REPUBLIC OF THE WEST - ORDER AND PROGRESS.
GENERAL VIEW OF POSITIVISM;
SYSTEM OF THOUGHT AND LIFE,
THE FRENCH, ITALIAN, SPANISH, BRITISH, AND GERMAN,
WHICH, SINCE THE TIME OF CHARLEMAGNE, HAVE
ALWAYS CONSTITUTED A POLITICAL WHOLE.
Réorganiser, sans dieu ni roi, par le culte
systématique de I'Humanité.
Nul n'a droit qu'à faire son devoir.
L'esprit doit toujours être le ministre
du coeur, et jamais son esclave.
Reorganization, irrespectively of God or king,
by the worship of Humanity, systematically adopted.
Man's only right is to do his duty.
The Intellect should always be the servant of
the Heart, and should never be its slave,
AUTHOR OF "SYSTEM OF POSITIVE PHILOSOPHY."
NOTICE
This work was first published separately in 1848. The
second édition , of which this is the translation, was published
in 1851, as part of the first volume of the System of Positive Polity,
to which it is the Introduction. The table of contents and subtitles have
been added by the Translator, Dr
J. H. Bridges.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
CHAPTER I — INTELLECTUAL CHARACTER
OF POSITIVISM.
CHAPTER II — THE SOCIAL ASPECT
OF POSITIVISM.
CHAPTER III — THE ACTION OF POSITIVISM
UPON THE WORKING CLASSES.
CHAPTER IV — THE INFLUENCE OF POSITIVISM
UPON WOMEN.
CHAPTER V — THE RELATION OF POSITIVISM
TO ART.
CHAPTER VI — CONCLUSION.
THE RELIGION OF HUMANITY.
-
The object of Philosophy is to present a systematic
view of human life as a basis for modifying its imperfections.
-
The Theological Synthesis failed to include
the practical side of human nature.
-
But the Positive spirit originated in practical
life.
-
In human nature, and therefore in the Positive
system, Affection is the preponderating element.
-
The proper function of Intellect is the service
of the Social Sympathies.
-
Under Theology the Intellect was the slave
of the Heart ; under Positivism, its servant.
-
The subordination of the Intellect to the
Heart is the subjective principle of Positivism.
-
Objective basis of the system : Order of the
external World, as revealed by Science.
-
By it the selfish affections are controlled
; the unselfish strengthened.
-
Our conception of this External Order has
been gradually growing from the earliest times, and is but just complete.
-
Even where not modifiable, its influence
on the character is of the greatest value.
-
But in most cases we can modify it; and in
these the knowledge of it forms the systematic basis of human action.
-
The chief difficulty of the Positive Synthesis
was to complete our conception of the External Order by extending it to
Social Phenomena.
-
By the discovery of sociological laws social
questions are made paramount; and thus our subjective principle
is satisfied without danger to free thought.
-
Distinction between Abstract and Concrete
laws. It is the former only that we require for the purpose before us.
-
In our Theory of Development the required
Synthesis of Abstract conceptions already exists.
-
Therefore we are in a position to proceed
at once with the work of social regeneration.
-
Error of identifying Positivism with Atheism,
Materialism, Fatalism, or Optimism. Atheism, like Theology, discusses insoluble
mysteries.
-
Materialism is due to the encroachment of
the lower sciences on the domain of the higher, an error which Positivism
rectifies.
-
Nor is Positivism fatalist, since it asserts
the External Order to be modifiable.
-
The charge of Optimism applies to Theology
rather than to Positivism. The Positivist judges of all historical actions
relatively, but does not justify them indiscriminately.
-
The word Positive connotes all the
highest intellectual attributes, and will ultimately have a moral significance.
CHAPTER II — THE SOCIAL ASPECT
OF POSITIVISM.
- The relation of Positivism to the French Revolution.
- The negative or destructive phase of the Revolution stimulated the
desire of Progress, and consequently the study of social phenomena.
- The constructive phase of the Revolution. The first attempts to construct
failed, being based on destructive principles.
- Counter-revolution from 1794 to 1830.
- Political stagnation between 1830 and 1848.
- The present position, 1848-1850. Republicanism involves the great principle
of subordinating Politics to Morals.
- It gives prominence to the problem of reconciling Order and Progress.
- It brings the metaphysical revolutionary schools into discredit.
- And it proves to all the necessity of a true spiritual power ; a body
of thinkers whose business is to study and to teach principles, holding
aloof from political action.
- The need of a spiritual power is common to the whole Republic of Western
Europe.
