26 ADAPTATION AND PROGRESS 



his unbounded empire over external nature." 1 This evaluation of 

 the idealizing function of the mind is elaborated in the Systeme 

 and in the Subjective Synthesis, and as made concrete in the 

 sacerdotal order of positivism appears to most people grotesque, 

 yet it contains an element of truth. Whether an illusion or not, 

 religion is a power in life that makes for individual and social 

 success, and using Comte's pragmatic test the very fact that it 

 works gives us good reason for believing that it is not a mere 

 fiction of the mind. 2 



There was to be a social hierarchy under positivism yet based 

 not on force, or privilege, but on ability with equal opportunity 

 to each. This, he grants, would result in inequality in wealth, 

 but " the positive philosophy will show that it is of small impor- 

 tance to popular interests in what hands capital is deposited, if its 

 employment is duly useful to society at large; and that condition 

 depends much more on moral than on political methods. No 

 jealous legal provision against the selfish use of wealth, and no 

 mischievous intervention, paralyzing social activity by political 

 prohibition, can be nearly so effectual as general reprobation, 

 grounded on an ascertained principle under the reign of positive 

 morality." 3 Thus social control, according to our author, is a 

 potent factor in social progress, but to be effective it must be 

 based on a knowledge of the laws of social development, and be 

 inspired by a desire to enhance the well-being of humanity at 

 large. 



It is commonly stated that the two leading teachings of the 

 Positive Philosophy are the law of the three stages and the 

 hierarchy of the sciences, but most fundamental of all is Comte's 

 conception of all humanity forming a living, growing entity or 

 " general mind." The doctrine as developed may be stated as 

 follows: (i) Society is an organism, (2) with a structure in which 

 all parts are co-ordinated, each adapted to the whole and to its 

 function, (3) each stage in the process of development growing out 

 of the past, growing into the future and adapted to its environ- 



1 Positive Philosophy, ii, pp. 164, 165. Cf. A General View, pp. 364 ff. 



2 Cf. Carver, The Religion Worth Having, p. 89. 

 8 Positive Philosophy, ii, p. 486. 



