11*4 THEORIES, HOW FORMED 



That the verification of theories depends much on ft collect- 

 ive data" and that the inferences to be drawn from their 

 comparative coincidence afford au average of proofs, far 

 superior to that of a single (although more glaring) 

 instance, and being consequently less liable to erroneous con- 

 clusions. 



Of the THREE prescribed ways by which we may possibly 

 arrive at the knowledge of the laws which regulate the action 

 of our primary agents, our desired VER^E CAUS^E, I have pur- 

 sued the SECOND for the reasons I shall beg to submit. The 

 first is (briefly) by a continued series of inductive reasoning, 

 " inferring from circumstances the amount and intensity in 

 each particular case, and then by piecing together these ' dis- 

 juncta membra? generalizing from them, and so arriving at 

 the laws desired." The second, " By forming at once a bold 

 hypothesis, particularizing the law, and trying the truth of it 

 by following out its consequences and comparing them with 

 facts." The third is, " By a process partaking of both these, 

 and combining the advantages of both, without their defects, 

 viz. by assuming indeed laws we would discover, but so gene- 

 rally expressed that we shall include an unlimited variety of 

 particular laws following out the consequences of this assump- 

 tion, by the application of such general principles as the case 

 admits, comparing them in succession with all the particular 

 cases within our knowledge ; and lastly, on this comparison so 

 modifying and restricting the general enunciation of our laws, 

 as to make the results agree." See (210) Discourse on the 

 Study of Natural Philosophy, page 198. 



There is a degree of presumption so strongly implied by the 

 course selected and followed in these pages, that I deem it 

 needful to offer a few observations in justification. 



The value of inductive reasoning in the attainment of an 

 unquestionably safe gradation of ascension to the most import- 

 ant laws, founded on a train of incontrovertible facts, must be 

 universally admitted, and that such a system of inquiry, 



