NECEtiSART TRUTHS— EFFECTS OF EXPERIENCE. 641 



THE GENESIS OP THE PURE SCIENCES. 



I have now stated in general terms the relation of tJtie 

 natural sciences to experience strictly so called, and shall 

 complete what I have to say by reverting to the subject on 

 a later page. At present I will pass to the so-called pure 

 or a priori soierwes of Classification, Logic, and Mathematics. 

 My thesis concerning these is that they are even less than 

 the natural sciences efifects of the order of the world as it 

 comes to our experience. The pure sciences express results 

 OF COMPARISON exclusively ; comparison is not a conceivable 

 effect of the order in wliicli outer impressions are experienced — 

 it is one of the house-born (p. 627) portions of our mental 

 structure; therefore the pure sciences form, a body of proposi- 

 tions luith ivhose genesis experience has nothing to do. 



First, consider the nature of comparison. The relations 

 of resemblance and difference among things have nothing to 

 do ivith the time- and space-order in ivhich we may experience 

 the latter. Suppose a hundred beings created by God. 

 and gifted with the faculties of memory and comparison. 

 Suppose that upon each of them the same lot of sensa- 

 tions are imprinted, but in different orders. Let some 



between mankind should make any impression on our understandiugs ? 

 God forbid ! 



"Listen, O my son ! There is no wisdom equal unto the belief in God ! 

 He created the world, and shall we liken ourselves unto Him inseekiug to 

 penetrate into the mysteries of His creation ? Shall we say, Behold this 

 star spiuneth round that star, aud this other star with a tail goeth and 

 Cometh in so many years ! Let it go ! He from whose hand it came will 

 guide and direct it. 



'But thou wilt say unto me, Stand aside, O man, fori am more 

 learned than thou art, aud have seen more things. If thou thinkest that 

 thou art in this respect better than I am, thou art welcome. I praise God 

 that I seek not that which I require not. Thou art learned in the things I 

 care not for ; and as for that which thou hast seen, I spit upon it. Will 

 much knowledge create thee a double belly, or wilt thou seek Paradise 

 with thine eyes ? 



" O my friend ! if thou wilt be happy, say, There is no God but 

 God ! Do no evil, and thus wilt thou fear neither man nor death ; foi 

 surely thme hour will come ! 



" The meek in spirit (El Fakir) 



"Imaum Ali Zadi." 



