INTRODUCTION. 



WE have now to consider more especially a 

 long and barren period, which intervened 

 between the scientific activity of ancient Greece, 

 and that of modern Europe ; and which we may, 

 therefore, call the Stationary Period of Science. It 

 would be to no purpose to enumerate the vari- 

 ous forms in which, during these times, men repro- 

 duced the discoveries of the inventive ages : or to 

 trace in them the small successes of Art, void 

 of any principle of genuine Philosophy. Our ob- 

 ject requires rather that we should point out the 

 general and distinguishing features of the intellect 

 and habits of those times. We must endeavour 

 to delineate the character of the Stationary Period, 

 and, as far as possible, to analyze its defects and 

 errours ; and thus obtain some knowledge of the 

 causes of its barrenness and darkness. 



A^e have already stated, that real scientific pro- 

 gress requires distinct general Ideas, applied to 

 many special and certain Facts. In the period of 

 which we now have to speak, men's Ideas were ob- 

 scured, their disposition to bring their general views 

 into accordance with Facts was enfeebled. They 

 were thus led to employ themselves unprofitably, 

 among indistinct and unreal notions. And the evil 



