IX. 



COMTE'S POSITIVE PHILOSOPHY. 1 



IT is now nearly a quarter of a century since, 

 by the publication of the last volume of the 

 " Cours de Philosophie Positive," Auguste Comte 

 completed his great task of organizing into a co- 

 herent system the doctrines held and the methods 

 of investigation pursued by scientific men. His 

 work was not long in obtaining the recognition of 

 advanced thinkers ; and during the period which 

 has elapsed since its completion, its leading views 

 noticed with more or less approval by Mr. Mill, 

 Mr. Grote, and Sir G. C. Lewis, explained and 

 defended by Mr. Lewes and M. Littre", partially 

 adopted by Mr. Buckle, adversely criticised by 

 Mr. Spencer, and violently attacked by the entire 

 a priori school of philosophers and theologians 

 have seriously occupied the attention of a large 

 part of the thinking public. The term " positiv- 

 ism " has won for itself a place in the vocabulary 



1 The Positive Philosophy of Auguste Comte. By John Stuart MilL 

 Boston : William V. Spencer. 1866. 12mo, pp- 182. 



