CHAPTER I

INTELLECTUAL CHARACTER OF POSITIVISM 8

The object of Philosophy is to present a systematic view of human life as a basis for modifying its imperfections—The Theological Synthesis failed to include the practical side of human nature—But the Positive spirit originated in practical life—In human nature, and therefore in the Positive system, Affection is the preponderating element—The proper function of Intellect is the service of the Social Sympathies—Under Theology the Intellect was the slave of the Heart; under Positivism, its servant—The subordination of the Intellect to the Heart is the subjective principle of Positivism—Objective basis of the system: Order of the external World, as revealed by Science—By it the selfish affections are controlled; the unselfish strengthened—Our conception of this External Order has been gradually growing from the earliest times, and is but just complete—Even where not modifiable, its influence on the character is of the greatest value—But in most cases we can modify it; and in these the knowledge of it forms the systematic basis of human action—The chief difficulty of the Positive Synthesis was to complete our conception of the External Order by extending it to Social Phenomena—By the discovery of sociological laws social questions are made paramount; and thus our subjective principle is satisfied without danger to free thought—Distinction between Abstract and Concrete laws. It is the former only that we require for the purpose before us—In our Theory of Development the required Synthesis of Abstract conceptions already exists—Therefore we are in a position to proceed at once with the work of social regeneration—Error of identifying Positivism with Atheism, Materialism, Fatalism, or Optimism. Atheism, like Theology, discusses insoluble mysteries—Materialism is due to the encroachment of the lower sciences on the domain of the higher, an error which Positivism rectifies—Nor is Positivism fatalist, since it asserts the External Order to be modifiable—The charge of Optimism applies to Theology rather than to Positivism. The Positivist judges of all historical actions relatively, but does not justify them indiscriminately—The word Positive connotes all the highest intellectual attributes, and will ultimately have a moral significance.

CHAPTER II

THE SOCIAL ASPECT OF POSITIVISM 64

The relation of Positivism to the French Revolution—The negative or destructive phase of the Revolution stimulated the desire of Progress, and consequently the study of social phenomena—The constructive phase of the Revolution. The first attempts to construct failed, being based on destructive principles—Counter-revolution from 1794 to 1830—Political stagnation between 1830 and 1848—The present position, 1848–1850. Republicanism involves the great principle of subordinating Politics to Morals—It gives prominence to the problem of reconciling Order and Progress—It brings the metaphysical revolutionary schools into discredit—And it proves to all the necessity of a true spiritual power; a body of thinkers whose business is to study and to teach principles, holding aloof from political action—The need of a spiritual power is common to the whole Republic of Western Europe—This Republic consists of the Italian, Spanish, British, and German populations, grouped round France as their centre—Relation of Positivism to the mediÆval system, to which we owe the first attempt to separate Spiritual from Temporal power—But the mediÆval attempt was premature; and Positivism will renew and complete it—The Ethical system of Positivism—Subjection of Self-love to Social love is the great ethical problem. The Social state of itself favours this result; but it may be hastened by organized and conscious effort—Intermediate between Self-love and universal Benevolence are the domestic affections: filial, fraternal, conjugal, paternal—Personal virtues placed upon a social basis—Moral education consists partly of scientific demonstration of ethical truth, but still more of culture of the higher sympathies—Organization of Public Opinion—Commemoration of great men—The political motto of Positivism: Order and Progress—Progress, the development of Order—Analysis of Progress: material, physical, intellectual, and moral—Application of our principles to actual politics. All government must for the present be provisional—Danger of attempting political reconstruction before spiritual—Politically what is wanted is Dictatorship, with liberty of speech and discussion—Such a dictatorship would be a step towards the separation of spiritual and temporal power—The motto of 1830, Liberty and Public Order—Liberty should be extended to Education—Order demands centralization—Intimate connexion of Liberty with Order.

CHAPTER III

THE ACTION OF POSITIVISM UPON THE WORKING CLASSES 140

Positivism will not for the present recommend itself to the governing classes, so much as to the People—The working man who accepts his position is favourably situated for the reception of comprehensive principles and generous sympathies—This the Convention felt; but they encouraged the People to seek political supremacy, for which they are not fit—It is only in exceptional cases that the People can be really ‘sovereign’—The truth involved in the expression is that the well-being of the people should be the one great object of government—The People’s function is to assist the spiritual power in modifying the action of government—Their combined efforts result in the formation of Public Opinion—Public opinion involves, (1) principles of social conduct, (2) their acceptance by society at large, (3) an organ through which to enunciate them—Working men’s clubs—All three conditions of Public Opinion exist, but have not yet been combined—Spontaneous tendencies of the people in a right direction. Their Communism—Its new title of Socialism—Property is in its nature social, and needs control—But Positivism rejects the Communist solution of the Problem. Property is to be controlled by moral not legal agencies—Individualization of functions as necessary as co-operation—Industry requires its captains as well as War—Communism is deficient in the historical spirit—In fact, as a system it is worthless, though prompted by noble feelings—Property is a public trust, not to be interfered with legally—Inheritance favourable to its right employment—Intellect needs moral control as much as wealth—Action of organized public opinion upon Capitalists. Strikes—Public Opinion must be based upon a sound system of Education—Education has two stages; from birth to puberty, from puberty to adolescence. The first, consisting of physical and esthetic training, to be given at home—The second part consists of public lectures on the Sciences, from Mathematics to Sociology—Travels of Apprentices—Concentration of study—Governmental assistance not required, except for certain special institutions, and this only as a provisional measure—We are not ripe for this system at present; and Government must not attempt to hasten its introduction—Intellectual attitude of the people. Emancipation from theological belief—From metaphysical doctrines—Their mistaken preference of literary and rhetorical talent to real intellectual power—Moral attitude of the people. The workman should regard himself as a public functionary—Ambition of power and wealth must be abandoned—The working classes are the best guarantee for Liberty and Order—It is from them that we shall obtain the dictatorial power which is provisionally required.