- This Republic consists of the Italian, Spanish, British, and German
populations, grouped round France as their centre.
- Relation of Positivism to the mediaeval system, to which we owe the
first attempt to separate Spiritual from Temporal power.
- But the mediaeval attempt was premature ; and Positivism will renew
and complete it.
- The Ethical system of Positivism.
- Subjection of Self-love to Social love is the great ethical problem
The Social state of itself favours this result ; but it may be hastened
by organized and conscious effort.
- Intermediate between Self-love and universal Benevolence are the domestic
affections: filial, fraternal, conjugal, paternal.
- Personal virtues placed upon a social basis.
- Moral education consists partly of scientific demonstrations of ethical
truth, but still more of culture of the higher sympathies.
- Organization of Public Opinion.
- Commemoration of great men.
- The political motto of Positivism : Order and Progress.
- Progress, the development of Order.
- Analysis of Progress : material, physical, intellectual, and moral.
- Application of our principles to actual politics. All government must
for the present be provisional.
- Danger of attempting political reconstruction before spiritual.
- Politically what is wanted is Dictatorship, with liberty of speech
and discussion.
- Such a dictatorship would be a step towards the separation of spiritual
and temporal power.
- The motto of 1830, Liberty and Public Order
- Liberty should be extended to Education.
- Order demands centralization.
- Intimate connection of Liberty with Order.
CHAPTER III — THE ACTION OF
POSITIVISM UPON THE WORKING CLASSES
- Positivism will not for the present recommend itself to the governing
classes, so much as to the People.
- The. working man who accepts his position is favourably situated for
the reception of comprehensive principles and generous sympathies.
- This the Convention felt; but they encouraged the People to seek political
supremacy, for which they are not fit.
- It is only in exceptional cases that the People can be really 'sovereign'.
- The truth involved in the expression is that the well-being of the
people should be the one great object of government.
- The People's function is to assist the spiritual power in modifying
the action of government.
- Their combined efforts result in the formation of Public Opinion.
- Public opinion involves, (1) principles of social conduct, (2) their
acceptance by society at large (3) an organ through which to enunciate
them.
- Working men's s clubs.
- All three conditions of Public Opinion exist, but have not yet been
combined.
- Spontaneous tendencies of the people in a right direction. Their Communism.
- Its new title of Socialism.
- Property is in its nature social, and needs control.
- But Positivism rejects the Communist solution of the Problem Property
is to be controlled by moral not legal agencies.
- Individualization of functions as necessary as co-operation.
- Industry requires its captains as well as War.
- Communism is deficient in the historical spirit.
- In fact, as a system, it is worthless, though prompted by noble feelings.
- Property is a public trust, not to be interfered with legally Inheritance
favourable to its right employment.
- Intellect needs moral control as much as wealth.
- Action of organized public opinion upon Capitalists. Strikes.
- Public Opinion must be based upon a sound system of Education.
- Education has two stages ; from birth to puberty, from puberty to adolescence.
The first, consisting of physical and esthetic training, to be given at
home.
- The second part consists of public lectures on the Sciences, from Mathematics
to Sociology.
- Travels of Apprentices.
- Concentration of study.
- Governmental assistance not required, except for certain special institutions,
and this only as a provisional measure.
- We are not ripe for this system at present; and Government must not
attempt to hasten its introduction.
- Intellectual attitude of the people. Emancipation from theological
belief.
- From metaphysical doctrines.
- Their mistaken preference of literary, and rhetorical talent to real
intellectual power.
- Moral attitude of the people. The workman should regard himself as
a public functionary.
- Ambition of power and wealth must be abandoned.
- The working classes are the best guarantee for Liberty and Order.
- It is from them that we shall obtain the dictatorial power which is
provisionally required.
CHAPTER IV — THE INFLUENCE
OF POSITIVISM UPON WOMEN.
- Women represent the affective element in our nature, as philosophers
and
- people represent the intellectual and practical elements.
- Women have stood aloof from the modern movement, because of its antihistoric
and destructive character.
- But they will sympathize with constructive tendencies;. and will distinguish
sound philosophy from scientific specialities.
- Women's position in society. Like philosophers and people, their part
is not to govern, but to modify.
- The united action of philosophers, women, and proletaries constitutes
Moral Force.
- Superiority of the new spiritual power to the old. Self-regarding tendencies
of Catholic doctrine.
- The spirit of Positivism, on the contrary, is essentially social. The
Heart and the Intellect mutually strengthen each other.
