Nevertheless, if M. Comte had been asked what he
meant by "physiologic cerebrale," except that which other people call
"psychology;" and how he knew anything about the functions of the brain,
except by that very "observation interieure," which he declares to be an
absurdity--it seems probable that he would have found it hard to escape
the admission, that, in vilipending psychology, he had been propounding
solemn nonsense.
It is assuredly one of Hume's greatest merits that he clearly recognised
the fact that philosophy is based upon psychology; and that the inquiry
into the contents and the operations of the mind must be conducted upon
the same principles as a physical investigation, if what he calls the
"moral philosopher" would attain results of as firm and definite a
character as those which reward the "natural philosopher."[14] The title
of his first work, a "_Treatise of Human Nature, being an Attempt to
introduce the Experimental method of Reasoning into Moral Subjects_,"
sufficiently indicates the point of view from which Hume regarded
philosophical problems; and he tells us in the preface, that his object
has been to promote the construction of a "science of man."
"'Tis evident that all the sciences have a relation, greater or
less, to human nature; and that, however wide any of them may seem
to run from it, they still return back by one passage or another.
Even _Mathematics_, _Natural Philosophy_, and _Natural Religion_
are in some measure dependent on the science of MAN; since they lie
under the cognizance of men, and are judged of by their powers and
qualities.
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