Chapter II: The Social Aspect of Positivism 64

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 mediæval system, to which we owe the first attempt
to separate Spiritual from Temporal power--But the mediæval
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
demonstration 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
connexion of Liberty with Order.