CLASSICS OF SCIENTIFIC METHOD 

 GENERAL INTRODUCTION 



" Sachez egalement Messieurs . . . que la science dans notre 

 siecle, est Tame de la prospe*rite des nations et la source vive de 

 tout progres ! Sans doute, la politique avec ses fatigantes et quoti- 

 diennes discussions semble etre notre guide . . . vaine apparence ! 

 Ce qui nous mene ce sont quelques decouvertes scientifiques et 

 leurs applications." PASTEUR. 



THE manifold activities of the human mind in its attempt 

 to comprehend the universe have left us a glorious 

 heritage. The student, be he youth or adult, who wishes 

 to trace the growth of understanding in Music, in Litera- 

 ture, or in the graphic arts, finds no lack of guidance. 

 Excellent reproductions of the great masterpieces of 

 painting or of sculpture can be obtained at small cost 

 in volumes where the improvement in technique and the 

 development of new ideas are indicated by a friendly 

 hand. Scientific invention has made the study of great 

 masterpieces of music possible to all, and there is now 

 growing up an adequate library of musical appreciation ; 

 while the great works of literature probably suffer from 

 over-interpretation. 



The masterpieces of Science are not, however, so ac- 

 cessible to those who must of necessity dwell in the outer 

 courts of her temple. The Alembic Club reprints, 

 Ostwald's Klassiker, and Messrs. Gauthier-Villars's Les 

 Maitres de la Pensee Scientifique provide the specialist in 

 various branches of science with convenient copies of 



