PHILOSOPHY AND SPECIALTIES. 
23 
the sciences. Without proper synthesis they do not exist as 
sciences, but are mere uncouth mosaics. Each special sci¬ 
ence must have a philosophic side, and the coordination- of 
all those sides constitutes Philosophy in general. In this 
sense it is not merely the specialty of generalizations, but the 
generalization of generalizations. Without it the several 
sciences rest with no common bond, and do not form a syn¬ 
thetic and organic whole. The method of science is to test 
hypothesis by experimentation and continued observation. 
From a sufficient number of results a proposition or law is 
induced, the authority of which increases with the number 
and weight of those results. It is not a valid objection that 
generalizations, even obtained a posteriori, have often been 
erroneous. So much the greater necessity for their trial by 
a proper tribunal. For the end is to establish from particu¬ 
lar facts a general law or principal fact which thereupon ex¬ 
plains and shows the relations between the facts which it 
governs. The collection of and proper deduction from, more 
strictly the application of, such principal facts or induced 
laws is the domain of Philosophy. 
There is a German saying that three things are necessary 
to fly a kite—the kite itself, a string, and some one on the 
ground. One kite will not fly another, but both will tumble. 
Philosophy provides not only Franklin’s conducting cord, 
but the Trod (ttu) of Archimedes. 
In recognition of these principles this Society was founded. 
The title “ Philosophical ” was adopted, “ not to denote the 
unbounded field of speculative thought which embraces the 
possible as well as the actual of existence, but to be used to 
indicate those branches of knowledge that relate to the posi¬ 
tive facts and laws of the physical and moral universe.” 
These are the words of that great man, Joseph Henry, who, 
during all the early years of the Society, as president, guided 
its proceedings in this direction and so stamped the impress 
of his character upon it that it nearly reached his ideal. 
To sum up the suggestions thus far presented—differen- 
