DISCOVERIES ARE NOT MADE BY BLIND EXERTION. 305 



tions and reasonings of men are a sort of insanity ; only 

 there is no one at hand to remark it.' l 



The method of treatment of scientific questions by 

 means of study and debate alone, as sometimes employed, 

 without experiment or without experience in manipula- 

 tive research, is a very imperfect one, because it rarely 

 settles a question. It has, however, the advantage of 

 raising objections (usually imaginary ones) for actual ex- 

 perience in science to refute, and thus helps to clear the 

 way for scientific progress. Ignorance and superstition 

 are always unwittingly aiding their own downfall, because 

 their existence is inconsistent with the very nature of 

 things, and a contradiction of the great laws of the 

 Creator. 



It is not by study only, nor by any amount of mental 

 struggle, nor yet by any degree of desire for truth, that we 

 are enabled to attain it, but by the combined action of 

 these means, under the guidance of reason. Truth which 

 is attained without the discriminating power of the in- 

 tellect is only hit upon by accident or uncertain empirical 

 rule, and is not known but only guessed to be truth. No 

 blind exertion will conduct a man to new knowledge with 

 certainty. In order to attain scientific truth by means 

 of study, the mind must contain clear ideas of the great 

 principles of nature, systematically arranged in their order 

 of degrees of intrinsic importance, and be experienced 

 in tracing their relations and consequences. How far 

 a man who has not properly prepared his mind for the 

 discernment of scientific truth is justified in making 

 scientific assertions based upon study alone, is a matter 

 for which he alone is responsible, and which he would do 

 well to seriously consider. 



1 Bacon, Novum 

 X 



