342 Dr. Penkal on the Purjutts 



'■i'\ bii 



On the Pursuits o/Experimental Philosophy, 

 By Thomas Percival, M. D. F. R. S. and 

 S. A. ^c. Read May 14, 1784. . 



■ ■ ■ ■ • f 



HomOt rtaturts minijlcr et interpret, tantum fyfit. et iittelligif, 

 quantum de natura ordine, re 'vel mente, obfer'va'verit ; nee 

 amplius fcit, aut potejl. Bacon, Nov. Organ. Aph. I. 



'TpHE very learned and ingenious. .author of 

 "■* Hermes * has fligmatized the purfuits of 

 modern philpfophy, by treating them as mere 

 experimental amufements ; and charging thofe who 

 are engaged in fuch purfuits, with deeming no- 

 thing demonjlration, that is not made ocular. Thus, 

 inftead of afcending from Jenje to intelle^}, the 

 natural progrefs of all true learning, he obferves, 

 that the philofopher hurries into the midfl: of 

 fenfe, where he wanders at random, loft in a 

 labyrinth of infinite particulars. It would be eafy 

 to retaliate on this celebrated writer, by point- 

 ing out the futility of the fyllogiftic mode of 

 philofophizing, inftituted by his favourite Ari- 

 ftotle. I might alfo oppofe to his authority, that 

 of Lord Verulam, the brighteft luminary of 



* See a Philofophical Enquiry concerning univerfal 

 Grammar, by James Harris, Efq. p. 361. 



fcicnce, 



