Scientific Ideas are the Conditions of the derivation of Sciences from Facts: but can any method or methods be given by which such a Derivation can be ensured, or at least, aided? Many such methods have been proposed; of which the most celebrated is the Novum Organon of Bacon, of which the title was intended to imply that its scope goes much beyond the Organon of Aristotle. With the experience of the formation of Science which the world has had since Bacon’s time, it does not appear presumptuous to suppose that we can now improve or correct his methods; nor to term such an attempt Novum Organon Renovatum.
The Philosophy of the Inductive Sciences, then, contains these two parts, The History of Scientific Ideas, and the Novum Organon Renovatum.]
THE
PHILOSOPHY
OF THE
INDUCTIVE SCIENCES.
PART I.
HISTORY OF SCIENTIFIC IDEAS.
[We have just spoken of Theories and Facts, of Ideas and Facts, and of Inductive Sciences, which imply the opposition of Induction and Deduction. The explanation of these antitheses must be the starting point of our Philosophy.]
[Knowledge grows, and] through the ages one increasing purpose runs,
And the thoughts of men are widen’d with the process of the Suns.