PHILOSOPHICAL PERIODICALS. 281 however, is gradually reverting to the Baconian distinction between ' ostensive ' and ' clandestine ' instances. Two sets of causes have drawn attention to the latter : (1) the extraordinary discoveries of the latter half of the century, e.g., Pasteur's discovery of microbes, the Rontgen rays ; (2) influence of the philosophical thought of Descartes, Leibnitz and Kant. The rest of the article is devoted to an examination and classifica- tion of the said ' cryptoid phenomena '.] A. Schinz. ' Le Positivisme est line ine'thode et non un systeme.' [Object alike of philosophy and of science is explanation. We explain a phenomenon when we determine its cause or causes, meaning by ' cause ' necessary antecedent. Two kinds of causal relation are conceivable : (1) between phenomenon and phenomenon ; {2) between the absolute and phenomena. (1) is 'natural,' (2) 'meta- physical'. Corresponding to these are the positive and metaphysical methods. The former alone can give us true knowledge, but our ignor- ance often forces us to use the latter.] Revue Critique. Tolstoi et la ques- tion de Fart. Analyses et comptes rendus, etc. February, 1899. J.-J. van Biervliet. ' L'homme droit et I'homme gauche (i.).' [The writer having been led to investigate sensibility of right and left side respec- tively and concludes that there are two distinct normal asymmetric types
- I'hormne droit' and ' I'homme gauche '. The former is the more frequent ;
in the latter the left hand is not always the more adroit but it is the stronger, and the sensibility of the sense organs on the left side of the body is more acute than those on the right. The rest of the article consists of a detailed examination of the motor system of these two types.] Th. Flournoy. 'Genese de quelques pretendus messages spirites.' [An analysis of two cases of " automatic writing," in both of which the writer was deceived ; in both cases the suggestion can be explained as coming from the sub-consciousness of the individual writing ; hence to assign it to any other cause is to violate the methodological principle pro- hibiting the unnecessary multiplication of causes.] P. Tannery. 'La Stylometrie : ses origines et son present.' [' Stylometry ' means the statistical analysis of peculiarities of style. Employed by Prof. Lewis Campbell with a view to discovering the chronological order of Plato's dialogues. Name coined by M. Lutoslawski. This method may have a future, but as hitherto formulated is too vague to be used scientifi- cally.] Revue generale. Les Travaux Recents de Psychophysique. Analyses et comptes rendus, etc. March, 1899. EL Bois. 'La Con- servation de la Foi (l.).' [Answer to 'La Dissolution de la Foi,' by M. Dugas in September number of the Review. Starts with exposition and criticism of ' religious formalism ' given by M. Dugas. The supporters of this theory maintain that we must distinguish two elements in religion : (1) its form or spirit which is eternal ; (2) its matter or content which is temporary. Hence, from this point of view, all religions are false and all are true. Essence of all is the adoration, under the name of God, either of the order of the Universe, or the Reason which witnesses to itself all round us, or human reason. M. Bois entirely rejects theory. Truth is never relative. God is not a category, but a concrete person, known by us as concrete persons, and not by any special religious faculty. Miracles must be conceived as the special operation of the free personality of God making use of, though not violating, natural laws. Catholicism is against reason ; Protestantism is conformable to it.] A. Fouillee. 'La Psychologic Religieuse dans Michelet.' [Reviewing Michelet's Le Pretre, la femme et la famille and Les Jesuites writer points out that he rightly apprehended the importance of the psychological laws of ' habit ' and ' suggestion ' in forming character, quotes with approval his exposition of the dangers of auricular confession, his conception of the vocation of
