an be compleated. But Men have not hitherto acquired perfect Notions: of fimple Natures, or the fimpleft Properties of Things; fuch as Tenuity, Fluidity, Texture, &c. In the mean time, becaufe Truth will eafier arife from Error, than from Confufion; the Understanding may be permitted, by confidering the feveral Tables, to make fome Attempt towards interpreting Nature, in the Affirmative; or to find out the pofitive, actual Form; tho' without pretending that it is truly and perfectly discover'd, till all the preceding Tables fhall have been perfected: which, as was before obferved, depends upon a perfect Hiftory of Nature; and again, upon ufing a perfect Induction; which is an Art that has not hitherto been duly profecuted, and brought to the neceffary Degree of Perfection.

mifion to the Understand

72. However, to give an Idea of the whole manner of Procedure in By way of Perthis Bufinefs of Interpreting Nature, when all Things fhall be properly fitted for the Purpofe; the Author here adds a fifth Table, to reprefent ing. what he calls the first Vintage, or Dawn of Doctrine, from the Form of Heat. And this Table fets to View the Process of the Mind, folely empioy'd, without Diftraction, or Interruption, upon the feveral preceding Tables, in order to inveftigate, or difcover the Form of Heat. The Refult of the whole Procefs amounts to this, that Heat is an expansive, bridled Motion, fruggling in the fmall Particles of Bodies: which is a fummary Expreffion, or Axiom, defcribing the Form of Heat, fo far as could be derived from the imperfect Tables, and the imperfect Art of Induction here employ'd. And with this Idea of the Whole, the Author concludes the firft Section of the Second Part of the Novum Organum.

73. In the Second Section, the Author proceeds to perfect the Art of The Second Se. difccvering Forms, or to fhew the manner of framing an Induction that ion tends to fhall conclude as juftly in Philofophy, as Syllogifm does in Logic, of Induction. perfect the Art or Demonftration in Mathematics. Accordingly, he here directly treats of Prerogative Inftances, or the Way of procuring proper Collections of fuch Facts, Obfervations, and Experiments, as are best fitted to enter the three Tables of View, correfponding to the three first, above-mention'd; so that a few of thefe Inftances may anfwer the Purpose of many, fhorten the Bufinefs of Search and Enquiry, and afford a prepared and proper Matter for Induction, in all kinds of Subjects.

74. And of these Inftances, he makes twenty-feven different kinds; The various viz. (1.) Such as exhibit the Nature enquired after, in Things that agree Kinds of In. with, or differ from others, in refpect to that Nature only. (2). In- ftances, for ftances wherein the Nature fought appears in a State of Generation, or the purpose. Deftruction. (3.) Thofe wherein the Nature enquired after ftands alone, in a high Degree of Perfection or Predominancy. (4.) Such as fhew the Thing enquired after, in its loweft State, weakest Virtue, or firft Rudiments. (5.) Such as exhibit the Nature enquired after, in the way of a leffer Form. (6.) Such as fhew a Likeness and Relation in the Concrete, fo as to help in uniting Nature. (7.) Such as fhew Bodies in the

3

Concrete,

The Doctrine

Concrete, as it were out of their Course, or broken in Nature. (8.) Er-
rors of Nature, Things monftrous, extraordinary, or out of the
Courfe of Nature. (9.) Bodies confifting of two different Natures, or
double Species. (10.) The moft perfect Works of Men in every Kind.
(11.) Inftances wherein the Nature fought is either conftantly prefent, or
conftantly abfent. (12.) Inftances that fhew the Limits of Nature, or
the Bounds betwixt Exiftence and Non-Exiftence, in all Subjects.
(13.) Such as mix and join Natures fuppofed to be incompatible, or he-
terogeneous. (14.) Such as fhew an inviolable Conjunction of one Na-
ture to another, and the feparable Alliance of others. (15.) Such as
fhew the Separation of Natures that frequently meet. (16.) Such as
affift the Actions of the Senfes; particularly the Sight. (17.) Such as bring
thofe Things to the Senfes that did not appear before. (18.) Such as dif-
cover the Motions of Nature connected, or gradually continued. (19.) Such
as afford Information, where the Senfes fail. (20.) Such as excite the At-
tention, and hint the Subtilty of Nature. (21.) Such as measure the Powers,
and Virtues of Things, by Space. (22.) Such as measure the Powers of
Nature by Time. (23.) Such as fhew in what Proportion, Quan-
tity of Body contributes to Quantity of Virtue. (24.) Such as fhew the
Prevalency or Subjection of Virtues to one another; under which come
all the Species of Motion, or active Powers. (25.) Such as point out
Advantages and Conveniences for Mankind. (26.) Such as regard Things
of common Occurrence, and therefore fave the Trouble of new Demon-
ftrations; under which come the feveral Ways of Practice, or Means
of Operation. And (27.) Such Inftances as fhew that a fmall Quantity
of Matter, or an apparently small Efficient, may have a great Effect.