- Intellectual and moral affinities of women with Positivism.
- Catholicism purified love, but did not directly strengthen it.
- Women's influence over the working classes and their teachers.
- Their social influence in the salon.
- But the Family is their principal sphere of action.
- Woman's mission as a wife. Conjugal love an education for universal
sympathy.
- Conditions of marriage. Indissoluble monogamy.
- Perpetual widowhood.
- Woman's mission as a mother.
- Education of children belongs to mothers. They only can guide the development
of character.
- Modern sophisms about Woman's rights. The domesticity of her life follows
from the principle of Separation of Powers.
- The position of the sexes tends to differentiation rather than identity.
- Woman to be maintained by Man.
- The education of women should be identical with that of men.
- Women's privileges. Their mission is in itself a privilege.
- They will receive honour and worship from men.
- Development of mediaeval chivalry.
- The practice of Prayer, so far from disappearing, is purified and strengthened
in Positive religion.
- The worship of Woman a preparation for the worship of Humanity.
- Exceptional women. Joan of Arc
- It is for women to introduce Positivism into the Southern nations.
CHAPTER V — THE RELATION OF
POSITIVISM TO ART.
- Positivism when complete is as favourable to Imagination, as, when
incomplete, it was unfavourable to it.
- Esthetic talent is for the adornment of life, not for its government.
- The political influence of literary men a deplorable sign and source
of anarchy
- Theory of Art
- Art is the. idealized representation of Fact.
- Poetry is intermediate between Philosophy and Polity Art calls each
element of our nature into harmonious action.
- Three stages in the esthetic process: Imitation, Idealization, Expression.
- Classification of the arts on the principle of decreasing generality,
and
- increasing intensity.
- Poetry
- Music
- Painting. Sculpture. Architecture.
- The conditions favourable to Art have never yet been combined.
- Neither in Polytheism.
- Nor under the Mediaeval system.
- Much less in modern times.
- Under Positivism the conditions will all be favourable. There will
be
- fixed principles, and a nobler moral culture.
- Predisposing influence of Education.
- Relation of Art to Religion.
- Idealization of historical types.
- Art requires the highest education ; but little special instruction.
- Artists as a class will disappear. Their function will be appropriated
by the philosophic.priesthood.
- Identity of esthetic and scientific genius.
- Women's Poetry.
- People's poetry.
- Value of Art in the present crisis.
- Construction of normal types on the basis furnished by philosophy.
- Pictures of the Future of Man.
- Contrasts with the Past.
CHAPTER VI — CONCLUSION.
THE RELIGION OF HUMANITY.
- Recapitulation of the results obtained.
- Humanity is the centre to which every aspect of Positivism converges.
- With the. discovery of sociological laws, a synthesis on the basis
of Science becomes possible, science being now concentrated on the study
of Humanity.
- Statical aspects of Humanity.
- Dynamical aspects.
- Inorganic and organic sciences elevated by their connection with the
supreme science of Humanity.
- The new religion is even more favourable to Art than to Science.
- Poetic portraiture of the new Supreme Being, and contrast with the
old.
- Organization of festivals, representing statical and dynamical aspects
of Humanity.
- Worship of the dead. Commemoration of their service.
- All the arts may co-operate in the service of religion.
- Positivism is the successor of Christianity, and surpasses it.
- Superiority of Positive morality.
- Rise of the new Spiritual power.
- Temporal power will always be necessary, but its action will be modified
by the spiritual.
- Substitution of duties for rights.
- Consensus of the Social Organism.
- Continuity of the past with the present.
- Necessity of a spiritual power to study and teach these truths, and
thus to govern men by persuasion, instead of by compulsion.
- Nutritive functions of Humanity, performed by Capitalists, as the temporal
power.
- These are modified by the cerebral functions, performed by the spiritual
power.
- Women and priests to have their material subsistence guaranteed.
- Normal relation of priests, people, and capitalists.
- We are not yet ripe for the normal state. But the revolution of 1848
is a step towards it.
- First revolutionary motto ; Liberty and Equality.
- Second motto; Liberty and Order.
- Third motto ; Order and Progress.
- Provisional policy for the period of transition.
- Popular dictatorship with freedom of speech.
- Positive Committee for Western Europe.
- Occidental navy.
- International coinage.
- Occidental school.
- Flag for the Western Republic.
- Colonial and foreign Associates of the Committee, the action of which
will ultimately extend to the whole human race.
- Conclusion. Perfection of the Positivist ideal.
- Corruption of Monotheism.