Education and the Philosophical Ideal by Horatio W. Dresser - Read the Complete Text for free at NewThoughtLibrary.com

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Horatio W. Dresser's

Education and the Philosophical Ideal

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Preface - Introduction - The New Point of View - Educational Ideals - Equanimity - The Subconscious Mind - The Spiritual Ideal in Childhood - An Experiment in Education - The Expression of the Spirit - An Ideal Summer Conference - The Ministry of the Spirit - The Mystery of Pain and Evil - The Philosophical Ideal - The Criteria of Truth - Organic Perfection - Immortality - Index - p. 247

we discovered many reasons for guarded acceptance of a purely intuitive philosophy. Thus balance between extremes proved to be the only sound principle. Thus the logical outcome of our analysis is a synthetic theory of life in which this omnipresent principle of adjustment between extremes shall serve as clue to the unity and beauty of the whole.

With this synthetic ideal in view, let us regard the entire universe as an organism. By the universe I mean literally and inclusively all that exists, not only the worlds of nature and of human society, not alone the realms of mind and morals; but also the commonwealth of individual souls and the ultimate Being or Spirit. Let this great sum total he regarded as the largest organic whole. If it be in reality such an organism, that is a fellowship of finite souls; an abiding, sustaining Father; and a relatively distinct world of nature, it is such a whole because this kind of unity is higher, more beautiful, than the mere totality, the absolutely identical whole without parts of which pantheism conceives.

The thought seems a bold one only because we are accustomed to deem God sufficient unto himself. But if he be self-adequate, why are we here, why is nature here; how happens it that nature and human society are purposive organisms? If the nature of God be fulfilled only through the organisms which reveal him, he is so far dependent upon them, imperfect without them. If dependent, his organisms contribute somewhat to his life; if the organisms are dependent upon him, he contributes

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