...of the former, but which is important as a tran.-itional stage, the supernatural agents give place to abstract forces (personified abstractions) supposed...engendering phenomena. The highest condition of this «taire is wiien all these forces are brought under one general force named nature. 4ri the positivo...

...comes the sketch of Fetichism and of metaphysical systems, and the passage closes in these words : " In the positive stage the mind, convinced of the futility...applies itself to the observation and classification of the laws which regulate the invariable relations of succession and similitude which all things bear...

...supposed to inhere in various substances, and capable of engendering phenomena. In the Positive phase the mind, convinced of the futility of all inquiry into causes and essences, restricts itself to the observation and classification of phenomena, and to the discovery of the invariable...

...principles were forces capable of producing phenomena. Third. — "The last stage is the Positive. The mind, convinced of the futility of all inquiry into causes and essences, restricts itself to the observation and classification of phenomena, and to the discovery of the invariable...