282 PHYSICAL SCIENCE IN THE MIDDLE AGES. 



the two great elements of the progress of know- 

 ledge, was in a great measure superseded by the 

 collection, the analysis, the explanation, of previous 

 authors and opinions ; experimenters were replaced 

 by commentators ; criticism took the place of in- 

 duction; and instead of great discoverers we had 

 learned men. 



1. Natural Bias to Authority. It is very evi- 

 dent that, in such a bias of men's studies, there is 

 something very natural ; however strained and tech- 

 nical this erudition may have been, the propensities 

 on which it depends are very general, and are easily 

 seen. Deference to the authority of thoughtful and 

 sagacious men, a disposition which men in general 

 neither reject nor think they ought to reject in 

 practical matters, naturally clings to them, even in 

 speculation. It is a satisfaction to us to suppose 

 that there are, or have been, minds of transcendent 

 powers, of wide and wise views, superior to the 

 common errors and blindnesses of our nature. The 

 pleasure of admiration, and the repose of confi- 

 dence, are inducements to such a belief. There are 

 also other reasons why we willingly believe that 

 there are in philosophy great teachers, so profound 

 and sagacious, that, in order to arrive at truth, 

 we have only to learn their thoughts, to under- 

 stand their writings. There is a peculiar interest 

 which men feel in dealing with the thoughts of 

 their fellow-men, rather than with brute matter. 

 Matter feels and excites no sympathies ; in seeking 



