Ethics And Religion Author:Various ETHICS AND RELIGION COLLECTION OF ESSAYS P Y SIX JOHN SEE LEY. DR. JELIX ADLER, MR. W. J L S ALTER, PROF. HENRY . ICK, PROF, o, roN CJ. YCKI, DR. nERNAKD P OSANQUE1 J A. LESLIE STEPHEN, DR. STAN7ON CO 7 AND PROE. f. H. MUI1UIEAD L1HTEL P, V Tllli SOCIETY OK ETHICAL LONDON SWAN SONNENSC1IEIN CO, LTD. PATERNOSTER SQUARE Printed by Cowan 5r Co. Lim... more »ited PREFACE THE criticism most frequently brought against Ethical Societies is that they do not rest upon any philo sophical basis. The implication is that they have therefore no fovlrtflatioMii thought at all. The writers of the essays in this volume, all of whom have been founders or influential friends of Ethical Societies, are unanimously insistent upon one point. They urge that an Ethical Society should hold itself uncommitted to any theory of the universe, and should not be primarily interested in the meta physic of Ethics they hold that its relation to theory should be that of investigation and con struction rather than of advocacy and dogmatic inculcation. Sir John Sceley warns us not to descend from theory to practice, but to mount from moral experience and effort to universal truths. Professor Sidgwick advises us to avoid the ultimate principles of thought, and to keep to the fruitful region of middle axioms. Dr. Bosanquet expresses the same view, when he refuses to accept the spread ing of ideas about morality as a function of an VII Vlii PREFACE Ethical Society, but, instead, recommends the spread ing of moral ideas. Dr. Felix Adler, Mr. Salter, Prof. Von Gizycki, Mr. Leslie Stephen, Dr. Coit, and Prof. Muirhead, all dwell upon this same distinction. That this distinction may be preserved and made familiar to a wider public is the chief object of the Society of Ethical Propagandists in issuing this volume. The public especially that portion of it which is theologically or metaphysically inclined is liable to mistake the absence of philosophical theory for a lack of philosophic insight, among the members of a union for spreading moral ideas. But it may be a very proof and token of their philosophic discipline and habit, and of their familiarity with the growth of metaphysical systems, that they are willing to ascend from experience and practice to theory, and that they possibly expect to end, but certainly entertain no hope of beginning, with a system of universal truth. The majority of these essays were written ten years ago they then gave character and direction to the Ethical Movement. But, as new leaders enter and the older retire, it is important that the thoughts of the founders should be preserved. It was inevit able also that sooner or later some one, interested in the Ethical Movement, should collect these essays since some of them are no longer easily accessible, PREFACE IX and since their remarkable unity and their striking reinforcement of one another cannot be fully ap preciated, except when they are read together. The volume, however, will prove of equal interest to those not concerned with Ethical Societies. To them the main theme of the book will be the relation of Ethics and Religion 1 and hence the book has been so named, after the title given by Sir John Seeley to his essay. The thanks of the Society of Ethical Propagandists are due to Lady Seeley, and to the Editor of the Fortnightly Review, to Dr. Felix Adler, Mr. W. M. Salter, Prof. Henry Sidgwick, Dr. Bernard Bosanquet, Mr. Leslie Stephen, Dr. Coit, Prof. Muirhead, and to Messrs. Swan Sonnenschein Co. for permission to reprint. SURREY HOUSE, VICTORIA EMBANKMENT, LONDON, W. C. CONTENTS CHAI. ARE I. ETHICS AND RELIGION. By J. R. Sccley . i II. FREEDOM OF ETHICAL FELLOWSHIP. By Felix Adler 31 III. THE ETHICAL BOND OF UNION. By Felix Adler 54 IV. ETHICAL RELIGION. By W. M. Saltcr . . 74 V. THE TRUE BASIS OF RELIGIOUS UNION. By W. M. Salter 92 VI. THE SCOPE AND LIMITS OF THE WORK, OF AN ETHICAL SOCIETY. By Henry Sidgwick 109 VII. THE AIMS AND METHODS OF AN ETHICAL SOCIETY. By Henry Sidgwick . . ...« less
