THE TIIKEE GROUPS OP SCIENCES. 85 



of the components, or than can exist between the 

 Sciences which deal with one or other order of the 

 things composed. The three groups of Sciences may 

 be briefly defined as laws of the forms; laws of 

 the factors ; laws of the products. And when thus 

 defined, it becomes manifest that the groups are 

 so radically unlike in their natures, that there can 

 be no transitions between them ; and that any 

 Science belonging to one of the groups must be 

 quite incongruous with the Sciences belonging to 

 either of the other groups, if transferred. How 

 fundamental are the differences between them, will be 

 further seen on considering their functions. The first, 

 or abstract group, is instrumental with respect to both 

 the others; and the second, or abstract-concrete group, 

 is instrumental with respect to the third or concrete 

 group. An endeavour to invert these functions will 

 at once show how essential is the difference of 

 character. The second and third groups supply 

 subject-matter to the first, and the third supplies 

 subject-matter to the second; but none of the truths 

 which constitute the third group are of any use as 

 solvents of the problems presented by the second 

 group ; and none of the truths which the second 

 group formulates can act as solvents of problems 

 contained in the first group. Concerning the sub 

 divisions of these great groups, little remains to be 

 added. That each of the groups, being co-extensive 

 with all phenomena, contains truths that are universal 



