New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-10-24

primitive and universal belief rfjent no essential
function of the spiritual nature but which finds
place for every exercise Of thought, which conse-
crates the Past, while it gathers around il the
whole life Of the present, and kessmple preps-
ration for all the magnif cent developments Of the
Future. COmte, on the other hand, brings
restrictive force upon the intellect, to which the
bydrostatic press is but trAe crushing it within
the limits Of meager and barren materia'm.
His grim defiance ofevery spiritual ,sprationis as
terrific as it is horrible. With his austere devo-
ton to exact science, he frowns upon the natural
instincts of humanity, like some grizzed 'onjuror'
chasing from bis magic circle the playful children
who venture within the dreary solitude d nus
incantations. His cOldbOoded reputation oil
everything beyond the sphere Of sensible phe-
nomena, is as ifa man should attempt to increase
the glory Of the ear:h, by quenching 'ne ngn' OF
the eternal stars. The reconciing spirit OF
modern philosophy, which seeks to bsrrHonze all
anttheses to collect the golden particles OF truth
from all varieties Of theory to create universal
s,ptbesis from the scattered elements of specula-
tiop, and to discover the presence CT Divine and
Infinite Life amid ..ne meeting appearances of time
and space, has little affinity with system, which
recognizes DO essential difference between man
and the brute, which regards the soul as word
vacant of significance, which mocks at the hope
of Immortality, and would rob the universe Of the
pervadiDg presence Of its Maker and Lswgiver.
The appearance of Miss Martineaus volume has
recently done something TO direct an increased
attention to the alleged discoveries of Comte, in
the field of scientific speculation. His name has
been more frequently alluded to in Intelligent
social circles, within the last six months, than at
any time probably, since the publication OF his
great work. Many have attempted to excite
prejudice against his system, on account OF its
theological bearings, without being willing to do
Justice to its eminent merits, regarded in certain
partial scientific aspect. certain degree OF
curiosity has been called forth concerning its char
acter and tendencies among many who have
scarcely the courage to grapple with his i've
thousand arid pages, or who even shrink from the
formidable volume in which his enthusiastic Eng
lish prophecies has condensed the burden OF his
oracles. We will, therefore, present brief sum
mary of his ideas, with such passing comments as
they may suggest. Though our convictions, (ous
of the sphere of physical science) are in uncom-
promising antagonism to Comics conclusions we
trust we are not 80 deficient in intellectual fair
ness, as to do injustice to the subject by colorng
our statements with any personal antipathies.
The Positive Philosophy, in itself, is not claimed
by Comte as an original discovery. Ii is the out
grow tn of the inherent laws of the human mind.
Different ages have approximated to it, in pro-
portion to their scientific development. 1t be-
comes part of individual culture, according as
early natural prejudices are overcome, and the
true ends of science are clearly appreciated by
the intellect. The peculiar object to which Comte
has devoted his labors is the exposition of the
law by which Positive Philosophy enters into the
domain of thought, and an estimate Of the actual
achievements of science, as tested by the methods
of this Philosophy.
The law of intellectual developm ent, which
Comte proft sses to have promulgated for the first
time is the passage Of the mind from what he calls
the theological and metaphysical phases to that OF
Positive Philosophy. Each of cur leading con-
eeptions, each branch Of knowledge, is subject to
three different conditions-the Theological or fic-
titlous, the Metaphysical or abstract, and the
Scientific OF positive. Corresponding to these
conditions are three methods Of philosophising,
which are essentially different in their character
and opposite in their results-the theological
method, the metaphysical method, and the posi-.
tive method. Hence, three radically distinct
philosophers or general systems Of conceptions
on the aggregate Of phenomena, each Of which
excludes the other. With theology the human
mind commences, by the intrinsic laws of its or
ganizaton metaphysics forms temporary and
transitional stages while the ultimate goal is at
tanned in Positive Philosophy.
The first or theological phase Of the intellect
has certain obvious characteristics. The aim Of
inquiry is to detect the mystery of universal Being
to ascend from the Finite to the Infinite, from
the Relative to the Absolute-and to explain the
phenomena of the Universe by reference to super
natural causes. In framing theory Of existence,
the theological philosophy assumes an invisible
Cause, with life analogous to our own and ope-
rating after the methods of human volitiOn. The
Universe, according to this conception is peoped
with supernatural beings, to whose diversified
agencies all the phenomena of experience are to
be ascribed.
The second or metaphysical state is a modi6ca-
tion of the first, and serves merely as connecting
link between that and the highest scientific de-
velopment. In this phase abstract forces take
the place of supernatural beings. General ideas
are regarded as veritable entities Their action
is supposed to afford the correct explanation of
all phenomena. This philosophy takes posses
sion of the speculative field after the theological
has relinquished it, and before the positive is