THE POSITIVIST "PHANTOM."
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
Sin,— One word in reply to your note on my letter last week. I complain of nothing. I do not wish you to express any opinion on the doctrines of Positivism contrary to your own convictions. What I wish to urge upon you is this. The acknowledged spread of negative principles constitutes, from the social point of view, a serious danger, inasmuch as it involves the relaxation of theo- logical discipline, and the consequent development of egoism in its various mischievous forms. Positivism, while not attacking theology, seeks to counteract this tendency by a discipline of its own ; and I suggest to you, therefore, that its efforts in this direction are entitled to your sympathy, even although you are incredulous as to its success. I will not contest your views as to its character. Let its doctrines be as "grotesque" as you have even assumed, and the object of its worship as much a " phantom " as you please ; yet still, so far as it inculcates the practice of social virtues, so far as, in the absence of theological belief, men and women are, by its means, assisted to lead pure and upright lives, to that extent it renders a real social service, which, it seems to me, you ought to recognise. Perhaps, however, on the whole, I am asking too much. I am asking you to take a relative view of religion, which to a believer in theology is naturally a difficult thing to do.—I am,
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