ch. «.] PHILOSOPHY AS AN ORGANON. 245 



genera and species are dull and lifeless things, when contem- 

 plated merely in their places upon a logical chart. To become 

 correct reasoners, it is not enough that we should know what 

 classes and sub-classes are ; we should also be able skilfully 

 to make them. I conclude with a citation from Mr. Mill : — 

 "Although the scientific arrangements of organic nature 

 afford as yet the only complete example of the true principles 

 of rational classification, whether as to the formation of 

 groups or of series, those principles are applicable to all cases 

 in which mankind are called upon to bring the various parts 

 of any extensive subject into mental coordination. They are 

 as much to the point when objects are to be classed for 

 purposes of art or business, as for those of science. The 

 proper arrangement, for example, of a code of laws depends 

 on the same scientific conditions as the classifications in 

 natural history ; nor could there be a better preparatory 

 discipline for that important function, than the study of the 

 principles of a natural arrangement, not only in the abstract, 

 but in their actual application to the class of phenomena for 

 which they were first elaborated, and which are still the best 

 school for learning their use. Of this, the great authority on 

 codification, Bentham, was perfectly aware ; and his early 

 1 Fragment on Government,' the admirable introduction to a 

 series of writings unequalled in their department, contains 

 clear and just views (as far as they go) on the meaning of a 

 natural arrangement, such as could scarcely have occurred to 

 anyone who lived anterior to the age of Linnseus and Bernard 

 de Jussieu." 1 



These illustrations will serve to give the reader some idea 

 of Comte's brilliant and happy contributions to the logic of 

 scientific inquiry. I am aware that scanty justice is done to 

 the subject by the condensed and abridged mode of treat- 

 ment 1,0 which I have felt obliged to resort. But an exhaus- 

 tive exposition and criticism of the details of the Comtean 

 1 System, of Logic, 6th edit., vol. ii. p. 288. 



