101 GENERAL VIEW AND BASIS OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. 



individual blade of grass that exists in a single field. In 

 addition to this, even th highest degree of education of 

 the senses and intellect, based upon the experience of 

 ages, has only made known to us an extremely minute 

 fraction of all the phenomena which really exist. 



Not only are there whole multitudes of phenomena 

 which we cannot directly perceive by means of our senses 

 and feelings (or even indirectly by the further aid of our 

 intellect), but even those we do perceive (by either of 

 those means) frequently appear the opposite of their 

 realities. That realities are often the opposite of appear- 

 ances is a well-known remark. Even the most profound 

 thinker, if he is ignorant of the fundamental principles of 

 science, is led, by studying his consciousness only, to 

 assume that causation is not universal, and to conclude 

 that volition is free from law. In consequence of our 

 very imperfect insight, error so frequently appears to us 

 like truth, and truth like error, and a superficial ex- 

 amination so often yields results opposite to those obtained 

 by a deeper one, that apparent contradiction or incon- 

 sistency may be frequently and safely regarded as a sign 

 of truth. In nature there are many apparent contradic- 

 tions, but no real ones. Nature is always true to 'itself, 

 and more extensive and deeper knowledge often modifies 

 and sometimes reverses our previous beliefs. The heavens 

 appear, and were long believed, to revolve round the earth. 

 When also we sail in a ship, or travel in a railway-car- 

 riage, surrounding objects, and not ourselves, appear 

 to move. Exceptional cases also often modify our most 

 general conclusions. If there were no apparent contra- 

 dictions in our statements or views of natural phenomena, 

 such statements, &c., would probably be less trustworthy ; 

 and apparent contradictions, which disappear on rigid scru- 

 tiny, are a sign of truthfulness. 



