CHAPTER IV 



THE APPEAL TO HISTORY 



In Dr. Hatch Criticism In Ritschl, how far Comtist Other appeals ; to 

 historic parallels Example from Comte To the whole tendency of history 

 More usual in Comte ; examples Criticism Mr. Mackenzie's criticism 

 Guidance to be gained from history is limited Comte's varied and 

 capricious appeals to it. 



To appeal to history for guidance is a very natural 

 resource on the part of those who distrust philosophy. 

 It is found even among theologians who are interested, 

 as Comte was not, in preserving belief in God. Prob- 

 ably the appeal was never made with more clearness or 

 with more confidence than by Dr. Edwin Hatch in his 

 St. Giles Lecture, "From Metaphysics to History." 1 

 Dr. Hatch can find no language in which to express his 

 contempt for metaphysics, or his confidence in modern 

 physical science. " We have passed into a new atmo- 

 sphere. We have around us, not the glamour of a 

 splendid mist, but the light of day." Science has 

 " passed from metaphysics to fact, and " has " passed 

 thereby from doubt to certainty." One province re- 

 mains to be liberated that of theology. Let us make a 

 similar transition here, "from metaphysics to history" ; 

 then, even in theology, we shall find solid ground below 

 our feet. The history which Dr. Hatch has in view is 



1 Published in the Contemporary Review for June 1889. 



