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HISTORICAL VIEW OP THE

all his enumeration of philosophic rules ; and we recog-nise its use in almost all the great discoveries of science.We shall not attempt to enumerate more of these classes,to which the comprehensive genius of Bacon sought torefer every case which might occur in the philosophicanalysis of phenomena. What we have mentioned willamply suffice to convey an idea of the general nature ofsuch classification ; and, without going through thewhole, it is impossible to appreciate it as a system.*

The “ Novum Organon” is a work which must bethoroughly studied by any one who would competentlyjudge of its real merits. In the extremely imperfectsketch to which our limits necessarily confine us, wehave, however, we trust, said enough to direct theattention of the enquiring reader to the fountain-head.We will add a few general remarks.

A question arises, not unnaturally, in looking over thelong list and classification of arguments, — can all thiscomplicated system be necessary to a right apprehensionof the principles by which experimental research is tobe guided ? Is not the inductive process really andpractically a very simple thing, easily understood with-out all this metaphysical apparatus ?

To this we would reply, that, practically speaking,there can be little doubt that in the single, restrictedpursuit of any one limited object of experiment, manya most useful labourer in the cause of science has suc-cessfully worked out his result, and many more may doso, guided only by their intuitive common sense, andwithout any reference whatever to rules or principleslike those we have enumerated; and so, in like manner,numberless enquirers on other subjects reason accuratelyand even profoundly, who, perhaps, are totally unac-quainted with the systems of logic and metaphysics.Many speak and write correctly, powerfully, and elo-

* On another ground, too, it is the less necessary for us to enter largelyinto the systematic applications of the inductive method. It has been al-ready done in the most complete manner, in sir J. Herschel’s introductoryEssay on the Study of Nat. PhiL (Cab. Cyc.)