NOVUM ORGANUM 59 



of the mass of arts and sciences, make no other use of an in 

 quiry into the mass already before them, than is afforded by 

 the conversion of it to some use in their lectures, or to gain, 

 or to the acquirement of a name, and the like. But if one 

 out of the multitude be found, who courts science from real 

 zeal, and on his own account, even he will be seen rather to 

 follow contemplation, and the variety of theories, than a 

 severe and strict investigation of truth. Again, if there 

 even be an unusually strict investigator of truth, yet will 

 he propose to himself, as the test of truth, the satisfaction 

 of his mind and understanding, as to the causes of things 

 long since known, and not such a test as to lead to some 

 new earnest of effects, and a new light in axioms. If, there 

 fore, no one have laid down the real end of science, we can 

 not wonder that there should be error in points subordinate 

 to that end. 



LXXXIL But, in like manner, as the end and goal of 

 science is ill denned, so, even were the case otherwise, men 

 have chosen an erroneous and impassable direction. For it 

 is sufficient to astonish any reflecting mind, that nobody 

 should have cared or wished to open and complete a way for 

 the understanding, setting off from the senses, and regular, 

 well-conducted experiment; but that everything has been 

 abandoned either to the mists of tradition, the whirl and con 

 fusion of argument, or the waves and mazes of chance, and 

 desultory, ill-combined experiment. Now, let any one but 

 consider soberly and diligently the nature of the path men 

 have been accustomed to pursue in the investigation and 

 discovery of any matter, and he will doubtless first observe 

 the rude and inartificial manner of discovery most familiar 

 to mankind: which is no other than this. When any one 

 prepares himself for discovery, he first inquires and obtains 



