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CHAPTER XIX.
ON THE MORALITY OF PROGRESS.
M. COMTE proposes, for our moral guide, a new
science, the subject matter of which is to be human
experience methodically and inductively reasoned
on: the science is to be called 'sociology.' In re-
spect of the general view of such a science, experi-
ence, as I have said, can give us no principle to
determine what we should do. In respect to its
particulars, such a science, the science of human
nature as it has been and is, may well be of the
utmost importance (besides its positive or scientific
value), to give content, and applicability, and reality,
to the moral ideal when formed; but I see little use
in proclaiming it as a new science, especially when
no method is given for it. It is what man always
has been employed about: he has always been ready
to recognize that his proper study is man -- himself:
and the study of the real man is the study of the
social man -- 'sociology,' if we are reduced to such
a word for it.

'Sociolo-
gy' (a new
name for
an old
thing) may
furnish de-
tails, but
not a foun-
dation for
morality.

The thing which always has prevented, and
always must, I think, prevent, very much definiteness
and certainty in this study, is the difficulty of finding
a principle on which to assign value, as we study
human experience, to human opinion, or what man
has thought about himself. I will set down the two

The study
of human
experience
is compli-
cated by
the fact of
human
opinion.

-310-

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Publication Information: Book Title: An Examination of the Utilitarian Philosophy. Contributors: John Grote - author. Publisher: Thoemmes. Place of Publication: Bristol, England. Publication Year: 1990. Page Number: 310.
    
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