j 36 coxmic FuiLosornr. [n. i. 



verification, while the others are content with subjective 

 congruity. Yet here we see Comte explicitly and with 

 vehement dogmatism repudiating observation and experiment, 

 and maintaining, as unreservedly as Hegel, that so long as 

 our conceptions are systematic and mutually harmonious, it 

 makes no difference whether they are verified or not ! 



Jt would be an interesting study to trace in detail the 

 circumstances concerned in bringing about this singular 

 aberration of a great scientific intellect. For while the 

 proclamation of the subjective method, and its more or less 

 consistent employment, by Descartes and Hegel, was logically 

 based upon their erroneous psychological theories concerning 

 the sources of knowledge ; on the other hand, this metamor- 

 phosis in the opinions of Comte had no logical justification 

 whatever, but was determined by circumstances of a purely 

 personal character. It was due partly to what I may call 

 the impatience of constructiveness, — the imperious mental 

 demand for the erection of a system at whatever cost, — and 

 partly upon the exaggerated over-estimate of self which is a 

 symptom of incipient monomania. 



In his youth Comte was an insatiable reader, and before 

 he began the work of constructing the Positive Philosophy 

 he had amassed vast stores of learning in almost every 

 department of knowledge. There is no good reason for 

 doubting that in 1830, when the publication of his great 

 work began, he was, with a few serious exceptions, fully 

 abreast of the best science of the times. But in the course 

 of the twelve years during which the composition of this 

 work went on, he found it desirable to alter his habits of 

 study. Finding that constant attention to the progress of 

 events interrupted the consecutive development of his 

 thoughts, he began to abstain from all reading whatever, save 

 in a few of his favourite poets. Still later in life he erected 

 this practice into a general principle of action, and as a 

 matter of conscience refused to take any note of the pro- 



