Sir William Hamilton's Fragments of Philosophy . 77 



Sorbonne, it lias particularly established itself in medicine ; it has there 

 created a new category of applications which, under the name of Phre- 

 nology, has brought together a pretty considerable number of disciples. 

 The Spiritualist school, the leading members of which are of considerable 

 influence, is divided into two branches, the Scotch and German philoso- 

 phy. The first was introduced into France, almost suddenly, after the 

 prelections of M. Royer-CoUard (1811 to I8I0' ; afterwards supported 

 by M. Cousin, then by M. JoufFroy, it has brought into France a method 

 founded on experience, having for its object the empirical science of the 

 human mind, facts for its basis, and Bacon and Newton for its masters. 

 It is exclusively scientific, and consequently gives offence to no received 

 opinions, which is perhaps the cause of its reception having been so 

 prompt and easy. Certain points of relation likewise unite it to the sen- 

 sualist philosophy, and it has contracted an alliance with this school, 

 ■which ma}' have promoted its popularity.' 



But the same motives to union did not exist between the Scotch and 

 German school, nor, consequently, between the German school and the 

 French mind of the nineteenth centur}' ; accordingly, the influence of Ger- 

 many has been less considerable than that of Scotland. At no period, 

 moreover, has France much relished the German spirit : Leibnitz, who 

 wrote a part of his works in French, established no school in France, 

 while his cotemporary Locke had little difficulty in making an impression 

 on the mind of the masses. The reason of this is, that the French cha- 

 racter is more curious to know than desirous of assimilating foreign ele- 

 ments ; better calculated to judge of than to appropriate to itself the 

 riches of others. The German philosophy has, nevertheless, taken root 

 among us by means of some works of detail ; numerous works have been 

 translated, and certain professors, among whom M. Cousin maybe men- 

 tioned, have adopted a portion of its principles and methods, subjecting 

 them at the same time to considerable modifications. 



The Spiritualist school is the one which, at this moment, can boast of 

 the greatest number of adepts : represented by professors of no small po- 

 pularity, it has obtained the support of public opinion. M. Peisse does 

 not, however, predict for it a very long futurity. He believes it destined 

 to prevail exclusively within the circle of the official schools. He docs not 

 think that it possesses sufficient vitality to exercise a continued influence 

 over the mind of the masses, and he accuses it particularly of a false en- 

 thusiasm, and a natural inclination to mysticism and obscurity. The 

 school called the Theological, created by a spirit of reaction, docs not ajj- 

 pear to him to possess in any higher degree the necessary means of long 

 duration ; but he places more confidence in the elements which consti- 

 tute the doctrine which people have agreed to call the Doctrine of Pro- 

 gress ; a kind of ramification of St Simonism, but which has tlie merit of 

 extending the field of science, by directing it towards the perfecting of 

 the whole of humanity. We may here use M. Pcissc's own words, as he 

 justly characterizes the influence uf this new pliilosophy, by eomparint! it 



