74 GENERAL VIEW AND BASIS OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. 



for definition is that which refines the pure essence of 

 things from the circumstances.' l 



Ideas and existences are represented by terms and 

 phrases ; and as terms and phrases are representatives of 

 thoughts and things, and are the means which enable us 

 to speak about them, the definitions, descriptions, and ex- 

 planations of terms form a very necessary part of science ; 

 and he who would understand science must learn the 

 meaning of the special terms employed in it. 



The use of symbols to represent ideas and groups of 

 ideas is a great aid to thought. The symbols of algebra 

 and of number, being a condensed form of language, save us 

 still further the labour of thinking. Symbols enable us 

 to concentrate our attention upon those points alone which 

 they represent, by excluding coincidences which would 

 distract the attention. The meanings of geometrical dia- 

 grams are usually more fixed than those of words. Often, 

 by putting our ideas into writing during a research, we 

 perceive them more clearly, and preserve them from loss 

 or change. Clear definition and description also greatly 

 assist research. 



' I may remark, in general, that the only persons who 

 succeed in making great alterations in the language of 

 science are not those who make names arbitrarily and as 

 an exercise of ingenuity, but those who have much new 

 knowledge to communicate ; so that the vehicle is com- 

 mended to general reception by the value of what it 

 contains. It is only eminent discoverers to whom the 

 authority is conceded of introducing a new system of 

 names ; just as it is only the highest authority in the 

 State which has the power of putting a new coinage in 

 circulation.' 2 



1 Milton. 



2 Whewell's Philosophy of the Inductive Sciences, vol. i. p. 81. 



