comte, auguste - the positive philosophy of auguste comte

The Positive Philosophy of Auguste Comte Freely Translated and Condensed by Harriet Martineau With an Introduction by Frederic Harrison In Three Volumes Volume 1 Batoche Books Kitchener 2000 London George Bell & Sons 1896 Contents Introduction 7 Preface by Harriet Martineau 18 Introduction 27 Chapter I: Account of The Aim of This Work.—View of The Nature and Importance of the Positive Philosophy 27 Chapter II: View of The Hierarchy of The Positive Sciences 42 Book I: Mathematics. 56 Chapter I: Mathematics, Abstract And Concrete. 56 Chapter II: General View of Mathematical Analysis 67 Section I: Ordinary Analysis, or Calculus of Direct Functions 74 Section II: Transcendental Analysis, of Calculus of Indirect Func- tions 78 The Differential and Integral Calculus 88 The Differential Calculus 90 The Integral Calculus 93 Calculus of Variations 98 Chapter III: General View of Geometry 102 Modern, or Analytical Geometry 111 Chapter IV: Rational Mechanics 120 Section I: Statics 128 Section II: Dynamics 138 Book II: Astronomy 148 Chapter I: General View 148 Chapter II: Methods of Study of Astronomy 155 Section I: Instruments 155 Section II: Refraction 159 4/Auguste Comte Section III: Parallax 160 Section IV: Catalogue of Stars 162 Chapter III: Geometrical Phenomena of the Heavenly Bodies 163 Section I: Statical Phenomena 163 Motion of the Earth 171 Kepler’s Laws 178 Section II: Dynamical Phenomena 182 Gravitation 182 Chapter IV: Celestial Statics 190 Section I: Weight on the Earth 192 Section II: Form of The Planets 193 Section III: The Tides 195 Chapter V: Celestial Dynamics 199 Chapter VI: Sidereal Astronomy And Cosmogony 209 Book III: Physics 216 Chapter I: General View 216 Chapter II: Barology 230 Section I: Statics 231 Section II: Dynamics 236 Chapter III: Thermology 238 Section I: Mutual Thermological Influence 239 Section II: Constituent Changes by Heat 244 Section III: Connection with Analysis 248 Section IV: Terrestrial Temperatures 249 Chapter IV: Acoustics 250 Section I: Propagation of Sound 254 Section II: Intensity of Sounds 255 Section III: Theory of Tones 256 Chapter V: Optics 259 Section I: Study of Direct Light 265 Section II: Catoptrics 266 Section III: Dioptrics 267 Section IV: Diffraction 269 Chapter VI: Electrology 270 Section I: Electric Production 273 Section II: Electrical Statics 275 Section III: Electrical Dynamics 276 Book IV: Chemistry 280 Chapter I 280 Positive Philosophy/5 Chapter II: Inorganic Chemistry 297 Chapter III: Doctrine of Definite Proportions 310 Chapter IV: The Electro-Chemical Theory 321 Chapter V: Organic Chemistry 330 Introduction “If it cannot be said of Comte that he has created a science, it may be said truly that he has, for the first time, made the creation pos- sible. This is a great achievement, and, with the extraordinary merit of his historical analysis, and of his philosophy of the physi- cal science,. is enough to immortalize his name.”—John Stuart Mill. “Comte is now generally admitted to have been the most eminent and important of that interesting group of thinkers whom the over- throw of old institutions in France turned towards social specula- tion.”—John Morley. The foregoing quotations from the two English authorities who have most severely criticized the “Positive Polity” of Auguste Comte, bear witness to the profound impulse given to modern thought by the publi- cation of the “Positive Philosophy,” more than half a century ago. Miss Martineau’s condensation appeared eleven years later, during the life- time of Comte and before the completion of his later works. It was warmly welcomed by the philosopher himself, and adopted by him as the popular form of his own voluminous treatise. Since that time an immense amount of discussion has arisen about the philosophy itself, about the subsequent development of Comte’s own career and specula- tions, and on the incidents of his strenuous life. In placing before the public Miss Martineau’s version of the “Philosophic Positive” in a new form, it seems a fitting occasion to introduce it by some notice of Comte’s own life and labours, as well by some account of that which he called his “fundamental work,” and of the very remarkable version by which Harriet Martineau gave it a new literary form. Auguste Comte was born at Montpellier, in the south of France, 8/Auguste Comte 19th Jan., 1798, the eldest son of Louis Comte, treasurer of taxes for the department of Hérault, and of Rosalie Boyer, whose family produced some eminent physicians. Both father and mother were sincere Catho- lics and ardent royalists. Their son was christened Isidore Auguste Marie François Xavier. The house in which he was born is still to be seen opposite the church of Sainte Eulalie. At the age of nine, a small and delicate child, he was placed as a boarder in the Lycee of his native city. He soon showed extraordinary intelligence and industry, a character of singular courage and resolution, and a spirit of defiance towards reli- gious and civil authority. He refused to conform to any worship, and avowed an open hatred of Napoleon and his schemes of conquest. Anec- dotes are still told of his prodigious memory; he could repeat a hundred verses after a single recital, and could recite backwards the words of a page that he had once read. He carried off all prizes, and at the age of fourteen and a half he had passed through the entire course of the Lycée. He then studied mathematics under Daniel Encontre, a teacher of great ability, whose place he was able to take in his fifteenth year. At the age of sixteen he passed in the École Polytechnic. the first on the list of candidates for the south and centre of France. In October, 1814, the