHILD'S MORAL

PHILOSOPHY.

Moral Philosophy; or, the Science of Obligation. By JAMES H. FAIRCHILD, President of Oberlin College.

MORAL PHILOSOPHY is a branch of science upon which many books have already been written, and still there is room for improvement. No two writers are entirely agreed except in the more prominent principles of the science; yet they agree much more nearly in ideas than in forms of statement. In prosecuting this most important branch of study, one which occupies no secondary place, we need a text book which shall be an improvement on those hitherto in use; and one that shall, if possible, harmonize the differing views of Philosophers.

This book professes to be especially adapted to the use of pupils in schools and colleges. As such we hail its appearance

with great satisfaction. It certainly is an improvement upon most text books heretofore used. The author has adapted it very well to its end,-in size, arrangement, and matter. He tells us he wished to make a small book, but we cannot help regretting that he did not give some extended explanations and illustrations on several important subjects, even at the risk of enlarging the book. We think that this might have been done without any enlargement, by condensing some portions of less importance and by leaving out repetitions of the same or similar ideas. We are much pleased with the catch words placed in the margin of each page, designating the leading ideas treated of. On the whole the arrangement and manner of treating the subjects are such as will assist instructors in imparting, and pupils in acquiring a knowledge of the truths developed.

The principles of psychology and of moral philosophy which the author adopts and makes the foundation of his reasoning, are mainly correct; indeed we think that scarcely any erro neous principles can. be found among them. This is saying considerable of any writer on moral philosophy. We do not think, however, that these true principles are as clearly stated and as fully and correctly carried out as they should be. While we are aware that it is much easier to find defects than to correct them, we shall proceed to point out as clearly as we can, what we regard as defects or failures in the development of these true principles of the science,-not all that might be stated, but only the more important ones.

The psychological principles stated in this book are very few-hardly sufficient we think to give a full and solid foundation on which to rear the science of moral philosophy. What the moral faculties are, and how known, we think should have been a little more fully illustrated. Conscience, the great moral faculty of the soul, is in no sense treated psychologically. The authority of its acts, as well as its operations and limitations, are very fully and ably discussed; but we think its existence and our knowledge of it should have been carefully considered, as the great distinctive faculty of moral agency.

The three-fold division of the faculties of the soul into "intellect, sensibility, and free will," which are clearly the same as