CLASSIFICATION OF THE SCIENCES 59 



and that the basis of our generalizations must be 

 the universe of things knowable. " For," he writes, 

 " if men judge that learning should be referred to 

 use and action, they judge well ; but it is easy in this 

 to fall into the error pointed out in the ancient fable ; 

 in which the other parts of the body found fault with 

 the stomach, because it neither performed the office 

 of motion as the limbs do, nor of sense, as the head 

 does ; but yet notwithstanding it is the stomach which 

 digests and distributes the aliment to all the rest. So 

 that if any man think that philosophy and universal- 

 ity are idle and unprofitable studies, he does not con- 

 sider that all arts and professions are from thence 

 supplied with sap and strength." For Bacon, as for 

 Descartes, natural philosophy was the trunk of the 

 tree of knowledge. 



On the other hand, he looked to the arts, crafts, and 

 occupations as a source of scientific principles. In his 

 survey of learning he found some records of agri- 

 culture and likewise of many mechanical arts. Some 

 think them a kind of dishonor. " But if my judgment 

 be of any weight, the use of History Mechanical is, 

 of all others, the most radical and fundamental 

 towards natural philosophy." When the different 

 arts are known, the senses will furnish sufficient 

 concrete material for the information of the under- 

 standing. The record of the arts is of most use be- 

 cause it exhibits things in motion, and leads more 

 directly to practice. " Upon this history, therefore, 

 mechanical and illiberal as it may seem (all fineness 

 and daintiness set aside), the greatest diligence must 

 be bestowed." " Again, among the particular arts 

 those are to be preferred which exhibit, alter, and pre- 