young Comte, then in his seventeenth year, entered the great college at Paris, and there applied himself with his usual energy to mathematics and physics under the illustrious Poinsot. He was called “the philosopher,” and took the lead amongst his fellow pupils by his energy as well as his abilities. He was known as an ardent republican, a fierce opponent of tyranny, whether theological, political, or academic. In 1816, one of the tutors having given offence to the younger pupils, Comte took the lead in demanding his resignation, and drew up a curt memorial to this effect. The college was sent down, and Comte, who was only in his second year of residence as the author of the insurrection, was sent home to his despairing parents and placed under the surveillance of the police, with his hopes of a future career entirely destroyed. For some time he studied biology in the medical school of Montpellier, but in September, 1816, being then eighteen, he returned to Paris with the brave intention of supporting himself by lessons. He now dropped the mediaeval name of Isidore by which he had been known from in- fancy, and took his Roman baptismal name of Auguste. In the following year he was introduced to Saint-Simon, with whom he remained in rela- tions for four or five years. The vague, optimistic, and humanitarian Positive Philosophy/9 dreams of this singular reformer did undoubtedly exercise a certain fas- cination over the youthful mind of Comte, and gave his genius and char- acter an inflexible bent towards a scheme of social reorganization. But the shallowness of Saint-Simon’s acquirements could not impart any- thing of a solid kind to such a mind as Comte’s; and the vanity and charlatanry of the famous socialist alienated his young follower. They soon came into direct opposition on Saint-Simon’s contention that intel- lectual and moral re-organization could only proceed from the authority of government. Saint-Simon claimed as his own the work of his young colleague, and when he fell back on a mystical theologism, the rupture became final. Auguste Comte wrote a few pieces for various periodicals in Paris, to which he attached but little importance. His first great philosophical work was a pamphlet in 191 pages, published in May, 1822, with an introduction by Saint-Simon. It was entitled a “Prospectus of the scien- tific worlds for the reorganization of Society, by Auguste Comte. former pupil of the École Polytechnique.” He republished his pamphlet with some small modifications and additions in 1824, under the title “System of Positive Polity,” and this is reprinted in vol. iv of the “Politique Posi- tive,” 1854. A full accost and the text of both editions is given in the “Revue Occidentale” (1895, vol. xi, p. 1). This essay of 1822 contains a statement of the classification of the sciences, of the law of the three states, and the suggestion of a science of sociology. It is in truth the prospectus of that which for thirty years Comte continued to elaborate. It has not the smallest connection with Saint-Simon, nor with contem- porary socialism or mysticism, and has always been treated by Comte and by his adherents as the the first sketch of the “Positive Philosophy.” Between 1816 and 1826 (aetat. 18 to 28) Comte laboured and read with extraordinary energy, frequently absorbed for twenty-four hours at a stretch, and writing all through the night. By his essay of 1822 and one or two other pieces in the “Producteur;” 1825–26, he had won the favourable opinion of many eminent men of science and literature. Amongst these are mentioned Delambre, Fourier, Blainville, Bonnin, Poinsot, Carnot, Guizot. J. P. Say, Dunover, Professor Buchholtz of Berlin, de Villèle, Lamennais. For a few freely he was private secretary to Casimir-Périer, but his independent spirit declined to accept the du- ties required. In April, 1820 (aetat. 28). he opened in his own rooms a course of public lectures on to Positive Philosophy, which was to extend to seventy-two lectures, from 1st April, 1826. to 1st April. l827. Amongst, 10/Auguste Comte his audience were such men as Broussais, Blainville, Poinsot, J. Fou- rier, Alexander von Humboldt, D’Eichthal, Montebello, Carnot, son of the famous general, Cerclet, Montgéry, and other young students. The series was in fact that which was subsequently published. At the fourth lecture the course was abruptly broken off. Intense mental strain, to- gether with domestic misery, brought on an attack of insanity. He left his home in a state of distraction, and was placed in an asylum by his friend Broussais. There he remained for seven months. The devotion of his mother and his wife, who took him from the care of Dr. Esquirol whilst still suffering from the disease, succeeded in gradually restoring his reason. An epoch of profound despair followed, during which he threw himself into the Seine, but was rescued, and thenceforth he resolved to devote himself with patience and resignation to the work of his life, supporting himself with private lessons. In Janu- ary, 1829, be resumed his course of lectures on the Positive Philosophy, and he had the satisfaction of seeing the same eminent men amongst his audience. with the exception of Humboldt, who was no longer in France. On this occasion he completed the whole series of lectures, and in De- cember, 1829, he repeated them in a public course at the Athértée. He also gave other gratuitous public lectures, including the series on Popu- lar Astronomy which he repeated during eighteen years, from 1830 to 1848. In 1832, Comte was appointed répétiteur of analytic mathemat- ics at the École Polytechnique, at the instance of M. Navier, then pro- fessor there; and in 1837 he was named examiner of the candidates for