DISTRIBUTION OF THE WORK 2& 



chines facilitate the more abstruse and subtile demonstra 

 tions in mathematics. We assign the fourth part of our 

 work to these examples, which are nothing else than a par 

 ticular application of the second part of our undertaking. 4 



The fifth part is only temporary, or of use but till the 

 rest are finished; whence we look upon it as interest till 

 the principal be paid; for we do not propose to travel 

 hoodwinked, so as to take no notice of what may occur of 

 use in the way. This part, therefore, will consist of such 

 things as we have invented, experienced, or added, by the 

 same common use of the understanding tha^others employ. 

 For as we have greater hopes from our constant conversa 

 tion with nature than from our force of genius, the discov 

 eries we shall thus make may serve as inns on the road, 

 for the mind to repose in, during its progress to greater 

 certainties. But this, without being at all disposed to 

 abide by anything that is not discovered, or proved, by 

 the true form of induction. Nor need any one be shocked 

 at this suspension of the judgment, in a doctrine which 

 does not assert that nothing is knowable; but only that 

 things cannot be known except in a certain order and 

 method: while it allows particular degrees of certainty, 

 for the sake of commodiousness and use, until the mind 

 shall enter on the explanation of causes. Nor were those 

 schools of philosophers, 6 who held positive truth to be un 

 attainable, inferior to others who dogmatized at will. They 

 did not, however, like us, prepare helps for the guidance 

 of the senses and understanding, as we have done, but at 

 once abolished all belief and authority, which is a totally 

 different and almost opposite matter. 



The sixth and last part of our work, to which all the 

 rest are subservient, is to lay down that philosophy which 

 shall flow from the just, pure and strict inquiry hitherto 

 proposed. But to perfect this, is beyond both our abilities 



4 This part is what the author elsewhere terms scala intellectus, or the prog 

 ress of the understanding, and was intended to be supplied by him in the way 

 of monthly productions. See his dedication of the &quot;History of the Winds&quot; to 

 Prince Charles. Shaw. 5 The later Academy, who held the 