CHAPTER IV

THE INFLUENCE OF POSITIVISM UPON WOMEN 227

Women represent the affective element in our nature, as philosophers and people represent the intellectual and practical elements—Women have stood aloof from the modern movement, because of its anti-historic and destructive character—But they will sympathize with constructive tendencies; and will distinguish sound philosophy from scientific specialities—Women’s position in society. Like philosophers and people, their part is not to govern, but to modify—The united action of philosophers, women, and proletaries constitutes Moral Force—Superiority of the new spiritual power to the old. Self-regarding tendencies of Catholic doctrine—The spirit of Positivism, on the contrary, is essentially social. The Heart and the Intellect mutually strengthen each other—Intellectual and moral affinities of women with Positivism—Catholicism purified love, but did not directly strengthen it—Women’s influence over the working classes and their teachers—Their social influence in the salon—But the Family is their principal sphere of action—Woman’s mission as a wife. Conjugal love an education for universal sympathy—Conditions of marriage. Indissoluble monogamy—Perpetual widowhood—Woman’s mission as a mother—Education of children belongs to mothers. They only can guide the development of character—Modern sophisms about Woman’s rights. The domesticity of her life follows from the principle of Separation of Powers—The position of the sexes tends to differentiation rather than identity—Woman to be maintained by Man—The education of women should be identical with that of men—Women’s privileges. Their mission is in itself a privilege—They will receive honour and worship from men—Development of mediÆval chivalry—The practice of Prayer, so far from disappearing, is purified and strengthened in Positive religion—The worship of Woman a preparation for the worship of Humanity—Exceptional women. Joan of Arc—It is for women to introduce Positivism into the Southern nations.

CHAPTER V

THE RELATION OF POSITIVISM TO ART 304

Positivism when complete is as favourable to Imagination, as, when incomplete, it was unfavourable to it—Esthetic talent is for the adornment of life, not for its government—The political influence of literary men a deplorable sign and source of anarchy—Theory of Art—Art is the idealized representation of Fact—Poetry is intermediate between Philosophy and Polity—Art calls each element of our nature into harmonious action—Three stages in the esthetic process: Imitation, Idealization, Expression—Classification of the arts on the principle of decreasing generality, and increasing intensity—Poetry—Music—Painting. Sculpture. Architecture—The conditions favourable to Art have never yet been combined—Neither in Polytheism—Nor under the MediÆval system—Much less in modern times—Under Positivism the conditions will all be favourable. There will be fixed principles, and a nobler moral culture—Predisposing influence of Education—Relation of Art to Religion—Idealization of historical types—Art requires the highest education; but little special instruction—Artists as a class will disappear. Their function will be appropriated by the philosophic priesthood—Identity of esthetic and scientific genius—Women’s poetry—People’s poetry—Value of Art in the present crisis—Construction of normal types on the basis furnished by philosophy—Pictures of the Future of Man—Contrasts with the Past.

CHAPTER VI

CONCLUSION. THE RELIGION OF HUMANITY 355

Recapitulation of the results obtained—Humanity is the centre to which every aspect of Positivism converges—With the discovery of sociological laws, a synthesis on the basis of Science becomes possible, science being now concentrated on the study of Humanity—Statical aspects of Humanity—Dynamical aspects—Inorganic and organic sciences elevated by their connexion with the supreme science of Humanity—The new religion is even more favourable to Art than to Science—Poetic portraiture of the new Supreme Being, and contrast with the old—Organization of festivals, representing statical and dynamical aspects of Humanity—Worship of the dead. Commemoration of their service—All the arts may co-operate in the service of religion—Positivism the successor of Christianity, and surpasses it—Superiority of Positive morality—Rise of the new Spiritual power—Temporal power will always be necessary, but its action will be modified by the spiritual—Substitution of duties for rights—Consensus of the Social Organism—Continuity of the past with the present—Necessity of a spiritual power to study and teach these truths, and thus to govern men by persuasion, instead of by compulsion—Nutritive functions of Humanity, performed by Capitalists, as the temporal power—These are modified by the cerebral functions, performed by the spiritual power—Women and priests to have their material subsistence guaranteed—Normal relation of priests, people, and capitalists—We are not yet ripe for the normal state. But the revolution of 1848 is a step towards it—First revolutionary motto; Liberty and Equality—Second motto; Liberty and Order—Third motto; Order and Progress—Provisional policy for the period of transition—Popular dictatorship with freedom of speech—Positive Committee for Western Europe—Occidental navy—International coinage—Occidental school—Flag for the Western Republic—Colonial and foreign Associates of the Committee, the action of which will ultimately extend to the whole human race—Conclusion. Perfection of the Positivist ideal—Corruption of Monotheism.