602 SOCIAL MECHANICS. 



unfolding themselves from contradictory forms of faith. The Chinese, 

 the Hindoo, or the Turk, though they may not coincide with the Amer- 

 ican or European as to what is to be looked upon as true, will yet agree 

 as to what is just. The sentiment of honor, the ideas of personal integ- 

 rity, are fast becoming universal. 



Yet even in these later ages, there is in this respect nothing new. The 

 tendency of the human mind, whether individual or collective, to the same 

 direction is continually manifest a premarked and predestined course 

 in which it must go. Our most refined notions of rectitude contain noth- 

 ing more than is to be found in the little epitome of the ancient lawgiv- 

 er; for if we strike from the ten commandments \vhatever is explanatory 

 or threatening, retaining the mandatory parts alone, there remains what 

 commends itself to the understanding of intelligent men even of the 

 most diverse nations the acknowledgment of the unity of God, the ven- 

 eration due to him, the expediency of a day of rest for the laborer, the 

 duty of filial affection, the enormity of murder, the sin of adultery, the 

 crime of stealing, the shame of lying, and a strict regard for the property 

 of another : these are things which exact for themselves a spontaneous 

 and universal assent. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



SOCIAL MECHANICS. 



Comparative Sociology. Connection of Structure and Habit. Connection of History and Phys- 

 iology. Insect Society. Descartes 's Doctrine that Insects are Automata. Necessity of a 

 Mechanism of Registry for Instinct, Reason, and Civilization. 



Nature of Man. Influence of surrounding Circumstances on him. Deflniteness of his Career. 



GENERAL FACTS OF EUROPEAN HISTORY. Introduction of Egyptian Civilization into Europe. 

 The Registry of Facts by Writing. Egyptian Philosophy in the Greek Schools. The Persian 

 Empire : its Influence. Analytical Quality of the European Mind. Influence of the Greek 

 Schools on modern Philosophy. 



Origin of European Commerce. Discovery of the Straits of Gibraltar. Macedonian Campaign. 

 Reconstruction of Monarchy in Egypt. 



The Roman Empire: its centralizing and civilizing Power. Fall of European Paganism. In- 

 fluence of the Christian Church. The Sabbath Day. The Reformation. 



Influence of Mohammedanism on Europe. The Arab physical Science. TJie Crusades. Dis- 

 covery of America by the Spaniards. Fall of the Spanish Power. 



Later Mental Changes in Europe. Disappearance of Credulity. Physiological Change of Eu- 

 ropeans. Effect of Mohammedanism in changing the Centre of Intellect of Europe. Analyt- 

 ical Tendency of the European Mind. Advantages resulting therefrom. 



HAVING described man as an individual, we have next to consider him 



Dependency of * n m ' s soc ^ relations ; for so closely are his actions connect- 



sociai career on ed with his organization, that it may be said that universal 



history is only a chapter of physiology. It is acknowledged, 



