Systematic Philosophy by John E. Van Hook (review)

BOOK REVIEWS 168 the clergy feels able to locate and stigmatize an evil without adopting a party political system. In conclusion, Dr. Martin presents his very sound theory of secularization intuitively and rigorously. He is careful to point out that this theory is rooted empirically in the religious-political reality of the societies taken under consideration. He stresses polarity as a natural process; every system has a countersystem ; the periodicity process whereby any system undergoes a process of organization results in emergent properties of a supersystem which are not visible in its subsystems. He also reveals the formation preference-the formation of a system implies a selection among alternatives with a very clear information system, i.e., the norms incorporated in a system become normally a fixed source of information for this system. The author has demonstrated that secularization is a dynamic process particularly, but not exclusively, visible in industrial societies. There are the crucial events in each society, such as war or revolution, which may increase or decrease the secularization process. Here the history of Church-State relations within the large context is admirably presented, analyzed, and documented. The methodological solution promoted by Martin for the study of secularization is a multidimensional, polymethodic, pluralistic approach. Secularization is ultimately dependent upon the sort of social, political, and economic order that prevails. Wayne State University Detroit, Michigan BRONISLAW BAJON Systematic Philosophy. By JOHN E. VAN HooK. Hicksville: Exposition Press, 1979. Pp. 147. $7.50. Early (p. SO) in the course of this synoptic work there is some reference to what might be called the principle of congruity between language and the existent. Here accommodated so as to have some bearing on the matter at hand, that principle could be said to require that a review of a book entitled Systematic Philosophy be itself systematic. In keeping with that dictate this review will consist (1) of a general overall response to the book, (~) a resume of the thematic of the book, {S) a limited critique which will serve in the customary way as a setting for pointing out positive and problematic features of the book, {4) a brief notice concerning editorial format of the book, and (5) a final word about the utilization potential of the book. 1. While it is no easy matter to check initial impressions, the fair thing to do would be to permit the author of this rather small book to indicate what he intends his book to be. The subtitle informs the reader that this is 164 BOOK REVIEWS to be " An Overview of Metaphysics Showing the Development from the Greeks to the Contemporaries with Specified Directions, Objections, and Projections." Thus the perspective is to be that of overview, the focus that of metaphysics, the theme that of development, the compass that of beginning to the present, and the methodology that of directions, objections, and projections. Given this design of the book, the author is faced with the task of selecting the genre or vehicle for presenting his case for such development. Should this be in terms of notional unfolding ideologies or should this be in terms of historic individuals and their philosophies? This author chooses the latter alternative. Hence the resultant work is a combination of Thought History (Development of Ideas) and Person History (History of Philosophers). The outcome of this, in turn, is a tension. It is to be an overview, but it is to include some limited details. There are to be some details, but these must be limited because it is to be an overview. Thus the overall impression created by the book for this reviewer is that the professional would appreciate more development, that the student would appreciate more explanation, and that in the right classroom it could perhaps serve as a catalyst for both. 9l. Described in the most general of ways, the central theme of the book is that of the advancement of that human hermeneutic of reality which has come to be identified as philosophy. The initial refinement of this takes place through the mediation and subsequent linking of two terms, viz., " systematic " and "metaphysics." Because its primary vocation is to address the real coherently (systematically) and fundamentally (metaphysically...