With  this  advent  of  rational  positivity  came  in  that  spirit  of
special  research  which  at  once  distinguished  the  new  order  of  spec-
ulations from  the  indeterminate  contemplations  of  the  ancient  phi-
losophy. Our  modern  need  is  of  new  generalities ;  but  the  case
of  the  ancients  was  very  different.  The  pursuit  of  specialities
then  involved  no  political  disadvantages ;  and  it  was  the  only  means
Ly  which,  independently  of  the  common  need  of  division  of  employ-
ments, the  human  mind  could  learn  to  penetrate  the  depths  of  any
subject  whatever.  In  short,  the  scientific  spirit  was  not,  under  the
theological  regime,  the  chief  ulterior  element  of  the  positive  regime,
but  only  destined  for  its  remote  preparation ;  and  it  must  therefore
be  special  in  its  character,  or  fail  altogether :  and  there  is,  in  fact,
no  doubt  that  men  of  science,  properly  so  called,  began  to  appear
as  a  separate  class  from  the  philosophers,  at  the  memorable  epoch
distinguished  under  this  point  of  view  by  the  foundation  of  the
museum  of  Alexandria,  directly  adapted  to  satisfy  this  new  intel-
lectual need,  when  progressive  polytheism  had  achieved  its  final
triumph  over  the  stationary.
