220 APPENDICES 



*(i) Its progress consists in substituting observation and a 

 priori deduction for hypothesis. 



*(2) Its progress consists in substituting the total definition 

 of the absolute for its partial definition. 



'These two propositions could already have been deduced 

 from the very idea of philosophy. What is the true definition of 

 the whole? True definition implies the deductive, analytic form. 

 The whole implies the total absolute.' "7*5 



Thus, though Taine had begun the development of a theory of 

 induction, the problem remained of whether, and how, 'the true 

 definition of the whole' could be reached from our limited percep- 

 tions of reality. 



SPINOZA VERSUS HEGEL ( 1 85 1- 1 852) 



Taine" s Doctoral Theses 



In the period of internal and external crisis which was 1851- 

 1852, Taine was confronted with the choice of topics for his 

 doctoral theses, and his more profound philosophical interests 

 obviously received little encouragement. The subjects he wanted 

 to write about were (i) a study of Hegel's Logic, and (2) a psycho- 

 logical thesis on 'The Sensations', along lines to be developed 

 later in On Intelligence. Professor Vacherot had written Taine a 

 long letter of consolation, after his rejection at the 'agregation' 

 and shortly before Vacherot's own dismissal from the post of 

 Director of Studies at the Normal School: 



'September, 1851 

 'My dear Taine, 



'I was as surprised as I was moved by your defeat. I knew with 

 which committee you had to deal. But the presence of my friend 

 Benard reassured me for you! I do not know what happened 

 within the committee. But I am convinced that you owed your 

 defeat to N., the narrowest and most arbitrary spirit that I know. 

 ... I do not advise you to take Hegel's Logic as your thesis subject. 

 The subject would not be accepted by the Faculty. Psychology, 

 even of the most elementary sort, has yet to be created for the 

 most part. Concentrate all your readings and all your reflections 

 this year on that branch, so novel and so interesting, of Science.' ^7 



Taine tried to follow this advice during the following year. 



