Chapter IV: The Influence of Positivism Upon Women 227

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 anti-historic 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 mediæval 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.