INDUCTION IN GENERAL. 351 



astronomical fact was thus ascertained, exactly similar 

 to those by which the same science establishes its 

 general truths, but moreover (as we have shown to 

 be the case in all legitimate reasoning) a general pro- 

 position might have been concluded instead of a single 

 fact. In strictness, indeed, the result of the reason- 

 ing is a general proposition ; a theorem respecting 

 the distance, not of the moon in particular, but of any 

 inaccessible object ; showing in what relation that 

 distance stands to certain other quantities. And 

 although the moon is almost the only heavenly body 

 the distance of which from the earth can really be 

 thus ascertained, this is merely owing to the acci- 

 dental circumstances of the other heavenly bodies, 

 which render them incapable of affording such data 

 as the application of the theorem requires ; for the 

 theorem itself is as true of them as it is of the 

 moon. 



We shall fall into no error, then, if in treating of 

 Induction, we limit our attention to the establishment 

 of general propositions. The principles and rules of 

 Induction, as directed to this end, are the principles 

 and rules of all Induction ; and the logic of Science 

 is the universal Logic, applicable to all inquiries in 

 which man can engage, and the test of all the conclu- 

 sions at which he can arrive by inference. 



