30G ON LIFE AND ORGANISATION. 



of the former, and in the immediate analysis of phenomena in the 

 case of the latter; but merely in the double analysis which the 

 latter kind of inquiry involves — or more correctly in the extension 

 of the analysis to the phenomena themselves. The inductive 

 process must be followed in both kinds of inquiry ; but in the 

 metaphysical and mathematical it rests immediately on ultimate 

 and necessary truth, while in the experimental the phenomena 

 themselves must be analysed, so as to be introduced into the sphere 

 of ultimate and necessary truth. The inductive process is not, 

 therefore, confined in its application to experimental and observa- 

 tional, but extends to metaphysical and mathematical inquiries. 

 The induction, in the case of the latter, lands at once in necessary 

 truth ; while, in the former, the phenomena themselves, on which 

 the inquiries are based, must be subjected to the analytical and in- 

 ductive processes, before the subject can assume a thinkable form. 



The inductive process, more particularly as employed in expe- 

 rimental and observational research, consists in the provisional 

 construction or assumption of a law applicable to the phenomena, 

 and in testing this assumption by renewed experiment or obser- 

 vation. If, after sufficient trial or observation, the assumption 

 holds good, and, more particularly, if it indicates, and, on trial, 

 reveals results not previously known or anticipated, it may be 

 safely held as estabbshed in its present form, and the so-called 

 facts it involves may be said to be explained or inducted. 



The assumed or provisional law always involves some mediate 

 or immediate form of ultimate or necessary truth, upon which 

 depends its capability of being thought. The human mind is in- 

 debted for its power of framing such hypothetical or provisional 

 laws, with the view to the discovery of actual laws, to the en- 

 dowment of a divine element by its Creator, in virtue of which it 

 is formed in accordance with all truth, and in harmony with all 

 created things, and so is enabled to see, dimly it is true, into sur- 

 rounding phenomena, but with sufficient clearness, when its gaze is 

 legitimately directed, to seize upon their probable relations, so as 

 to test them by necessary truth, and previously acquired knowledge, 

 brought to bear upon them under the guidance of the laws of 

 thought. 



