POSITIVISM, a philosophical term, applied somewhat loosely to any system which confines itself to the data of experience and declines to recognize a priori or metaphysical speculations. In this sense the term may be applied to empirical philosophers in gen eral. Thus Hume is a positivist in the sense that he specifically restricts philosophy to the sphere of observation, and regards the causal relation as being nothing more than what we have been accustomed to expect. Similarly Mill, Spencer and physical scien tists generally view the universe from the positivist standpoint. In its commonest acceptation, however, the term is used of the philosophy of Auguste Comte, who applied the term to his system according to which knowledge is based exclusively on the methods and discoveries of the physical or "positive" sciences (see Comit). The outcome of this positivism is the substitution for revealed religion of a religion of humanity—according to Huxley "Catholi cism minus Christianity"—in which God is replaced by Humanity.
This religion was to have its special priesthood, ritual and organ ization.
In England a number of prominent Positivists carried out Comte's ideal of a Church of Humanity with ritual and organiza tion. The chief building (in Chapel Street, Lamb's Conduit Street, London) is adorned with busts of the saints of humanity, and regular services are held. Positivist hymns are sung and addresses delivered. Among the leaders of this movement have been Fred eric Harrison, Richard Congreve, E. S. Beesly and J. H. Bridges (d. 1906). Services are also held weekly in Essex Hall, London, and there are a few other centres in the provinces, including a prosperous church in Liverpool.