4 PREFACE. 



system Mr. Spencer found himself ranked as a positivist 

 and a follower of Comte. Against this he repeatedly pro 

 tested in public letters ; but the charge was so continually 

 reiterated that at length he found himself compelled to 

 make a more formal statement of the differences between 

 himself and the French philosopher. The result of this 

 was a pamphlet published in 1864, in which he followed 

 the rejection of Comte s classification by the promulgation 

 of his own view, and appended a detailed statement of 

 the differences between his doctrine and the doctrines of 

 M. Comte. Some of his views of classification having 

 been adversely criticised by Mr. Bain and Mr. Mill, he 

 has replied to their strictures in a new article in the pres 

 ent volume. The general question is one of great interest 

 to scientific students ; and, for the convenience of those 

 who desire to form an intelligent judgment of Mr. Spen 

 cer s case, both as contrasted with that of Comte, and on 

 its own independent merits, it has been thought desirable 

 to incorporate the original article on &quot; The Genesis of 

 Science &quot; in this collection. Though placed last, it should 

 be read first by those not already familiar with the dis 

 cussion. 



NEW YOKE, May, 1871. 



