ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE LOGIC OF SCIENCE. 13 



And it is true that metaphysicians get the right ideas at last ; Hegel's 

 system of Nature represents tolerably the science of that day ; and 

 one may be sure that whatever scientific investigation has put out of 

 doubt will presently receive a priori demonstration on the part of 

 the metaphysicians. But with the scientific method the case is dif- 

 ferent. I may start with known and observed facts to proceed to 

 the unknown ; and yet the rules which I follow in doing so may not 

 be such as investigation would approve. The test of whether I am 

 truly following the method is not an immediate appeal to my feelings 

 and purposes, but, on the contrary, itself involves the application of 

 the method. Hence it is that bad reasoning as well as good reason- 

 ing is possible ; and this fact is the foundation of the practical side 

 of logic. 



It is not to be supposed that the first three methods of settling 

 opinion present no advantage whatever over the scientific method. 

 On the contrary, each has some peculiar convenience of its ow r n. The 

 a priori method is distinguished for its comfortable conclusions. It is 

 the nature of the process to adopt whatever belief we are inclined to, 

 and there are certain flatteries to the vanity of man which we all be- 

 lieve by nature, until we are awakened from our pleasing dream by 

 some rough facts. The method of authority will always govern the 

 mass of mankind ; and those who wield the various forms of organized 

 force in the state will never be convinced that dangerous reasoning 

 ought not to be suppressed in some way. If liberty of speech is to 

 be untrammeled from the grosser forms of constraint, then uniformity 

 of opinion will be secured by a moral terrorism to which the respect- 

 ability of society will give its thorough approval. Following the 

 method of authority is the path of peace. Certain non-conformities 

 are permitted ; certain others ( considered unsafe ) are forbidden. 

 These are different in different countries and in different ages ; but, 

 wherever you are, let it be known that you seriously hold a tabooed 

 belief, and you may be perfectly sure of being treated with a cruelty 

 less brutal but more refined than hunting you like a wolf. Thus, the 

 greatest intellectual benefactors of mankind have never dared, and 

 dare not now, to utter the whole of their thought ; and thus a shade 

 of prima facie doubt is cast upon every proposition which is con- 

 sidered essential to the security of society. Singularly enough, the 

 persecution does not all come from without; but a man torments him- 

 self and is oftentimes most distressed at finding himself believing 

 propositions which he has been brought up to regard with aversion. 

 The peaceful and sympathetic man will, therefore, find it hard to resist 

 the temptation to submit his opinions to authority. But most of all 

 I admire the method of tenacity for its strength, simplicity, and 

 directness. Men who pursue it are distinguished for their decision of 

 character, which becomes very easy with such a mental rule. They 

 do not waste time in trying to make up their minds what they want, 