75. This Doctrine of Prerogative Inftances is treated with Care;
of Inftances,, and illuftrated with a fuitable Variety of Examples, that open
how treated by
the Author.
the Way to Enquiries of all Kinds, and lead to the Improvement
of all the Parts of Philofophy; fo as to fhew, in a fummary View,
what is already known, in numerous Subjects, and direct a farther
Profecution; at the fame Time that the Author is carrying on his own
particular Design of perfecting the Art of Induction; and laying down Pre-
cepts, and giving Directions for the Execution of the remaining Parts
of his Inftauration. And here ends all that is left us of the Novum
Organum.

The Novum

76. It is extremely to be regretted that the Author did not finish Organum in- this Piece; of which it is evident he had the complete Idea, with its alperfect. moft infinite Train of Ufes. But there being nothing at that Time extant, which could, in any tolerable Degree, afford the neceffary Inftances for the Tables of View; he thought it incumbent upon him to fet an Example, at leaft, of the manner of procuring them; as he did in his Sylva Sylvarum; and afterwards digefted and fashioned many of them into particular Tables, in his Hiftory of Winds, Hiftory of Life and Death, &c.

77. He had propofed to deliver the remaining Parts of this Organum Eight general under the following Heads; viz. (1.) the Helps of Induction; (2.) the Heads thereof Rectification of Induction; (3.) the Method of varying Enquiries; (4) the remaining unSpoke to. Prerogative Natures for Enquiry; (5.) the Limits of Enquiry; (6.) the Reduction of Enquiries to Practice; (7.) the Preliminaries to Enquiry; and (8.) the afcending and defcending Scale of Axioms. It might, perhaps, be of fome Utility, briefly to go over these several Heads, fo as to indicate a little of the Manner wherein it may be conjectured, from his other Writings, the Author propofed to treat them; and, at the fame time, refer the Reader to thofe Parts of his own, and others Works, where farther Light and Affiftance may be procured towards finishing the Whole.

78. (1.) The first Thing in order, after the Doctrine of Prerogative The Helps of Inftances, was, to lay down the Helps of Induction: under which it fhould Induction. feem, that the Author propofed to deliver, (1.) the Way of procuring a genuine History of Nature and Art; as the Bafis, or Matter, of Induction; (2.) to explain the Manner where in this Matter might occafionally be reduced into regular Tables of View, according to the Nature of each Subject; (3.) to fhew the Order, or Method, wherein the Mind is to confider the Inftances contained in these Tables, both feparately and comparatively, or collectively, in order to difcover the Caufes of the Thing enquired after; and deduce the Axioms for directing new Experiments; (4.) How these Tables of View are afterwards to be improved, or made more full or comprehenfive, and ranged anew; fo as to exhibit all the Particulars, in their most natural Order, and afford ftill greater Affiftance to the Mind, in forming more juft and perfect Conceptions, Notions, and Axioms; and (5.) the feveral Ways that might be contrived for helping or improving the Senfes, the Memory, and the Reason, in order to the forming a more perfect Induction .

Etion.

79. (2.) The Rectification of Induction stands next in order; by which The Retifica tion of Induappears to be meant the making a due Exclufion, or Rejection, of all thofe fimple Natures, or Properties, that do not effentially contribute in conftituting the Form of a Thing; fo that, after fuch an Exclufion is compleatly made, the pure Form fhall remain behind, unattended with

a See Part II. Aph. 21.

b See Vol. I. p. 44 47. 291.

-300. Vol. II. p. 327, 393—398. 406- -408. Vol. III. p. 8. -18. & alibi paffim. See Dr. Hook's Method of improving Philosophy, p. 18

-33. and Mr. Boyle's Works, paffim.

c See Vol. I. p. 125

327, 337, 341, &c.

-130. Vol. II. p. 328, 335, 395, 433-466. Vol. III. p. 320

-

See Vol. I. p. 117, 119, 127. Vol. II. p. 328, 329, 424-466. Vol. III. p. 16. 18.
See Vol. II. p. 328, 334, 335, 454, 455. Vol. III. p. 321, 322.

f See Vol. II. p. 327, 504-513, 5147 -517. See alfo Dr. Hook's Method of improving
Philofophy, p. 1218. 34 42. and M. Tfchirnhaus's Medicina Mentis, p. 182
211, & 2d Ed.

VOL. II.

Ffff

any

Means of re

Rion.

any thing more than is abfolutely neceffary, or effential to it: that is, a perfect Notion of the Effence, or conftituent Caufe, of the Thing, will be obtained, according to what was mentioned above.

80. The Bufinefs of rectifying Induction, will, therefore, require (1.) a difying Indu- previous Knowledge of fimple Natures, or a Set of juft and philofophical Notions; and (2.) the Way of contriving and making certain Experiments, or Trials, for producing certain Works, that fhall verify and confirm the Truth of the Induction; by fhewing, that if Men operate according to fuch Rules as are afforded by the Axioms, or Forms difcover'd by Induction, they may produce the Works and Effects thus pointed out; which are fuch as could not be otherwife fcientifically produced by Men".

