352 ON NUMERICALLY DEFINITE REASONING. 



SO or not^ we must not estimate the value of a theory by 

 its immediate practical results. 



30. Logical method must undoubtedly be the root of 

 all scientific demonstration, and of all sound thought in 

 the common affairs of life ; yet we find the most opposite 

 and contradictory opinions held by different logicians as 

 to the nature of the reasoning process. Metaphysical 

 speculation will never remedy the present deplorable con- 

 dition of the science; for it is metaphysical speculation 

 which has mystified the subject, and rendered it the 

 laughing-stock of scientific men. Antiquarian research 

 into the errors of earlier logicians, in which some logi- 

 cians still exclusively employ themselves, will only add 

 to the perplexity and obscurity. I hold that logic can 

 only be regenerated by those who will render themselves 

 acquainted with the exact methods of research which lead 

 to undoubted truths in the mathematical and physical 

 sciences. Logic, in short, must be dissociated from meta- 

 physics, with which it has no necessary connexion, and 

 must become an exact science. We must therefore seek 

 in every way to connect it with the other exact sciences. 

 In this paper I have attempted to show that questions do 

 exist in which logical and numerical methods coalesce and 

 lend mutual aid. 



