EMPIRICAL STARTING-POINTS OF A RESEARCH. 465 



means, and thus obtaining more conspicuous effects ; many 

 are effected by the use of more refined, sensitive, or 

 accurate apparatus and tests ; some, by investigating neg- 

 lected parts of science ; others, by seeking to completely 

 account for the total quantity of a substance or force in 

 a given instance, and by endeavouring to explain residuary 

 or exceptional phenomena; some, again, by continuing 

 incompleted researches. Many, by making experiments 

 which occur to the mind at the moment ; or in a number 

 of other ways, depending upon the nature of the science, 

 the circumstances of the case, &c. 



There are several empirical ways by which to com- 

 mence a research : 1. We wish to extend our know- 

 ledge of a certain undeveloped part of some known scien- 

 tific subject. 2. We have invented a new instrument, 

 and wish to ascertain its effects. 3. We desire to know 

 the cause, effect, and explanation of some known fact or 

 phenomenon which has not yet been elucidated. 4. We 

 have asked a question or raised an hypothesis, and wish to 

 ascertain whether it is true or not. 5. We have devised 

 a new experiment, i.e. a new combination of matter and 

 its forces, and wish to ascertain, by trial and observation, 

 what its effects will be. 6. We make new observations, or 

 devise new or improved means of observation. Or 7. We 

 classify and study known truths, in order to evolve others 

 from them. Each of these methods includes the succeed- 

 ing ones, and the series constitutes the successive steps 

 usually taken in making any scientific research. 



As this is a treatise chiefly on the general method of 

 research in physics and chemistry, I shall say much less 

 respecting the special methods which are employed, and 

 shall not attempt anything further than a mere empirical 

 classification of them, somewhat of the kind just given. 

 But although a truly scientific classification of the special 



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