Xlii INTRODUCTION. 



of uncertain theories or provisional hypotheses, which 

 for the most part she sets lightly by, but upon the evi- 

 dence of her established laws, their worth and certainty; 

 an aspect in which, far from being subject to the doubt 

 that hangs over her hypotheses, she offers herself to us 

 as the only assured truth, and the highest conceivable 

 type of certainty and reliability. 



There is positive science regarded as a vast and ever- 

 increasing body of verified natural laws, of ascertained 

 natural sequences, which, arranged in their proper 

 groups and sub-groups, constitute, the several sciences ; 

 positive science, which, having divided the phenomena 

 of the outer world into their proper provinces physical, 

 chemical, natural and having successfully reduced these 

 to law and order for the intelligence, is now engaged in 

 reducing physiological, psychological, and social phe- 

 nomena to law also; positive science, which, before evo- 

 lution had even been heard of, had already, in large 

 measure, revolutionized man's previous conception of the 

 universe, and which is further destined, if not to revo- 

 lutionize wholly, at least to greatly modify, the currit 

 theories of religion, morals, politics, and the conduct of 

 life. 



There is positive science (not Positivism), which in 

 itself is truth, which in its searching methods furnishes 

 the surest test of truth, and the potent instruments in 

 its further discovery; positive science, which, in its 

 application, has given man the mastery over Nature, and 

 tamed and turned her once formidable and destroying 

 forces into his potent and submissive slaves; positive 

 science, which, besides ministering to the higher wants 

 of his intelligence, has multiplied manifold man's comfort 

 and the material factors of his happiness, while con- 

 fidently promising indefinite further gifts and services. 



