Comte

(Isidore Auguste Marie François Xavier), French philosopher, mathematician and reformer, b. at Montpelier, 12 Jan. 1798. Educated at Paris in the Polytechnic School, where he distinguished himself by his mathematical talent. In 1817 he made the acquaintance of St. Simon, agreeing with him as to the nece ity of a Social renovation based upon a mental revolution. On the death of St. Simon (’25) Comte devoted himself to the elaboration of an original system of scientific thought, which, in the opinion of some able judges, entitles him to be called the Bacon of the nineteenth century. Mill speaks of him as the superior of Des cartes and Leibniz. In ’25 he married, but the union proved unhappy. In the following year he lectured, but broke down under an attack of brain fever, which occasioned his detention in an asylum. He speedily recovered, and in ’28 resumed his lectures, which were attended by men like Humboldt, Ducrotay, Brou ais, Carnot, etc. In ’30 he put forward the first volumes of his Course of Positive Philosophy , which in ’42 was completed by the publication of the sixth volume. A condensed English version of this work was made by Harriet Martin eau, ’53. In ’45 Comte formed a pa ionate Platonic attache ment to Mme. Clotilde de Vaux, who died in the following year, having profoundely influenced Comte’s life. In consequence of his opinions, he lost his profe orship, and was supported by his disciples—Mill, Moles worth and Grote, in England, a isting. Among other works, Comte published A General View of Positivism , ’48, translated by Dr. Bridges, ’65; A System of Positive Polity , ’51, translated by Drs. Bridges, Beesley, F. Harrison, etc., ’75–79; and A Positive Catechism , ’54, translated by Dr. Congreve, ’58. He also wrote on Positive Logic, which he intended to follow with Positive Morality and Positive Industrialism. Comte was a profound and suggestive thinker. He resolutely sets aside all theology and metaphysics, coordinates the sciences and substitutes the service of man for the worship of God. Mr. J. Cotter Morison says “He belonged to that small cla of rare minds, whose errors are often more valuable and stimulating than other men’s truths.” He died of cancer in the stomach at Paris, 5 Sept. 1857.