New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-02-13

,, ho.u assuu,od by the reviewers OF Mr.. Spencer.
he repels the charge in the following ietef ~ i"s
Sec Englqader. With ills we also puoIlsh an extract
from private letter of Mr.. Spencer TO gentleman IN
New.York upon the same subject They are interest,"
ing no, only as defining lis position in regard to
Comte but Of showing how the latter is reg;Idtd u
men OF science in England.
LETTER.
| To n, Editor IF The Nor EEglaader
SIR While recognizing the appgcciatiye tour d sr'rI
condor Of the article la your lat number entitled 'efo's
Spencer ON Uaee Religious Ideas" allow ne 10 Io.a1 oas
one egsor which pcsyldes Tie wItrs correctly rrpescps
the leading portions of ny argument, bn he Inadvertently
conveys wrong impression respecting NY ,eadcnes a"1
syupsthies.
He says Of me- the spl. OF lis philosophy is eyidcny
that Of the socad positive me,hcd which has nov many rsT'
a disciples wen many Jealous sdL.rsn's among The
thinkers Of England Fuiher tseitly elased Win
tie En.s edtnrcgs and disciples OF the Posyst'
and is presently added tia; in Mr.. Spencer have an
example posiYit who dsres treat the sab Of rel.
sion IT. supecous neglect" Here and throughout the i'm.
plicaon ia that am follower OF Com,e. THIS is mistake.
That NJ Cote has given general exposition Of the doctrine
and method elaborated by science and has sppisd to Il
name which hss obtained certain currency But 10
tia, tie holders Of this doctrine and followers Of This
method are disciples OF NJ Come Neither their modes Of
inquiry their views concerning human knowledge in ito
nature and limits are appsecaDIy
before. ItLey POisss it in the ,hs, al
science have been less consistently Po,vistsi
and tie applicability OF ". Comics title to them more
mlacs them bis disciples than does IL applicability to tie men
Of science who lived ami died before VI CoHe wrote, maze
them hi. disciples.
Ny own attitude toward Cone and hts partial .dheren.s
has been I'll along hst Of ansgonsm In the Gen.
e OF Science Published IA 1854 and repub,hsd with other
essays 1857 have endeavored to slow that his theory Il
have still my papers the memoranda
os second review (for which failed obtain pacel tho
purpose Of a 20 show the INTERMEDIATES Of bis theory
oiuteec;ua progress. The oHly doctrine OF importance IN
which agree with h-the relatively OF all iuosledge-s
him and undTy other thinkers Of earlier dateS
and this hold IN daereu, from tia, in which ha
heidi But all points that distinctive Of his philosophy,
iier from him. deny bis Hierarchy Of the Sciences.
regard his division Of progress into the three phases
theological metaphysical and positive, superficial reject
utterly hi. Religion Of Humanity. And lie ideal Of society
hold deteation Some CT lis minor views accept
Of his cdoi a remarks TO TO be profound but rom
everything which distinguishes Comeim system dissent
entirely. The only influence NY Of thought
which TO NJ Comics writing, the influence that
result. Ou Meeting with an.asonc opinions definitely exs
pressed
Such being position, you will think, that by cls
ing Postvst sad facility including among the Enc
h admirers aud disciples Co,e your unnten-
onay uisrepresens am quite ready 10 bear The oduus
sachnsto opinions which do hold; but object to have
added the odium attaching opinions which do not hold III
by publishing this letter your forthcoming number you VIII
allow myself night with the American public this
matter you vii greatly oblse AMI Sir your obediene
servant, HsRDERr sfEScxs-
In private letter to gentleman Of this city. Mo
Spencer further observes: There appears to have goe
abroad In tho United States. very erroneous inipfrs'
sion respecting the influence Of Comics writings ~
England suppose that the currency obtained oy tns
words Positiyism" and "Positivis" 10 70 blame ioA
this. Comic having designated by tho term POSITIVE
Philosophy all ha, body Of definitely esaolsnso Know"
edge which inen Of science have been sr"uu''
i,,o, into n coherent body Of doctrine and having
b,h;,pav naecd this in opposition to the ineeherens
hodv 90 doctrine defended by thcoogiaDs 1t has Dc,
the habit of the theological party to think OF ING
scispti6c party under this tito Of POSI-
10 them by Comic And thus, from the
- nsnr them Postivists there has grown ~
ssnu,p,ion that they call themselves Positi'sss
,h., thew are the disciples Of Comte. The truth
Comte and his doctrines receive here scarcely any
...a,,,op know something Of the scientific wof'a -
rnsIapd and cannot name single man Oh '.'' ~
,vho acknowledges himself follower on oo~" 80
,oO,uts the title Of Positivist Lost DoSs'"'
IVY Z ,Ns-s