Haven's Mental Philosophy [pp. 306-319]

Haven's Mental Philosophy.
in the Theological Seminary of his Church for years, at Canonsburg, having generally about twenty students; and at the same
time pastor of a large congregation, and Professor of Hebrew
in Jefferson College. He was a man of primitive simplicity,
conscientiousness and self-denial, along with uncommon acuteness and profound acquaintance with human nature, as well as
theological lore. He was very much like our own Dr. A.
Alexander, except in the power of eloquence, and the extent
of acquirements.
ART. Y.-Mental Philosophy: Including the Intellect, Sensi bilities, and Will. By JOSEPH HAVEN, Professor of Intel lectual and Moral Philosophy in Amherst College. Boston:
Gould & Lincoln. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman & Co.
Cincinnati: George S. Blanchard. 1857.
WVE have before signified our high appreciation of this work,
as to its general characteristics. Altogether, it is in advance
of the manuals for elementary instruction in this department,
which have been given to the public. By this we mean, that it
has merits not found in its predecessors, while its faults are for
the most part still more glaring in most otber works of this
sort. It consists of two principal parts, which, by the Scotch
writers, and often by others, are dealt with in separate treatises.
The first treats of the cognitive, the second, of the active and
moral powers; the former terminating in knowledge, and
having for their object the true; the latter terminating in
action, and having for their object the good. Two faculties,
taste and conscience, being both cognitive and emotional, overlap both departments. In his classification of the intellectual
powers, Professor Haven is quite felicitous; and in this, as well
as his analysis of the faculties and operations of the intellect in
detail, he turns to good account most that is valuable in the
discussions and suggestions of recent writers, American and
European. Indeed, he sometimes goes too far in citing
opinions from late authors, that have little importance, except
what they derive from his sanction or refutation of them. The
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