CHAPTER III - THE APPEAL TO BIOLOGY

Summary

Biology comes next below sociology in Comte's scheme of the sciences. As we have seen, it is somewhat difficult to know how far, upon Comte's own principles, this juxtaposition of the two sciences warrants him in expecting the ideas of the lower science to serve as a guiding clue in the construction of the higher. Let it be enough to say that, whether in obedience to his own principles or without warrant from them, Comte has drawn a good deal from the biological analogy. As far back in time as the secession of the Roman Plebs, the parable of the “belly and the members” is alleged to have taught moral lessons to hot-headed or selfish factions. Again, in St. Paul's account of the Church, we are introduced to an organism in which all the members rejoice or suffer together, sympathising fully with one another. It is an extension of the Christian spirit which leads modern thinkers to apply the same image to the State or to civil society. The contrast has been tellingly drawn between St. Paul's appeal as to a well-known fact–“Ye are members one of another”–and the Greek despair of being able to name any authority strong enough to overrule personal selfishness.