SECTION 28 CLASSIFICATION. 395 



In Part II a logical order could be followed, as the processes 

 considered formed practically a time or order series, and this 

 was naturally done. 



Part III had necessarily to precede Part IV, and to open 

 Book II. Part IV consisted of all the practical matter of a 

 preparatory or ancillary character. Of course, this matter was 

 placed in Part IV, only after mature reflection as to its proper 

 place in the scheme of the work. Even then the order was 

 difficult to ascertain in several cases, and the classification no 

 doubt still leaves something to be desired. Nevertheless 

 repeatedly attempts were made to classify the material in such 

 a manner that the Conclusions should at least appear to succeed 

 each other logically. 



Part V formed the crux of the problem in classification. In 

 arranging the Conclusions in this Part in a rigid chronological 

 order, there was not only a gain for the reader, but for the author. 

 The latter could closely scrutinise the order he followed, and inter- 

 polate missing links which non-temporal considerations had not 

 suggested. Thus a comparatively rounded result was obtained, 

 classification rationalising the methodological process as a whole. 



This very time order helped to focus the conception of finding 

 an inherent connection between the successive Sections of 

 Part V. Hence the final arrangement was reached, whereby 

 the whole methodological process of enquiry was conceived as 

 a single act, one part of the process following another neces- 

 sarily from the commencement until the terminating Conclusion 

 was reached. This ensured that an investigation could be only 

 considered as complete and consummated when in an enquiry 

 the whole series of Conclusions, in their particular order, were 

 respected. Observation, Generalisation, Deduction, etc., were 

 now no longer independent units, but links in a time chain. 



Of course, ideally speaking, the whole of the working Con- 

 clusions ought to have been deducible in their precise order 

 from a single methodological principle; but that the author felt 

 he must leave to future research. 



This examination of a concrete case illustrates the diversified 

 .virtues of a good classification aiding the author to arrive at 

 new truths and to clarify his mind; helping his readers by 

 avoiding unnecessary confusion, by assisting correct and ready 

 apprehension, and by compressing multitudinous details into a 

 very few terms; and, lastly, leading to the permanent enrichment 

 of the treasure of human knowledge by the establishment of 

 far-reaching similarities and of radical differentia among a 

 certain class of phenomena. 



Or, to express our results more definitely. Having completed 

 some extensive enquiry, we seek to classify the facts under 

 the fewest divisions practicable, connecting them as closely as 

 circumstances permit. Each of these divisions, again, has 

 divisions subordinated to it also well articulated. Sir Ray 



