TH E TORCH OF REASON, SILVERTON, OREGON, MARCH 22, ¡900.
Things of the External World tion is at par; when every percep
Not Facts of Consciousness.
tion is a “ pure h allu cin atio n ” , then
w hat we im agine m ay be the real
Continued from 1st page,
ity , when a universal skepticism is
different vibrations of the universe
induced, then we can im agine w ith
are concentrated, and the universe
out lim itation.
is accessible to our knowledge only
It is a curious fact th a t the p h i
through this v ib ratio n ,” (excepting,
of course, th a t sm all p art of the losopher who denies the validity of
world with which we come into d i the perceptions m ust of necessity
rect contact.) So vibration is con use them as a foundation for his
tinuous from the object to and inti» fanciful scheme; and hence his con
OREGON.
the subject, even to the seat of con clusions can not be more real— and
sciousness, which, perhaps, includes m ay be much less real — th an the
the whole organism of, the subject. perceptions upon which they are
To use the form er illu stra tio n , the based. For, to im agine, or fancy,
bell is re al—th a t is,a m aterial su b we m ust use thought-conceptions,
stance— the m edium is real and by com bining them in various
i qq o o
ways,
because
we
have
no
other
the vibrations are m ovem ents of a
J. EARL HOSMER, I’h. 1)., B. S. D., P res .,
reality; the subject is real, and the raw m aterial; the conceptions are
Superintendent Department of Cosmology.
sound is a feeling belonging to a m ade of perceptions, and if, as M. j . a .
. lfithcmstics, I hysicul Sciences, Dynamics.
la in e tells us, these perceptions are
real th in g
ABEL A. LEONARD, M. D., M. E.,*
There m ay be “ no fragrance in a “ pure h allu cin atio n ”, the most ex
Superintendent Department of Biology,
rose,” but there is som ething in a alted product of th e im agination
‘ natomy, 1 hysiology, Animal Electricity,
rose u nlike an y th in g else in the has no w a rra n t for its validity.
Physiological Psychology, Microscopy.
The im agined fact, w hether it be
universe, of which fragrance is the
THADDEUS B. WAKEMAN,
evidence, for it can be seen and a “ god”or a “ perpetual m otion”ma
Superintendent
D epartm ent of Sociology and Law,
felt as well as sm elled, and also chine, m ust be tested hv a com par
General History, Sociology, Law, Linguistics,
weighed an d m easured. And we ison with what is know n; a n d ,a s a
Ethics.
are not sure th a t the rose does not test m ust be superior to w hat is
sense its own fragrance, or “ A ttar tested, so knowledge takes the high
MINNIE P. HOSMER, 1, S„B. S. D„
L r-
Superintendent Preparatory D epartm ent,
of Roses.” M. R ichet says, “ The est place in the intellect, and what
H istory, English Grammar, Botany, Vocal
vibrations of n atu ra l forces are is known is the only certainty. The
' Music.
probably b lin d ,” and th e trend of im agined may be tru e; but when
opinion am ong scientists is toward the test is applied and the possibil
PEARL \V. GEER, M. G. H., S ecretary ,
the probability of sensation being a ity becomes a certainty, it is no
Business Methods and Correspondence.
general property of all m atter. To longer “ the im agined”, but the
MARY CHILDERS,
support this, comes the recent known. Illusions there are, and
Kindergarten and Primary Classes.
statem en t of M. C. E. G uillam e be the senses m ay be deceived, but the
SOPHIE WOLF,
fore the Swiss Society of N atural person who doubts the reality of
Piano Music, Elocution, English Literature.
Sciences, th a t “ At bottom , the the external world, or his own ac
M. G. COOLEY,
abyss which seems to separate curate perceptions, is either a lu n a
Violin and Cornet.
brute m atter from living m atter tic or a philosopher.
