Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-03-04

hand we have only needof knowing what act upon
and affect US less directly and the other hand
follows from the very fact Of there being such nfuenc
ing agencies in operation that we are thereby
later supplied with means Of knowledge such IS
NJ Comtes reasoning than which nothing could be
short t-sighted and faacious for what influencing
agencies act upon US more directly than those which de-
eide the temperature of atmosphere the condition
of our bodily health and yet who has any accurate or
positive knowledge respecting the state of either an hour
hence? II is not true that we have sure means OF
knowledge wherever We feel the necessity of it. There
indeed partial harmony between wants and our
science but not to the implied by NJ Comte in his
various writings.
And this consideration brings to weighest OBJ
lection against NJ Comtcs system astronomy be taken
the "type of true SCIENCE, conceive it mpossi-
BILE construct any thing like such science out Of the
phenomena which have the relation to humanity
Although it be true NJ Comte profoundly Observes
" that in proportion the phenomena be studied be-
come more complex, they are from their nature, sus-
ceptbeof more extended and varied OF ex-
ploration yetthe Increase Of resources very
from compensatng for the difficulty of Investigations
Hence we think ourselves authorized state the follow
law that by which we may eradicate the stagos
scientific certainty: in proportion natural pheno
mena become more and modifable by human inter
vention they become less and less capable Of being
duced to positive science. If coordination and the
power of provision the great crtera of science
readily perceive that these become less and less
possible in proportion phenomena fall within the
troll Of human caprice and free-agency. The failure,
therefore, science of social phenomena has
resulted only from defective method Of investigation
Sut also from the essentially ntracabe nature of the
phenomena themselves. In plain terms, social is
impossible
AS we unlike NJ. Comte, have yet learned to rid
cue the idea Of final causes ready proper evil
dence admit the reasonabeness yinely ordained
constitution of things There reason in the nature
of things why the phenomena which farthes
ed from humanity should be the most simple, and that
those which in the closest relations with man should
be the most complex and difficult of exploration The
converse paraelism Of the two orders Of phenomena
to be solely the result Of divine appointment It
is final cause for while in the taught
his impotence the other he learns his ignorance and
gathers from both the great lesson of his dependence
the Creator In astronomy foresight is large but
action the phenomena is precuded In political sci
action the phenomena is considerable, but
foresight is limited within and confined cir
Gle. There barriers in the against
tivty, in the other against provision and see no
reason to suppose ourselves capable Of breaking
down this latter barrier than the former and long
it stands in way positive science will only be Of
limited application to social phenomena.
Such few of the salient features presented by
Postvsm We have not urged against many objections
which it is obnoxious becauseW think NJ Comte has
oised upon his system certain cradities and absurdtes
which would to have been the ober dieta Of the
cusons airy deducble the system ITSELF consider
ed as body Of philosophy, if it deserve such name
In conclusion, may say, in the words Of one Of NJ
Comtes admirers and disciples, that his writings ere OF
nesmable value to those who know how to use what IS
valuable in them dangerous to undscrmiaatng minds
To derive the fullest benefit from him must try him
severely and judge him fearlessly.