SECTION 22. - OBSERVA TION. 257 



them together or apart according to their substantial resem- 

 blances or divergences, not, however, without re-examining the 

 facts and finally formulating the shortest practicable compre- 

 hensive statement. Nevertheless, in many instances our interest 

 may be to fasten on divergences rather than on resemblances, 

 in which case we search for heterogeneity rather than for 

 homogeneity. These few preliminary remarks must suffice, as 

 our object in this Second Book is practical and not theoretical. 



CONCLUSION 16. 



Need of applying the Categories ; of Strenuous Mental Application 

 in the Process of Observation; and of the Observations being 

 Graded, Comprehensive, Important, Numerous, Full, Rational 

 and Relevant, Original, Automatically Initiated, and Methodi- 

 cally Developed. 1 



120. (a) Utilisation of the Categories. The purpose of 

 Observation is, mainly, by the application of the third table 

 of the Primary Categories to ascertain circumstantially the 

 Material and Modal Aspects of a phenomenon, as enumerated 

 in the first and second tables of the Primary Categories. That 

 is, the investigation will not be guided by chance suppositions 

 varying with occasions and inquirers, but by comprehensive 

 tables covering virtually the whole extensive ground. This 

 method should compass a gigantic saving of effort and secure 

 the reduction of incomplete or erroneous results to a minimum. 

 At the same time certain peculiar or special procedure aspects 

 need to be emphasised in relation to observation, and this we 

 are essaying in the subjoined paragraphs. 



121. (b) Concentration. In observation, as in all forms 

 of mental activity, we should intently concentrate* all our 

 faculties, and avoid both over-confidence and over-anxiety. 

 Mechanical or routine observation is unscientific. ( 154.) 



122. (c) Point of Departure. Facts of perception should 

 form the point of departure of an investigation. 



123. (d) Direct and Original Observation. Observation 

 should be direct, or original. "Learn all things as much as 

 you can at first hand." (Watts, Logic, p. 73.) Occasional 

 recollections, oral accounts, pen descriptions in books, drawings, 

 paintings, models, and the like, should be only utilised when 

 observation, external or internal, is impracticable, or when the 

 accounts issue from a scientific source or are employed for 

 comparison. It needs scarcely stating how frequently scientists 

 pass deliberately and critically over ground which their fellows 

 have trod. 



1 For the full meaning of these adjectives, see Conclusion 25. 



2 Darwin "assigned supreme importance to the habits of incessant in- 

 dustry and concentrated attention. . . ." (Frank Cramer, op. cit., p. 17.) 



17 



