NOVUM ORGANUM 357 



power, when each performs a separate part, instead of under- 

 taking in crowds the same work. 



114. Lastly, though a much more faint and uncertain breeze 

 of hope were to spring up from our new continent, yet we con- 

 sider it necessary to make the experiment, if we would not show 

 a dastard spirit. For the risk attending want of success is not 

 to be compared with that of neglecting the attempt ; the former 

 is attended with the loss of a little human labor, the latter with 

 that of an immense benefit. For these and other reasons it 

 appears to us that there is abundant ground to hope, and to 

 induce not only those who are sanguine to make experiment, 

 but even those who are cautious and sober to give their assent. 



115. Such are the grounds for banishing despair, hitherto one 

 of the most powerful causes of the delay and restraint to which 

 the sciences have been subjected ; in treating of which we have 

 at the same time discussed the signs and causes of the errors, 

 idleness, and ignorance, that have prevailed ; seeing especially 

 that the more refined causes, which are not open to popular 

 judgment and observation, may be referred to our remarks on 

 the idols of the human mind. 



Here, too, we should close the demolishing branch of our in- 

 stauration, which is comprised in three confutations: i, the 

 confutation of natural human reason left to itself ; 2, the con- 

 futation of demonstration ; 3, the confutation of theories, or 

 received systems of philosophy and doctrines. Our confutation 

 has followed such a course as was open to it, namely, the expos- 

 ing of the signs of error, and the producing evidence of the 

 causes of it ; for we could adopt no other, differing as we do both 

 in first principles and demonstrations from others. 



It is time for us therefore to come to the art itself, and the 

 rule for the interpretation of nature: there is, however, still 

 something which must not be passed over. For the intent of 

 this first book of aphorisms being to prepare the mind for under- 

 standing, as well as admitting, what follows, we must now, after 

 having cleansed, polished, and levelled its surface, place it in a 

 good position, and as it were a benevolent aspect towards our 

 propositions ; seeing that prejudice in new matters may be pro- 

 duced not only by the strength of preconceived notions, but also 

 by a false anticipation or expectation of the matter proposed. 

 We shall therefore endeavor to induce good and correct opin- 

 ions of what we offer, although this be only necessary for the 

 moment, and as it were laid out at interest, until the matter itself 

 be well understood. 



116. First, then, we must desire men not to suppose that we 

 are ambitious of founding any philosophical sect, like the ancient 

 Greeks, or some moderns, as Telesius, Patricius, and Severinus. 

 For neither is this our intention, nor do we think that peculiar 



