THE PHILOSOPHICAL WORKS. 23 



rnaxim generalibus ;" l but while ordinary induction proceeds 

 " per enumerationem simplicem," by a mere enumeration of par- 

 ticular cases, " et precario concludit et periculo exponitur ab in- 

 stantia contradictoria,"the new method " naturam separare debet, 

 per rejectiones et exclusiones debitas ; et deinde post negativas 

 tot quot sufficiunt super affirmativas concludere." 2 A form of 

 induction was to be introduced, " quae ex aliquibus genera- 

 liter concludat ita ut instantiam contradictoriam inveniri non 

 posse demonstretur." 3 In strong contrast with this method 

 stands " the induction which the logicians speak of," which " is 

 utterly vicious and incompetent." ..." For to conclude 

 upon an enumeration of particulars, without instance contra- 

 dictory, is no conclusion, but a conjecture." ..." And this 

 form, to say truth, is so gross, as it had not been possible for 

 wits so subtile as have managed these things to have offered 

 it to the world, but that they trusted to their theories and 

 dogmaticals, and were imperious and scornful towards particu- 

 lars." 4 We thus see what is meant by the phrase "quot sum*- 

 ciunt" in the passage which has been cited from the Novum 

 Organum ; it means " as many as may suffice in order to the at- 

 tainment of certainty," it being necessary to have a method of 

 induction, " quae experientiam solvat et separet, et per exclu- 

 siones et rejectiones debitas necessario concludat." 5 Absolute 

 certainty is therefore one of the distinguishing characters of 

 the Baconian induction. Another is that it renders all men 

 equally capable, or nearly so, of attaining to the truth. f( Nostra 

 vero inveniendi scientias ea est ratio ut non multum ingenio- 

 rum acumini et robori relinquatur; sed quae ingenia et intel- 

 lectus fere exaequet ;" 6 and this is illustrated by the difficulty of 

 describing a circle libera manu, whereas every one can do it 

 with a pair of compasses. " Omnino similis est nostra ratio." 

 The cause to which this peculiarity is owing, is sufficiently indi- 

 cated by the illustration : the method " exaequat ingenia," " cum 

 omnia per certissimas regulas et demonstrationes transigat." 

 (5.) Absolute certainty, and a mechanical mode of procedure 



1 Nov. Org. i. 22. 2 Nov. Org. i. 105. 



8 Cogitata et Visa, 1 8. 



4 Advancement of Learning. The corresponding passage in the De Augm. is in the 

 2nd chap, of the 5th book. 



5 Distrib. Operis, 10. 



6 Nov. Org. i. 61., and comp. i. 122. Also the Inquisitio legitima de Motu, and 

 Valerius Terminus, c. 19. 



04 



