302 NOVUM ORGANUM. 



generation and motion, of the Latent Process, carried on from the 

 manifest efficient and manifest material to the inward Form ; and the 

 discovery, in a similar way, of the Latent Structure of bodies at rest 

 and not in motion. 



ii. The unhappy condition of human Knowledge at the present 

 time is clear, even from what is commonly asserted concerning it. It 

 is rightly said, that &quot;truly to know is to know by Causes.&quot; Also, the 

 constitution of four Causes is not without merit : viz. Material, 

 Formal, Efficient, and Final. But of these the Final Cause is so far 

 from advancing knowledge, that it even corrupts it, except when 

 brought to bear on the actions of men. The discovery of the 

 Formal is despaired of; but the Efficient and the Material Causes 

 (as they are sought for and received, that is to say, as remote, and 

 without the Latent Process to Form), are trifling and superficial, and 

 of very little use to true and active Science. Nor do we forget that 

 we have already noticed and corrected, as an error of the human 

 mind, the assigning to Forms the first qualities of Essence. For 

 though in Nature nothing really exists except individual bodies, 

 exhibiting pure individual acts according to law, yet, in the matter of 

 learning, that same law, with its investigation, discovery, and explica 

 tion, is the foundation both of knowledge and practice. This Law 

 and its Paragraphs are what we understand by the name of Forms ; 

 a term which we use because it has obtained weight, and is of 

 familiar occurrence. 



iii. That knowledge of any Nature (such as whiteness, or heat), 

 which is drawn from certain subjects only, is imperfect ; and that 

 power is equally imperfect which can induce an effect on certain 

 materials only (among those which are susceptible of it). Now, the 

 knowledge of the Efficient and Material Causes alone (which are 

 fluctuating, and mere vehicles and causes conveying Form in certain 

 cases) will enable us to arrive at new discoveries in matter which 

 is somewhat similar and ready prepared, but not to stir the more 

 deeply rooted boundaries of things. But he who knows Forms 

 grasps the unity of Nature in the most dissimilar materials, and so 

 can detect and bring forward things which have never yet been 

 done, and such as neither the changes of Nature, nor the industry 

 of experimentalists, nor chance itself, would ever have brought into 

 action, and which would never have occurred to the thought of man. 

 Wherefore, from the discovery of Forms follow both contemplation 

 and freedom in operation. 



iv. Although the roads to human power and knowledge are 

 closely united and nearly the same ; yet, on account of the pernicious 

 and inveterate habit of dwelling upon abstractions, it is far safer to 

 begin and raise the Sciences from these foundations which have 

 reference to practice, and to let practice mark out and define the 

 province of contemplation. And if we wish to generate and super 

 induce any Nature upon a given body, we must look for the most 

 desirable precept, direction, or guidance for that purpose, and express 

 it in simple and unabstruse language. 



