Wabash College - Wabash Yearbook (Crawfordsville, IN)

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and highest results when the mind is guided by the philosophic spirit: it is supremely fostered by that love of science in its entirety which philosophy gives. Those ultimate principles which are the roots underlying all scientific specializing are to be sought for and found in the work of the Department of Philosophy. Logic is the systematic study of thought. In its principles it is co-ex- tensive with human knowledge. All objects experienced can be treated logically. It is discovered that the general conception of knowledge deter- mines the conception of logic, the general philosophic view of thought determines the view which will be entertained regarding this discipline. Here are the distinctions of metaphysical, empirical, formal and mixed logic. The solution of logical problems commands special attention. Time and pains are devoted to the handling of the difficulties of individual thinkers in the class. The work in Psychology stands in direct relation to work in physiology. The structure and functions of the brain are carefully considered in their bearings upon the subject. Theses are prepared as the result of special individual investigations. The course of thought in special philosophical research must be inquir- ing and critical in order to be faithful and exhaustive. A positive philosophy rightly prepares for a critical. We turn from the relations of the known to an examination of the conditions and guarantees of knowledge. A theory of being and becoming, which shall be satisfying, is to be found. Final and efficient causes are to be considered. We ask what is the goal of science? What the goal of life? What of beauty? What of truth? What of virtue? We ask these things in view of the thought and experience of the past. We think regarding these problems i11 view of the speculations and theories of the centuries. The steps of 111ental advancement in tl1e ex- perience of the race and in the thinking of the student are found to be along the pathway of sensation, knowledge, science, philosophy, and this last, in turn,,is found to be, stage by stage, positive, critical, metaphysical, practical.

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-2- l7nn.o.sovn'r. -2- PRESIDENT BURROUGHS. PROFESSOR CUNNINGHAM. ax fa T' Y gms Department of Philosophy is devoted to the search after .Q truth regarding those problems of inquiry which fall under the subjects of Logic, Psychology, Ethics, the History of .. Philosophy and the History and Philosophy of Religion. X 1 g The work embraces a considerable portion of the Junior .. and the Senior Years. It is the aim of the department to be at the same time thorough and comprehensive. In method the work is many-sided. Observation and experiment are the natural and necessary bases of investigation. Historical research is carefully and pains- takingly conducted as both an inspiration and a corrective. Speculative and reflective thought are encouraged as stimulating and leading to independent and satisfying results. Philosophy, broadly considered, is to be regarded as the science of sciences. It should do for all the sciences what each does for its own field. It should End the unity of science to be the reflection of the unity of nature, and this in turn the reflection of the unity of the Supreme Reason pervad- ing all nature, the Source of all intelligence, calling all things back into responsive fellowship with itself. All that precedes and accompanies in the college course is to be here gathered up and unified. The love of unity, the great and abiding passion of the mind, becomes the informing spirit of philosophical investigation. Language, literature, history, social science are all regarded as bearing on logic, psychology, ethics. Science, pure and applied, is brought to its largest

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-2' GREEK. -2- f PROFESSOR MCLAIN. .fzlif-11' -v - ' 1 if O THE PI-IILISTINE, the young American who studies Greek !! i,,kllii,i1rllll is an unpardonable anachronism. Ill this age-in the year of the never-to-be-equalled Columbian Exposition, one of Maw' Q., whose buildings would hold fifty Parthenons-to be occupy- .mi ylx, vi ing onels attention with the language, literature and life of a people who never heard of Chicago and knew nothing whatever of our countless -graphs a11d -phones and -meters--albeit, by some sort of unconscious prophecy they did furnish names for them all-what is the sense of it? What does the world owe to the old Greeks or what of interest can anyone find in them that they should claim the time of an American youth, when he might be learning to compound prescriptions or manage a telegraph-key for living wages? There is little use in arguing the question. It will not be attempted here. Tothe utilitarian, the things of culture will always be foolishness: neither can he know them: they are spiritually discerned. But, certain it is, that upon those who, without hostile prejudice, venture within her reach, the charm of Hellas is as fresh and potent as ever, the world over. And how fares the youth who enters on the task of gaining what Greek culture has to give, and grows not weary in well-doing? By dint of perse- vering work, such as affords most varied discipline and presently becomes a pleasure, he comes to know and to admire the most perfect language of all the ages-a language in itself a consummate work of art, like the per- fectly developed body of an athlete, trained to symmetry and powerg a language musical almost as Italian, vigorous as the tongue of the martial Romans, flexible, clear and exact beyond comparison: by its delicate ap- paratus of mood and tense and particle and varying word-order, distinctly