CHAPTER IX 



PHILOSOPHY AS AN OEGANON. 



The absence of Logic, as a distinct science, from the Comtean 

 classification, has by most critics been rightly regarded as a 

 serious defect. Nevertheless, before we can intelligently find 

 fault with Comte, we must make sure that we understand 

 his grounds for assigning to Logic no independent position. 

 The explanation is more deeply implicated with his funda- 

 mental conception of the Scope of Philosophy than has 

 generally been suspected. But let us begin by considering 

 the more obvious aspects of the case. 



The science of logic consists of two portions, — the doctrine 

 of the syllogism, and the general theory of induction, the 

 latter comprising a codification on the one hand of the 

 methods of research, and on the other hand of the laws of 

 evidence. But this twofold province of logic can hardly be 

 said to have been clearly indicated until the publication of 

 Mr. Mill's treatise. Prom the days of Aristotle down to the 

 time when Comte wrote the " Philosophic Positive," the logic 

 officially recognized and taught as such consisted almost 

 exclusively of the doctrine of the syllogism. Besides this 

 there was nothing save the Baconian logic, containing indeed 

 many valuable hints for inquirers, but not organized into a 

 coherent system. Now Comte held in small esteem the 



