“. . . chacune de nos conceptions The progress of our conceptions, principales, chaque branche and of each branch of knowledge, de nos connaissances, passe is from beginning to end successivement par trois états intrinsically alike. There are not théoriques différens: l’état three methods of philosophizing théologique, ou fictif; l’état radically opposed; but one method métaphysique, ou abstrait; of philosophizing which remains, l’état scientifique, ou positif. in essence, the same. At first, En d’autres termes, l’esprit and to the last, the conceived humain, par sa nature, emploie causal agencies of phenomena, successivement dans chacune de have a degree of generality ses recherches trois méthodes de corresponding {126} to the width philosopher, dont le caractère of the generalizations which est essentiellement différent et experiences have determined; and même radicalement opposé: d’abord they change just as gradually la méthode théologique, ensuite as experiences accumulate. The la méthode métaphysique, et enfin integration of causal agencies, la méthode positive.” _Cours de_ originally thought of as _Philosophie Positive_, 1830, Vol. multitudinous and local, but i. p. 3. finally believed to be one and universal, is a process which involves the passing through all intermediate steps between these extremes; and any appearance of stages can be but superficial. Supposed concrete and individual causal agencies, coalesce in the mind as fast as groups of phenomena are assimilated, or seen to be similarly caused. Along with their coalescence, comes a greater extension of their individualities, and a concomitant loss of distinctness in their individualities. Gradually, by continuance of such coalescences, causal agencies become, in thought, diffused and indefinite. And eventually, without any change in the nature of the process, there is reached the consciousness of a universal causal agency, which cannot be conceived.[14]