NOVUM ORGANUM 353 



the highest and most general (as they are esteemed at present), 

 are notional, abstract, and of no real weight. The intermediate 

 are true, solid, full of life, and upon them depend the business 

 and fortune of mankind; beyond these are the really general, 

 but not abstract, axioms, which are truly limited by the inter- 

 mediate. 



We must not then add wings, but rather lead and ballast to 

 the understanding, to prevent its jumping or flying, which has 

 not yet been done; but whenever this takes place, we may 

 entertain greater hopes of the sciences. 



105. In forming axioms, we must invent a different form of 

 induction from that hitherto in use ; not only for the proof and 

 discovery of principles (as they are called), but also of minor, 

 intermediate, and, in short, every kind of axioms. The induc- 

 tion which proceeds by simple enumeration is puerile, leads to 

 uncertain conclusions, and is exposed to danger from one con- 

 tradictory instance, deciding generally from too small a number 

 of facts, and those only the most obvious. But a really useful 

 induction for the discovery and demonstration of the arts a-nd 

 sciences, should separate nature by proper rejections and ex- 

 clusions, and then conclude for the affirmative, after collecting 

 a sufficient number of negatives. Now this has not been done, 

 nor even attempted, except perhaps by Plato, who certainly uses 

 this form of induction in some measure, to sift definitions and 

 ideas. But much of what has never yet entered the thoughts of 

 man must necessarily be employed, in order to exhibit a good 

 and legitimate mode of induction or demonstration, so as even 

 to render it essential for us to bestow more pains upon it than 

 have hitherto been bestowed on syllogisms. The assistance of 

 induction is to serve us not only in the discovery of axioms, 

 but also in defining our notions. Much indeed is to be hoped 

 from such an induction as has been described. 



106. In forming our axioms from induction, we must ex- 

 amine and try whether the axiom we derive be only fitted and 

 calculated for the particular instances from which it is deduced, 

 or whether it be more extensive and general. If it be the latter, 

 we must observe, whether it confirm its own extent and gen- 

 erality by giving surety, as it were, in pointing out new par- 

 ticulars, so that we may neither stop at actual discoveries, nor 

 with a careless grasp catch at shadows and abstract forms, in- 

 stead of substances of a determinate nature : and as soon as 

 we act thus, well authorized hope may with reason, be said to 

 beam upon us. 



107. Here, too, we may again repeat what we have said 

 above, concerning the extending of natural philosophy and re- 

 ducing particular sciences to that one, so as to prevent any 



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