Chapter VI: 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.

BOOK I.

OF IDEAS IN GENERAL.

Quæ adhuc inventa sunt in Scientiis, ea hujusmodi sunt ut Notionibus Vulgaribus fere subjaceant: ut vero ad interiora et remotiora Naturæ penetretur, necesse est ut tam NOTIONES quam AXIOMATA magis certâ et munitâ viâ a particularibus abstrahantur; atque omnino melior et certior intellectûs adoperatio in usum veniat.

BACON, _Nov. Org._, Lib. 1. Aphor. xviii.

{{23}}