Undoubtedly Comte recognises a long series of his precursors properly so-called, in the double line of philosophers and scientific men who have contributed to the progress of the positive spirit from Aristotle and Archimedes to Condorcet and Gall. But positive philosophy, none the less, looks upon itself as heir to all the philosophies, even to those which are most opposed to its principle. For they, like the others, have been necessary moments in the progress which was to end in the positive system. Thus considered in its relation to the metaphysical speculation which preceded it, this system does not refute it, for it is neither necessary nor even possible for it to do so. Neither does it incorporate it within itself, for it could not do so without a formal contradiction. Still, according to Comte’s own confession, it proceeds from metaphysics as much as from science properly so-called. In what then does this relation consist, if positive philosophy neither opposes nor adopts previous doctrines?--It _transposes_ them. What its predecessors had studied from the absolute point of view, it projects upon the relative plane. As we proceeded we have noted more than one of these _transpositions_. It may perhaps not be useless to make a recapitulation of them here, without, however, claiming for it perfect completeness. _Metaphysical Philosophy._ _Positive Transpositions._ I. Distinction between I. Distinction between the statical potentiality and reality. and the dynamical points of view, or between order and progress. II. Principle of finality. II. Principle of the conditions of existence. III. Theory of innateness. III. Definition of human nature as immutable, evolution creating nothing, but bringing out the latent potentialities in that nature. IV. The idea of the universe. IV. The idea of the world. V. All the phenomena of V. The idea of humanity is the universe are related to the only really universal conception, one another. because the conditions of existence of human societies are in a necessary relation, not only with the laws of our organisation, but also with all the physical and chemical laws of our planet, and the mechanical laws of the solar system. VI. The Aristotelian theory VI. Science consists in substituting of science, (knowledge rational prevision to the through causes, _a priori_), empirical establishment of facts.