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CHAPTER XI r. 



PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN MIND. 



IF the physical sciences have received great and 

 radical improvements during the century under 

 consideration, it is feared the same degree of im- 

 provement cannot he ascrihed to the science of tlie 

 human mind, and the auxiHary hranches of plnlo- 

 sophy. In this wide field new cxpaiments and dis' 

 coverics, in the proper sense of the words, can have 

 no place ; and there are serious grounds of suspi- 

 cion, that many modern systems of higli chiims, 

 and imposing aspect, are hy no means- suhstantial 

 additions to the sum of knowledge. There is no 

 douht, indeed, that we have happily gotten rid of 

 much pedantry and jargon, which once ohtained 

 currency among the learned. We have thrown 

 off the 8tifl[; uncouth, and disgusting hahiliments 

 which formerly enveloped the systems of tlie 

 schoolmen. But, in many cases, there is reason to 

 helieve that one jargon has heen discarded only to 

 adopt another equally exceptionahle. Various old 

 dresses have heen laid aside, to make way for 

 others, more fashionable, indeed, hut no less fan- 

 tastic and odious. This character, however, 

 though it belongs to many modern metaphysical 

 writers, by no means applies to all. The last age 

 has, doubtless, produced some writers tQ whom we 

 are indebted for substantial improvements, and 

 real progress, in the interesting field of incjiiiry 



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