MICHAEL FARADAY — HIS LIFE AND WORKS. ,245 



that it is imperionsl}' incumLent to spread nono hut coiTcct and well-founded 

 ideas. 



Let us not, however, exaggerate anything, or refuse to recognize in the too 

 positive ideas which we have just combated that portion of truth which they 

 may contain. With this purpose let us try, in conclusion, to lay down in feiv 

 words the point at which, in our opinion, in the present state of science the 

 important question of the unity of forces has arrived. 



After having for a long time arrested the progress of science by abstract and 

 general considerations upon the phenomena of nature, the philosophers finished 

 by adopting, with Galileo, the experimental method, the only one that can lead 

 with certainty to the discovery of the truth. A rigorous and profound analysis, 

 placed at the ser\'ice of this method, furnished certain and fiindamental results. 

 Reverting to a synthetic phase, many superior minds now seek by means of 

 these tediously and painfully collected materials to reconstmct the edifice of 

 which the raising was formerly attempted in vain. No doubt science has thus 

 entered upon a fertile course, but only on condition of advancing with sure and 

 consequently with slow steps. We speak of the unity of force, and of the 

 transformation of forces one into the other ; but do we know what are forces ? 

 do we know their natm-e ? We have certainly proved transformations of move- 

 ment, and shown that one work may change into another work, mechanical 

 motion into heat, and heat into mechanical motion ; these are, without doubt, 

 the most important points gained l)y science, and enable us to get a glimpse 

 of the existence of a single cause manifesting itself in various forms. But it 

 is a long way from this to the discovery of this cause, tliis single force. Shall 

 wo some day ariive at it ? It is possible and even proliable ; and in this case 

 the name and the works of Faraday will always remain associated with one of 

 the greatest problems which the human mind can entertain. 



