J. D. Whelpley on Philosophical Analogy. 335 
Txeory, from Geogew, to discern—figuratively, to see through 
or understand—is, in its philosophical sense, a fruit of analogy ; 
the attaining of the idea of a principle common to, and actuating, 
many things. Thus, my theory of humanity, founded upon an 
Infinite number of comparisons in my thought, of all human 
forms and actions among themselves, is a theory of the human 
soul, with all its attributes, coéxistent in an immortal, absolute, 
unity—the indivisible spirit of man. My philosophical theory 
of gold, is of an indestructible somewhat having invariable pow- 
ers, divided into individual atoms, and giving rise to certain 
phenomena. 
Cosmical theories, are for the most part, merely scientific, as that 
or unities, of existence. It cannot be denied that the philosoph- 
ical faculty is present, and presides, at the formation of every 
theory, whether in classification, as in defining a genus of ani- 
mals; or in the scientific use of judgment, as in the idea of grav- 
itation ; for in all such operations of the mind, there is an effort 
toward unity ; but we have now to separate the kinds. 
