Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-02-25

That which she prizes in his teachings Is, in reality
and unsighty tumor which might be exscind
ed from the system of the French philosopher only
without mpGiriug the integrity Of his philosophy, but
greatly to its advantage Atheism is, after oil,
cessary concomant of the positive philosophy and if NJ
Comte would only consent TO rid his system Of this ncu
bus by which its normal development is parayzed under
his hands, he might yet live to his fame established
on basis honorable it viii surely be imperishab!e
But we fear that NJ COmte would rather give up his sys
tenn than his scientific athesm and also fear that
Miss Martineau would deem the positive philosophy
cuated if this redundant and parasitcal oshoot were
Topped off,
The author Of the second work above named already
known 10 the literary world the writer Of the BIO
graphical History Of Philosophy, and is also, believe,
the present editor of the London Leader" Mr. Lewes
is Of the most prominent advocates in England Of the
sensational philosophy He is, in fact, maeriast Of
the school of Cabanis and Carat His present work con-
tans fair though not perfect delineaon of Comics
Z" Philosophy of the Sciences " and to the reader who
can content himself with abrdgements do not hest
tate recommend the volume of Mr. Lewes as on the
whole satisfactory exposition of the Comtiau sys
tenn than can be found in the volumes of Miss Mar
tineau Her condcnsaons do not seem to be always
iudicously executed, while Mr.. Lewes, by few rapid
touches presents in hasy but graphic outlines the gene
features of the doctrine which is destined he thinks,
be the nineteenth century something more than that
which Bacons was to the seventeenth and eighteenth
centuries.
We purpose on future and early day to lay before
our readers brief analysis of NJ Comics PhiloSophte
Posture, with such reflections we have, not without
some thought and study, formed respecting its general
and particular merits That he deserves to be ranked
among the deepest well most brilliant thinkers Of
modern times WILL sure, be dispute by no one
who shall make himself acquainted with the profound
reasoning of the Cours dc Phosophie Positive" He
possesses more than any among his countrymen
that faculty of deep generalization cee qual de penser
grand by which he has been able coordinate wider
and still wider circle of scientific research Though 9TH
had written before him the connection of the physi
cal sciences yet has remained for Comte fully to
prehend and clearly state the grand results towards
which al scientific progress is conducting the race 1t
remained for him to show that there " hierarchy
the sciences whose successive graations embrace the
phenomena of the world, proceeding he does in the
scale Of scientific enlargement from the abstract simple
and constant, the concrete, the complex, and the
variable.
No before Comte had ventured to construct moral
science or social science the fnductve and positive
method of Bacon and still less it perceived that
all such science could only be possible as the destined
complement and final elimination of all anterior science
No before Comte believe had limited at the ma
ural order of the sciences according to which the 20
stve Philosophy, or the Philosophy Of Fact, may
translate tinto English naturally divided into five grand
and fundamental compartments whose succession is de-
termned by necessary and invariable suboriinaton
based upon the simple but profound comparison of the
corresponding phenomena These FIVE great sciences
Astronomy Physics Chemistry, Physiology and, lastly,
Sociology, the science of politics and society. The
first these relates phenomena the most general the
l fha ahstra he
connected with humanity; while the phenomena falling
under the last are, the contrary, the most special
the complex the most concrete, and the most direct
ly interesting man. The last science might hence
infer prior would be impossible except coming after
those which precede it and accordingly find by expe-
ence that such Of the sciences
once the order their evolution and the relative states
Of perfection that obtain among them. But must not
fcesta subject by entering further into considers
tons which will necessarily pass in review when We come
speak specifically of the methods principles and
deductions Of the Positive Philosophy.
In conclusion few scattered biographical memoran-
d. derived chiefly from Mr. Lewes may both
pendent to the present paper aud preface to the
tice which shall be devoted exclusively to an cxamna-
ton of the Comtian system.
Augaste Come born in 1897. His collegiate edu-
cation commenced in Of the many educational inst
tutes founded and fostered by the Emperor Napoleon
4 and il was while student college that Comte
the necessity of entire renovation of philosophy NJ.
Comte thus affords another instance Of that unmisaksbe
presage which many of the worlds thinkers have given
in early life of their future greatness. 1t at college,
IS Mr. Lewes reminds u.s. that Bacon, in his quick and
youth up against the scholastic phi
osophy and planned the first sketch of the Nopum Or
ganu 1t college that Descartes became painfully
Of the incompetence of the Arstotean method
and the vanity of the regnng sciences 1t was ut college
that Locke grew impatient of the Leriaan specuaton
of Hobbies and the qubbng pedantres of Cumberland
5 and boldly planned the Essay on the Human Under
5 standing.
While thus penetrated with the conviction that re
form in science and reconstruction of humanity on thu
basis Of this reform objects the first at east
instant and earnest Importance, he became acquainted
with the celebrated St Simon, then in the midst Of hi
efforts degenerate European society and establish
the universal church" The coincidence of opinion
which brought about this rapproeheent between Cont
and St Simon is to be sought in the fact that they eacf
sighed for social renovation founded a mental
scientific revolution. But Comte discarded tn
mysticism of St. Simon, and betook himself the indie
pendent solution Of the great problem which he had pro
posed to his mind as the labor Of his life.
In 1896, however, his for time srreste'
by distressing attack of mental alienation supernduce
by ever work and heart anxieties" He has himsel
boldly stated this episode in his fc in anticipation, say
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