admission. For a short time he filled the place of the Professor. The work of which these three volumes are a condensation was published at intervals from 1830 to 1842. The first volume, containing the Introduction and the philosophy of Mathematics, was published sepa- rately, with a dedication to Baron Fourier and M. de Blainville. A brief note described it as the result of the author’s labours from the year 1816, and as a development of the new ideas put forth in his early essay of 1822, entitled a “System of Positive Polity.” The second volume, comprising Astronomy and Physics, did not appear until 1835, owing to the commercial disasters of the Revolution of July. The third volume, comprising Chemistry and Biology appeared in 1838. The new science of Sociology, which was intended to be comprised in a single volume, ultimately extended to three volumes, published in 1839, l841, and 1842. The last volume, containing nearly a thousand pages, was introduced by a personal preface to explain the prolongation of the world over twelve [...]... states in her preface, the later works of Comte are not referred to in her book at all She carried this decision to the very extreme point of suppressing, without any mention, the last ten pages of the sixth and concluding volume of the Philosophy. ” Now, from the point of view of the unity of Comte s career these ten pages are crucial, for they contain the entire scheme of Comte s future philosophical... that of Positive Philosophy, under whatever name it may be known to the real students of every sect; and therefore must that philosophy be favourable to those virtues whose repression would be incompatible with progress The Positive Philosophy of Auguste Comte Introduction Chapter I Account of The Aim of This Work.—View of The Nature and Importance of the Positive Philosophy A general statement of any... cannot he otherwise The theological world cannot but hate a book which treats of theological belief as a transient state of the human mind And again, the preachers and teachers, of all sects and schools, who keep to the ancient practice, once inevitable, of contemplating and judging of the universe from the point of view of their own minds, instead of franking learned to take their stand out of themselves,... far from being the work of a partisan or even if friend, Brewster pays homage to the depth and sagacity of Comte s mind, and he accepts in principle the law of the Three States, the Classification of the Sciences, and the ultimate extension of the methods of Science to Sociology Mr Mill followed in his “System of Logic,” 1843, in which he spoke of Auguste Comte as amongst the first of European thinkers,... study simply the exercise and results of the intellectual powers of the human race, which is neither more nor less than the general object of the Positive Philosophy In short, looking at all scientific theories as so many great logical facts, it is only by the thorough observation of these facts that we can arrive at the knowledge of logical laws These being the only means of knowledge of intellectual... than the abstract names of phenomena It is not easy to say by what other process than this our minds could have Positive Philosophy/ 31 passed from supernatural considerations to natural; from the theological system to the positive The Law of human development being thus established let us consider what is the proper nature of the Positive Philosophy As we have seen, the first characteristic of the Positive. .. the spirit of the Positive philosophy rose up in opposition to that of the superstitious and scholastic systems which had hitherto obscured the true character of all science Since that date, the progress of the Positive philosophy, and the decline of the other two, have been so marked that no rational mind now doubts that the revolution is destined to go on to its completion,—every branch of knowledge... section is the weakest part of the book, in regard both to the organization and the details of the subject In regard to the first, the author explains the fact, from the nature of the case,—that Physics is rather a repository of somewhat fragmentary portions of physical science, the correlation of which is not vet clear, than a single circumscribed science And we must say for him, in regard to the other... excludes the others The first is the necessary point of departure of the human understanding; and the third is its fixed and definitive state The second is merely a state of transition In the. theological state, the human mind, seeking the essential nature of beings, the first and final causes (the origin and purpose) of all effects, —in short, Absolute knowledge,—supposes all phenomenato be produced by the. .. departure of the individual and of the race being the same, the phases of the mind of a man correspond to the epochs of the mind of the race Now, each of us is aware, if he looks back upon his own history that he was a theologian in his childhood, a metaphysician in his youth, and a natural philosopher in his manhood All men who are up to their age can verify this for themselves Besides the observation of facts, . Account of The Aim of This Work.—View of The Nature and Importance of the Positive Philosophy 27 Chapter II: View of The Hierarchy of The Positive Sciences 42 Book I: Mathematics. 56 Chapter I: Mathematics,. sixth and con- cluding volume of the Philosophy. ” Now, from the point of view of the unity of Comte s career these ten pages are crucial, for they contain the entire scheme of Comte s future. This essay of 1822 contains a statement of the classification of the sciences, of the law of the three states, and the suggestion of a science of sociology. It is in truth the prospectus of that