January 3, 19 18] 



NATURE 



343 



had said plainly what she understands by this 

 doctrine, and how precisely it differs from other 

 "isms " to which Miss Sinclair is opposed. Some- 

 times she speaks as though the enemy were the 

 New Realism, sometimes Pluralism, sometimes 

 Pragmgltism, sometimes something- else. To be 

 definite is not to be dull, necessarily ; it would not 

 have detracted from the readableness of Miss 

 Sinclair's book if she had made plainer just why 

 she disagrees with William James, M. Bergson, 

 and Mr. Bertrand Russell, to mention three of the 

 ontemporary names which figure most frequently 

 II her pages. However, let us take the book as 

 we find it. To a vague and there-or-thereabouts 

 doctrine one can offer nothing but a criticism 

 ■orrespondingly inexact. 



It is manifest that Miss Sinclair is, above all, 

 anxious to safeguard the higher elements of our 

 world, the reality of moral experience, the reality 

 of religious experience, and our hope of existence 

 in a future state. Miss Sinclair holds that these 

 valuable elements are gravely threatened both by 

 Pragmatism and by the New Realism. In her 

 quarrel with the New Realists the present reviewer 

 would not wish to intervene. Frankly, he has 

 never been able to understand the logical basis of 

 the New Realism, nor what bearing (if any) that 

 doctrine has upon the vital problems which 

 i thoughtful people expect philosophy to illuminate. 

 But in regard to Pragmatism Miss Sinclair seems 

 to have gone gravely astray. The basis of the 

 Pragmatist's belief is a kind of optimism, or, to 

 speak more accurately, a kind of meliorism — that 

 Is, a belief that the constitution of the world is 

 good upon the whole ; and this implies that the 

 world is such that the higher needs of man's 

 nature are sure to receive satisfaction. If the 

 analysis of human nature goes to show that man 

 needs assurance of the reality of moral and 

 religious experience, and needs belief in a life 

 after death, then that is pro tanto a reason for 

 holding that the universe will satisfy those needs. 

 •Is this illogical, as Miss Sinclair seems to think? 

 If so, where is the flaw In It? It Is quite a mis- 

 take for Miss Sinclair to think that "Pragmatism 

 lias no logic," and that "it is spineless." On the 

 contrary, it has all the logic that Is worth having. 



OUR BOOKSHELF. 



An Ethical Svstem Based on the Laws of Nature. 



By M. Deshumbert. Translated from the 

 . French by Dr. L. Giles. With a preface bv Dr. 



C. W. Saleebv. Po. 1x4-2-^1. (Chicago and 



London : The Open Court Publishing Co., 1917.) 



Price 25. 6d. net. 

 Huxi.EY maintained that ethical progress depends, 

 not on imitating the cosmic process, but on com- 

 bating it. M. Deshumbert proclaims a not less 

 exaggerated theory that the whole duty of Man 

 Is to bring his conduct into harmony with Nature. 

 Orp-anlsms are rich In adaptations which secure 

 self-oreservation and the perpetuation of the 

 species; and if man Is to continue to survive, he 

 must become Increasingly fit in these directions. 

 NO. 2514, VOL. too] 



Organic Nature, historically regarded, shows, on 

 the whole, a progressive differentiation and inte- 

 gration of the nervous system ; and man must 

 follow this trend. But among animals it is often 

 clear that success has rewarded not merely 

 strength or cunning, but sociality and care for 

 the offspring as well ; and Man must vie with 

 Nature in parental care and mutual aid. 



This is familiar good sense, well worth restat- 

 ing in the author's picturesque way, with a pleas- 

 ant note personnel ; but we cannot pretend to see 

 any stability in the thesis that " the Good is every- 

 thing that contributes to the harmonious expan- 

 sion of the individual and of the groups of which 

 he is a member." For the "harmonious expan- 

 sion" includes, for man, goodness ; and one of 

 the evidences of an evolutionary process being 

 progressive or integrative is just that it leads on 

 to the good. The author seems to wander round 

 in a circle; but it is not a dull circle. His book 

 contains an interesting collection of examples (not 

 always quite accurate) of self-preservative adapta- 

 tions and parental care; and quite a feature is 

 made of what the Rev. J. G. Wood once gathered 

 together in a suggestive volume — anticipations of 

 man's devices by animals. 



Much salutary counsel, sometimes a bit prosaic, 

 is given, by attending to which the sum of human 

 happiness and effectiveness would be greatly in- 

 creased. It is obvious that man may strengthen 

 his hands and avoid many gratuitous hindrances 

 by regulating his life biologically or physio- 

 logically, but we should not call this an ethical 

 system. The book has appeared in at least seven 

 languages— and it cannot but be useful practically. 

 But it does not rise to its title. 

 The Munition Workers' Handbook. By Ernest 



Pull. Second edition. Pp. 158. (London : 



Crosby Lockwood and Son, 191 7.) Price 2s. bd. 



net. 

 This little book opens with a brief treatment of 

 workshop arithmetic, mensuration, and geometry, 

 presented in a simple manner suitable for those 

 who have taken up munition work temporarily, 

 and probably forgotten, through disuse, most of 

 the mathematics acquired at school. The composi- 

 tion, mode of manufacture, and strength of iron, 

 steel, and other common materials are then ex- 

 plained. This section of the book should certainly 

 encourage the worker to take a more intelligent 

 interest in workshop processes. Illustrated 

 descriptions of workshop tools are then given, 

 including a good account of the use of micro- 

 meters. This section of the book should prove 

 very useful. The following chapters are devoted to 

 workshop operations, such as lathe work, drill- 

 ing, tapping, screwing, bench work, planing, 

 shaping, milling, and gear-cutting. The 

 author clearly has intimate knowledge both of the 

 subjects dealt with and of the requirements and 

 limitations of the class of worker addressed, and 

 has been successful In producing a book well 

 adapted for the purpose in view. Its merits are 

 such as to lead us to believe that the book will 

 outlast the special conditions created by the war. 