Induction a priori.

Induction a pofteriori.

81. The Way of forming thefe Notions, is by the Ufe of Induction itfelf and requires an entire Extirpation of all falfe Theories, Idols, and vain Imaginations; that the Mind may become perfectly equable, and difpofed to receive thefe genuine Notions; which are not to be made conformable to the Senfe of Man, but in exact Agreement to the Senfe of Nature; fo as to be scientifical and juft Expreffions of Things, as they exift in Nature; and not as the Mind, of itself, from the firft Information of the Senfe, is apt to imagine them. And thefe Notions will enable us to make a true Induction, as it were, a prio

ri.

82. But the other Way of rectifying Induction, is a pofteriori; and depends upon this, that when a Form, an Axiom, or Canon, is found, or fuppofed to be found, by ufing the Tables of View, and the Method of Rejection; the proper Experiments are to be contrived, for determining whether this Form, Axiom, or Canon, be real, and not imaginary, or fictitious. And here the Doctrine of Prerogative Inftances is of great Service, in indicating the requifite Trials, Experiments, or Works, for this Purpose. If the expected Effect should in no wife follow, the Particulars of the Tables were either falfe, or incompetent; for the Method, when properly purfued, muft needs be infallible. If the Effect anfwer but in part, and no Error has been committed in the Experiment; then the Form, Axiom, or Canon, must be mended, by going over the Induction with more Exactnefs, and better Helps. If the Effect answers to the full, under a due Variation of Circumftances, and in all Trials; a Proof will thus be gain'd of the Juftness of the Procedure, the Goodnefs of the Induction, and the Validity of the Discovery. And these two,

it

% 8.71.

See Vol. II. p. 335, 425.

iSee Vol. II. p. 325, 326, 351-368, 397.

* See Vol. II. p. 327, 346, 504. See alfo Dr. Hook's Method of improving Philosophy, p. g. and M. Tfcbirnbaus's Medicina Mentis, p. 72-95.

See Vol. II. p. 467, &c.

it fhould feem, were the principal Ways, which the Author proposed for rectifying his Induction m.

83. (3.) The next Head is the Method of varying Enquiries: by which The Method of we are to understand not only the fuiting of the Manner of Enquiry to varying Enthe Nature of the Subject occafionally; but alfo the Ways of tranfpofing, quiries. enlarging and improving the Parts of an Enquiry, both with regard to the Matter and Method, according as new Information, and farther Light,

is obtained.

rals.

84. Thus, when the View is to discover Axioms or Forms, the En- The Procedure quiry muft proceed from Particulars to Generals; or from a Variety of from Particuappofite Inftances, difpofed in fuitable Tables, to the Axioms they af- lars to Geneford, or the Form they point out: but when the Defign is to lay out a Work, which itself is a particular Thing, we must begin with Generals, or the Axioms already obtained; and defcend, by degrees, to the Work required". And, in both thefe Cafes, moft of the Steps that are first taken will remain improvable; as the Mind becomes better acquainted with the Subject, and the Things that relate thereto : till at length the Enquiry turns to a perfect scientifical History; where no farther Alteration of the Method can be made to Advantage; nor any thing farther be added, for discovering the Form, or directing the Work ; which was the original Subject of the Enquiry °.

85. (4.) The next general Head of the Second Part of the Novum Or- The Prerogaganum, is the Prerogative Natures for Enquiry; whereby we are to un-tive Natures for Enquiry. derstand the Art of chufing those Subjects, a few of which may ferve inftead of many; as in the Doctrine of Prerogative Inftances; where the Author has fhewn how all Infinity of Search may be cut off; or how, instead of an infinite Number of Particulars, a few may be felected, that shall more advantagiously answer the fame End: For the like is to be done in Enquiries. So that the Defign here feems to have been to indicate a few capital, or leading Enquiries, which being duly profecuted, fhould unfold Nature as effectually as if all poffible Enquiries were profecuted; thus proportioning the Bufinefs of perfecting Philofophy, to the Shortnefs and Cafualties of Life P. What these Enquiries are, may be learnt from thofe which the Author directly went upon; and thofe he intended to have proceeded with 9: and in what Order these Enquiries fhould be profecuted; or which fhould come first, which fecond, &c. must be determined either according to their Utility in Life, or

See Vol. II. p. 330.

"See Vol. II. p. 330, 517-560. Vol. III. p. 316, 320. See alfo below, $. 88, 89, 90. See above, §. 76. See alfo Mr. Boyle's Method of profecuting Enquiries, Abridg. Vol. I. in init. p. 24, 25.

P See Vol. II. p. 330, 331.

See Vol. III. p. 11, 12, 19, 29, 335, 337, 437, 503.

proving Philofopby, p. 1870.

See alfo Dr. Hook's Method of im