by Frank Sewall
Few if any of the modern works on psychology have a greater claim on the attention of thoughtful students than this remarkable work, in which many of the best results of the so-called "New Psychology" of the laboratory are anticipated in all their physiological significance, while there is the constant maintainance of the true discrete separation of these planes of observation from the inner planes of spirit, consciousness and life. The position of " V i t a l i s m" versus '' Chemico-Physics " was exhibited in this work by Swedenborg a century and a half ago, withthe result of a harmonious correspondence which unites the two planes in a system more complete, practical and satisfactory than any work of either school which present writers have produced. Instead of being antiquated it is pre-eminently the practical psychology for students and teachers of the present day. If we are not mistaken its proper environment and field of influence will be found in the present and future more than in the past stages of this science.
by L. P. Mercer
At this day, all preliminary studies of Swedenborg's Philosophy must take account of his theological teachings and be interpreted in the light of his whole doctrine. Scientific investigations,whether conducted under the guidance of his doctri e, or analyzed and grouped for the purpose of illustrating and confirming the doctrine, must be carried on in.a scientific spirit which is impartially inductive and characterized by a supreme regard for fact, not doctrine. The investigation and grasp of the whole doctrine, however, is a philosophic process, and involves a conception of not only what the author may be supposed to have understood at the time, but of what he understood at any time. It becomes more and more evident at every step of the investigation that, whatever the processes of the development of his philosophy, and however unconscious he may have been at any stage of the unity and scope of its plan, there is, nevertheless, a unity so complete as to argue a D i vine syntheses throughout. Indeed, one is almost compelled to conclude that Swedenborg saw his end from the beginning, even to the outlines of the I n finite, and his philosophical development and intromission into the spiritual, were only the successive processes of utilization of what he had conceived as adoctrine of God, ma nature.
by J. R. Swanton
It may be interesting to those who have not access to catalogues of Swedenborg's earlier writings to have such a list inserted in THE NEW PHILOSOPHY. Instead of appending them in chronological order, however, I will first give a list of those which deal with his philosophies—scientific system. These, as they are given by Dr. R. L,. Tafel, in his "Documents Concerning Swedenborg " are as follows. The numbers refer to those in Dr. Tafel's catalogue :