CLARA WAKEMAN,
does not ex ist.” Then sensation
F in ally , the philosophic “ego” is
Drawing and Painting.
may be th e sam e a t eith er end of an intangible nonentity. The Ver
the line.
ALICE DAVENPORT,
itable Thom as Sm ith in law, and
Stenography, Typewriting.
But w aiving this, an d ad m ittin g according to common sense and
that from the point of view of the modern science, is a tangible real
LOUIS RAUCH, Assistant,
subject we perceive an image in ity, having a definite size, shape,
Bookkeeping, Commercial Arithmetic.
stead of the th in g itself, it m ust fol weight and collor, and possessing
LORA AMES, Assistant,
certain
qualities,
one
of
which
is
low th a t the th in g m ust he as real
Physiology, Hygiene.
as the image, or effect which it consciousness, which belongs to the
KATIE MATTESON,
causes in us, and we m ay predicate w,'° ’e Thom as Sm ith, extending to
Librarian.
a substantial resem blance of the the outer surface at every point.
PROFS. HOSMER, WAKEMAN, GEER,
latter to th e former. N either sci Hence, when he falls upon the
Lecturers on Religion of Science and Humanity.
entists nor philosophers are skep ground, or walks up against a stone
E M IL Y L. W A K EM A N ,
tical on this point, except when wall, the consciousness of Thom as
M atron.
philosophizing— th a t is, speculat Sm ith comes into direct contact
*Dr. Leonard has consented to take this chair until some one
W hat
ing, or im agining. And to be con with the external world.
can be found to fill it perm anently.
sistent, philosophers m ust claim — would be a more “ direct datum of
as some do—th a t what is im agined consciousness” than this?
S T U D E N T S M A Y E N T E R A T A N Y T IM E .
is more real and true th an w hat is
There is no “ m aterialistic philos
We are now in our New building, which give« uh room
known.
o p h y ’ , for “ m aterialism ’ is science,
for increased attendance and much better facilities for
In the u ltim ate analysis of the and nothing more. I can assure
teaching. For term s and fu rth e r p articu lars, address,
the stu d en ts of ihe L. U. O th at
subject, this is the issue.
Philosophy originated in tbeis- th ere is nothing in philosophy
S IL V E R T O N OREGON.
’
bcal th in k in g ; and as every The- [m etaphysics] th a t is of real, prac
>st or P olytheist has believed th a t tical value. It does not promote
the god or gods in which he believ “clear th in k in g ”; for of all w riters,
ed wa9 the most real thing or m etaphysicians are the most diffi
things in existence, and as these cult to follow and understand. Its
beings could be im agined, but could basic assum ptions are unproven, FRIENDS OF LIBERAL ANO SECULAR EDUCATION
not be known, it was necessary th a t and -eem likely to rem ain in th at
are earnestly rem inded th a t the above U niversity is in act-
condition.
Its
advocates
do
not
,v“ and harm onious operation, but th a t it m ust be provided with
'P ag in atio n should o u tran k knowl
sufficient m eans to finish its building, now approaching com ple
edge in the hu m an m ind, and the agree, for there is nothing to com
tion and p artly occupied, ho th a t a paying num ber of stud en ts
philosophic
scheme
has
been pel agreem ent, and any one with a
can be accom m odated.
Please to subscribe, or obtain subscrip
b o u g h t out with th is object in brilIiant P a g in a tio n can m ake his
tions, for our Stock, and send m em oranda of property, books or
v»ew. W hen knowledge the most own Ph ’k>8ophy and be just as sure
a p p a ra tu s you can furnish.
7
J. E arl H osmer , President of Faculty.
certain is reduced to an inference, °f its tru th as were any of the an-
V U’r akeman , President Board of Directors.
ben the product of the im a g in a -1 cient or m odern w riters.
I . W. ( ie e r , Sec’y Board and Business M anager.
T»?
liberal !,
UNIVERSITY
L a c u ity — S
-’
MZ
P e a r l W G e e r , S e c ’y
.