CHAPTER IV 



THE APPEAL TO HISTORY 



In Dr. Hatch Criticism In Ritschl, how far Comtist Other ap- 

 peals ; to historic parallels Example from Comte To the whole 

 tendency of history More usual in Comte ; examples Criticism 

 Mr. Mackenzie's criticism Guidance to be gained from history 

 is limited Comte's varied and capricious appeals to it 



To appeal to history for guidance is a very natural 

 resource on the part of those who distrust philosophy. 

 It is found even among theologians who are inter- 

 ested, as Comte was not, in preserving belief in God. 

 Probably the appeal was never made with more 

 clearness or with more confidence than by Dr. Edwin 

 Hatch in his St. Giles Lecture, "From Metaphysics 

 to History." * Dr. Hatch can find no language in 

 which to express his contempt for metaphysics, or 

 his confidence in modern physical science. "We 

 have passed into a new atmosphere. We have 

 around us, not the glamour of a splendid mist, but the 

 light of day." Science has " passed from metaphys- 

 ics to fact, and" has "passed thereby from doubt 

 to certainty." One province remains to be liberated 

 that of theology. Let us make a similar transition 

 here, " from metaphysics to history " ; then, even in 

 theology, we shall find solid ground below our feet. 

 The history which Dr. Hatch has in view is history of 



1 Published in the Contemporary Review for June, 1889. 

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