318 PERSONAL PREPARATION FOR RESEARCH. 



discovery of electro- magnetism, it may implicitly contain 

 a multitude of others. In some cases, persons who are 

 skilled in routine observation only make more correct 

 observations of the particular kind than those who know 

 more of the subject generally, because their minds are less 

 occupied by particular views. 



Observations are usually concrete ideas, and often 

 consist of a great many simple conceptions combined into 

 one. When we merely observe the phenomena of nature 

 we obtain ideas of facts (of different degrees of complexity), 

 between which we may at any time make comparisons, 

 from these comparisons draw inferences, and form deci- 

 sions ; and oftentimes we do so at once. In making com- 

 parisons, or drawing inferences, we also observe ; in the 

 former case we observe the facts or ideas we wish to com- 

 pare, and in the latter, the propositions which we also 

 desire to confront. 



We acquire all the basis of our knowledge either 

 through our external senses or by means of internal sensa- 

 tion and perception ; and as we could not observe unless 

 there existed something to be noticed, so the endless 

 phenomena of nature, including those of our bodies and 

 minds, are the original source of excitement of our ob- 

 serving power. The two general conditions of observation 

 are nature and mind, i.e. the phenomena to be observed, 

 and the mental power to observe them. 



Observation is essentially active, and may be primarily 

 divided into sensation and perception ; both of which 

 include mental activity. Every feeling occupies, to a 

 greater or less degree, the entire mind ; and perception 

 may be viewed as a mental capacity of feeling impressions 

 made upon the brain. 



The senses may be enumerated as consisting of those 

 of organic life in our physical frame, muscular feeling, 



