ON THE INDUCTIVE PHILOSOPHY INCLUDING A PARALLEL BETWEEN LORD BACON AND A. COMTE AS PHILOSOPHERS A DISCOURSE DELIVERED BEFORE THE SUNDAY LECTURE SOCIETY NOV. 26, 1871 BY A. ELLEY FINCH WITH NOTES AND AUTHORITIES LONDON 1872 All rights reserved 265. i. 198. SYLLABUS. Aphorism of the Astronomer Kepler on Theology and Science. -Kepler's conclusions now taught as commonplaces. All knowledge distributable into Theological, Metaphysical, and Scientific. These methods explained.-Theological and Scientific distinguished, and illustrated by references to the causes of: The Weather (theological); The Tides (scientific).-Is this world governed by God's Supernatural Will (as taught by Theology), or by His Natural Laws (as taught by Science)?—The Faith of Science, her Mission and Evidences.-State of the Sciences and Philosophy in the time of Bacon and Galileo. The Inductive Philosophy, first so named and expounded by Lord Bacon, explained as a method, based on Science, aiming to harmonise the course of Human Life with the sanctions of the Natural Laws. Progressive state and extent of the Sciences in the time of Comte.Comte, as an Inductive Philosopher, builds on Bacon's foundations, seeking to show, from an analysis of Scientific Discovery, and a review of Modern History, that the phenomena of Society and Morals, as well as those of Individual Life, are regulated by the Natural Laws. - Bacon and Comte: a parallel.-Diversity of Style. Similarity of Genius. Objection, that the Inductive Philosophy omits the spiritual part of Man's Nature: answered. Objection, that it is a system of Materialism: answered. Hooker's eloquent Exhortation to reverence the Divine Natural Law. |