There are and can exist but two ways of investigating 

 and discovering truth. The one hurries on rapidly from the 

 senses and particulars to the most general axioms, and from 

 them, as principles and their supposed indisputable truth, 

 derives and discovers the intermediate axioms. This is the 

 way now in use. The other constructs its axioms from the 

 senses and particulars by ascending continually and grad- 

 ually, till it finally arrives at the most general axioms, which 

 is the true but unattempted way. 



We are wont to call that human reasoning which we ap- 

 ply to Nature the anticipation of Nature (as being rash 

 and premature), and that which is properly deduced from 

 things the interpretation of Nature. 



— Bacon, Novum Organum, 



