COSMIC PHILOSOPHY 



Comte, manifestly it is the first kind which first 

 needs to be classified and systematically studied 

 in its doctrines and methods. The scientific 

 study of concrete physics presupposes the sci- 

 entific study of abstract physics. For exam- 

 ple, the study of the geologic development of 

 the earth, when prosecuted in the most compre- 

 hensive manner, requires not only the previous 

 study of physics and chemistry, but also some 

 previous knowledge of astronomy and physi- 

 ology. And similarly the scientific study of 

 oceanic and atmospheric currents — which, in 

 the present chaotic state of our nomenclature, 

 we characterize variously as meteorology, or 

 climatology, or include under physical geogra- 

 phy — demands a preliminary acquaintance not 

 only with mechanics, chemistry, and all the 

 branches of molecular physics, but also with as- 

 tronomy, since climatic rhythms depend upon 

 the inclination of the earth's axis to the plane of 

 the ecliptic, and more remotely upon the varia- 

 tions in that inclination known as precession 

 and nutation. It is for this reason that concrete 

 physics has made so little progress down to the 

 present day, since it could begin to be rationally 

 studied only after all the branches of abstract 

 physics had assumed a distinctively scientific 

 character. While, conversely, as soon as ab- 

 stract physics has been completely organized, 

 the study of concrete physics becomes merely 



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