THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE WORK. 17 



notional but well defined, and really acknowledged by na 

 ture as well known to her, and cleaving to the very pith of 

 things. 



By far our greatest work, however, lies in the form of 

 induction and the judgment arising from it. For the form 

 of which the logicians speak, which proceeds by bare enu 

 meration, is puerile, and its conclusions precarious, is ex 

 posed to danger from one contrary example, only considers 

 what is habitual, and leads not to any final result. 



The sciences, on the contrary, require a form of induc 

 tion capable of explaining and separating experiments, and 

 coming to a certain conclusion by a proper series of rejec 

 tions and exclusions. If, however, the common judgment 

 of the logicians has been so laborious, and has exercised 

 such great wits, how much more must we labour in this 

 which is drawn not only from the recesses of the mind, but 

 the very entrails of nature. 



Nor is this all, for we let down to a greater depth, and 

 render more solid the very foundations of the sciences, 

 and we take up the beginning of our investigation from a 

 higher part than men have yet done, by subjecting those 

 matters to examination which common logic receives upon 

 the credit of others. For the logicians borrow the prin 

 ciples of one science from another, in the next place they 

 worship the first formed notions of their minds, and lastly 

 they rest contented with the immediate information of the 

 senses if well directed. But we have resolved that true 

 logic ought to enter upon the several provinces of the 

 sciences with a greater command than is possessed by their 

 first principles, and to force those supposed principles to 

 an account of the grounds upon which they are clearly 

 determined. As far as relates to the first notions of the 

 understanding, not any of the materials which the under 

 standing, when left to itself, has collected, is unsuspected 

 by us, nor will we confirm them unless they themselves 

 be put upon their trial and be j udged accordingly. Again we 

 have many ways of sifting the information of the senses 

 themselves for the senses assuredly deceive, though at 

 the same time they disclose their errors the errors, how 

 ever, are close at hand, whilst their indication must be 

 sought at a greater distance. 



There are two faults of the senses: they either desert 

 or deceive us. For in the first place there are many things 

 which escape the senses however well directed and unim 

 peded, owing either to the subtilty of the whole body, or 

 VOL. xiv. c 



