SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.
al■•■• [Under this heading we notice such Books of the week as have not Coen reserved for review in other forms.) Winds of Doctrine: Studies in Contemporary Opinion. By G. Santayana. (J. M. Dent and Sons. Gs. net.)Independence of standpoint and a literary style of an excellenee rare among philosophers are the qualities which have given Professor Santayana's works so many admiring readers. The present c,olleotion of essays does not fall below his usual level of excellence. The greater part of the book is devoted to two long critical analyses of two contemporary philosophical systems, those, namely, of M. Henri Bergson and of Mr. Bertrand Russell. With the perspective gained from a Traasatlantio vision, Professor Santayana seems to see these two philosophies standing out in contrast to one another as the characteristic alternatives of the hour. To neither of them does he himself make submission ; both of them he criticizes faithfully ; in both he finds something that is admirable and something that is bad. On the whole, how- ever, M. Bergson meets with severe condemnation : "Like other terrified idealisms, the system of M. Bergson has neither good sense, nor rigour, nor candour, nor solidity.. He• will not long impose on any save those who enjoy being imposed upon ; but for a long time he may increase their number." Professor Santayana is far more respectful in his handling of the contentions of Mr. Russell (or more properly, for he recognizes their true origin, of Mr. G. E. Moore), though he vigorously falls foul of the absolutist system of ethics. He cannot be brought to believe that a thing is either good or not good, and that the opinions of particular men cannot alter it from the one to the other. He agrees with Hamlet the pragmatist when he declared : "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so," rather than with Donne (evidently a follower of Mr. Moore), who says :- " Good is as visible as green, And to all eyes itself betrays."
We must leave Professor Santayana's readers to decide whether bis arguments are satisfactory.
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