THE ACTION OF POSITIVISM UPON THE WORKING CLASSES 140
Positivism will not for the present recommend itself to the governing classes, so much as to the People—The working man who accepts his position is favourably situated for the reception of comprehensive principles and generous sympathies—This the Convention felt; but they encouraged the People to seek political supremacy, for which they are not fit—It is only in exceptional cases that the People can be really ‘sovereign’—The truth involved in the expression is that the well-being of the people should be the one great object of government—The People’s function is to assist the spiritual power in modifying the action of government—Their combined efforts result in the formation of Public Opinion—Public opinion involves, (1) principles of social conduct, (2) their acceptance by society at large, (3) an organ through which to enunciate them—Working men’s clubs—All three conditions of Public Opinion exist, but have not yet been combined—Spontaneous tendencies of the people in a right direction. Their Communism—Its new title of Socialism—Property is in its nature social, and needs control—But Positivism rejects the Communist solution of the Problem. Property is to be controlled by moral not legal agencies—Individualization of functions as necessary as co-operation—Industry requires its captains as well as War—Communism is deficient in the historical spirit—In fact, as a system it is worthless, though prompted by noble feelings—Property is a public trust, not to be interfered with legally—Inheritance favourable to its right employment—Intellect needs moral control as much as wealth—Action of organized public opinion upon Capitalists. Strikes—Public Opinion must be based upon a sound system of Education—Education has two stages; from birth to puberty, from puberty to adolescence. The first, consisting of physical and esthetic training, to be given at home—The second part consists of public lectures on the Sciences, from Mathematics to Sociology—Travels of Apprentices—Concentration of study—Governmental assistance not required, except for certain special institutions, and this only as a provisional measure—We are not ripe for this system at present; and Government must not attempt to hasten its introduction—Intellectual attitude of the people. Emancipation from theological belief—From metaphysical doctrines—Their mistaken preference of literary and rhetorical talent to real intellectual power—Moral attitude of the people. The workman should regard himself as a public functionary—Ambition of power and wealth must be abandoned—The working classes are the best guarantee for Liberty and Order—It is from them that we shall obtain the dictatorial power which is provisionally required.
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.
THE RELATION OF POSITIVISM TO ART 304
Positivism when complete is as favourable to Imagination, as, when incomplete, it was unfavourable to it—Esthetic talent is for the adornment of life, not for its government—The political influence of literary men a deplorable sign and source of anarchy—Theory of Art—Art is the idealized representation of Fact—Poetry is intermediate between Philosophy and Polity—Art calls each element of our nature into harmonious action—Three stages in the esthetic process: Imitation, Idealization, Expression—Classification of the arts on the principle of decreasing generality, and increasing intensity—Poetry—Music—Painting. Sculpture. Architecture—The conditions favourable to Art have never yet been combined—Neither in Polytheism—Nor under the Mediæval system—Much less in modern times—Under Positivism the conditions will all be favourable. There will be fixed principles, and a nobler moral culture—Predisposing influence of Education—Relation of Art to Religion—Idealization of historical types—Art requires the highest education; but little special instruction—Artists as a class will disappear. Their function will be appropriated by the philosophic priesthood—Identity of esthetic and scientific genius—Women’s poetry—People’s poetry—Value of Art in the present crisis—Construction of normal types on the basis furnished by philosophy—Pictures of the Future of Man—Contrasts with the Past.