BACON 



ences is this, that while we falsely admire and extol the powers 

 of the human mind, we do not search for its real helps. 



10. The subtilty of nature is far beyond that of sense or of 

 the understanding; so that the specious meditations, specula- 

 tions, and theories of mankind are but a kind of insanity, only 

 there is no one to stand by and observe it. 



11. As the present sciences are useless for the discovery of 

 effects, so the present system of logic is useless for the discov- 

 ery of the sciences. 



12. The present system of logic rather assists in confirming 

 and rendering inveterate the errors founded on vulgar notions 

 than in searching after truth, and is therefore more hurtful than 

 useful. 



13. The syllogism is not applied to the principles of the sci- 

 ences, and is of no avail in intermediate axioms, as being very 

 unequal to the subtilty of nature. It forces assent, therefore, 

 and not things. 



14. The syllogism consists of propositions, propositions of 

 words ; words are the signs of notions. If, therefore, the notions 

 (which form the basis of the whole) be confused and carelessly 

 abstracted from things, there is no solidity in the superstructure. 

 Our only hope, then, is in genuine induction. 



15. We have no sound notions either in logic or physics; 

 substance, quality, action, passion, and existence are not clear 

 notions; much less weight, levity, density, tenuity, moisture, 

 dryness, generation, corruption, attraction, repulsion, element, 

 matter, form, and the like. They are all fantastical and ill-de- 

 fined. 



16. The notions of less abstract natures, as man, dog, dove, 

 and the immediate perceptions of sense, as heat, cold, white, 

 black, do not deceive us materially, yet even these are some- 

 times confused by the mutability of matter and the intermixture 

 of things. All the rest which men have hitherto employed are 

 errors, and improperly abstracted and deduced from things. 



17. There is the same degree of licentiousness and error in 

 forming axioms as in abstracting notions, and that in the first 

 principles, which depend on common induction ; still more is 

 this the case in axioms and inferior propositions derived from 

 syllogisms. 



18. The present discoveries in science are such as lie im- 

 mediately beneath the surface of common notions. It is neces- 

 sary, however, to penetrate the more secret and remote parts 

 of^nature, in order to abstract both notions and axioms from 

 things by a more certain and guarded method. 



19. There are and can exist but two ways of investigating 

 and discovering truth. The one hurries on rapidly from the 

 senses and particulars to the most general axioms, and from 



