History of scientific ideas

Name: History of scientific ideas
Author: Whewell, William

Whewell, William

Science -- Philosophy

_Art._   1. Importance of Tradition.
           2. Connexion of Tradition and Science.
           3. Natural and Providential History of the World.
           4. The Sacred Narrative.
           5. Difficulties in interpreting the Sacred Narrative.
           6. Such Difficulties inevitable.
           7. Science tells us nothing concerning Creation.
{xv}
           8. Scientific views, when familiar, do not disturb
              the authority of Scripture.
           9. When should Old Interpretations be given up?
          10. In what Spirit should the Change be accepted?
          11. In what Spirit should the Change be urged?
          12. Duty of Mutual forbearance.
          13. Case of Galileo.

CHAP. V. OF THE CONCEPTION OF A FIRST CAUSE                      316

  _Art._   1. The Origin of things is not naturally discoverable;
           2. Yet has always been sought after.
           3. There must be a First Cause.
           4. This is an Axiom.
           5. Involved in the proof of a Deity.
           6. The mind is not satisfied without it.
           7. The Whole Course of Nature must have a Cause.
           8. Necessary Existence of God.
           9. Forms of the Proof.
          10. Idea of a First Cause is Necessary.
          11. Conception of a First Cause.
          12. The First Cause in all Sciences is the same.
          13. We are thus led to Moral Subjects.

              Conclusion of this History.




{{1}}
BOOK VI.


THE
PHILOSOPHY
OF
CHEMISTRY.




A PHILOSOPHER was asked:--How much does smoke weigh? He
answered: Subtract from the weight of the fuel the weight of
the ashes, and thou hast the weight of the smoke. Thus he
assumed as incontrovertible that, even in the fire, the
Substance does not perish, only its Form undergoes a change.
In like manner the proposition, _Nothing can come of
Nothing_ was only another consequence of the Principle of
Permanence, or rather of the Principle of the Enduring
Existence of the same subject with different appearances.

Kant, _Kritik d. r. Vern._



{{3}}
BOOK VI.


THE PHILOSOPHY OF CHEMISTRY.


CHAPTER I.

ATTEMPTS TO CONCEIVE ELEMENTARY COMPOSITION.


1. WE have now to bring into view, if possible, the Ideas
and General Principles which are involved in Chemistry,--the
science of the composition of bodies. For in this as in
other parts of human knowledge, we shall find that there are
certain Ideas, deeply seated in the mind, though shaped and
unfolded by external observation, which are necessary
conditions of the existence of such a science. These Ideas
it is, which impel man to such a knowledge of the
Composition of bodies, which give _meaning_ to _facts_
exhibiting this composition, and _universality_ to _special_
truths discovered by experience. These are the Ideas of
_Element_ and of _Substance_.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

History of scientific ideasWhewell, William

Philosophy

History of scientific ideas

Whewell, William

Science -- Philosophy

_Art._   1. Importance of Tradition.
           2. Connexion of Tradition and Science.
           3. Natural and Providential History of the World.
           4. The Sacred Narrative.
           5. Difficulties in interpreting the Sacred Narrative.
           6. Such Difficulties inevitable.
           7. Science tells us nothing concerning Creation.
{xv}
           8. Scientific views, when familiar, do not disturb
              the authority of Scripture.
           9. When should Old Interpretations be given up?
          10. In what Spirit should the Change be accepted?
          11. In what Spirit should the Change be urged?
          12. Duty of Mutual forbearance.
          13. Case of Galileo.

CHAP. V. OF THE CONCEPTION OF A FIRST CAUSE                      316

  _Art._   1. The Origin of things is not naturally discoverable;
           2. Yet has always been sought after.
           3. There must be a First Cause.
           4. This is an Axiom.
           5. Involved in the proof of a Deity.
           6. The mind is not satisfied without it.
           7. The Whole Course of Nature must have a Cause.
           8. Necessary Existence of God.
           9. Forms of the Proof.
          10. Idea of a First Cause is Necessary.
          11. Conception of a First Cause.
          12. The First Cause in all Sciences is the same.
          13. We are thus led to Moral Subjects.

              Conclusion of this History.




{{1}}
BOOK VI.


THE
PHILOSOPHY
OF
CHEMISTRY.




A PHILOSOPHER was asked:--How much does smoke weigh? He
answered: Subtract from the weight of the fuel the weight of
the ashes, and thou hast the weight of the smoke. Thus he
assumed as incontrovertible that, even in the fire, the
Substance does not perish, only its Form undergoes a change.
In like manner the proposition, _Nothing can come of
Nothing_ was only another consequence of the Principle of
Permanence, or rather of the Principle of the Enduring
Existence of the same subject with different appearances.

Kant, _Kritik d. r. Vern._



{{3}}
BOOK VI.


THE PHILOSOPHY OF CHEMISTRY.


CHAPTER I.

ATTEMPTS TO CONCEIVE ELEMENTARY COMPOSITION.


1. WE have now to bring into view, if possible, the Ideas
and General Principles which are involved in Chemistry,--the
science of the composition of bodies. For in this as in
other parts of human knowledge, we shall find that there are
certain Ideas, deeply seated in the mind, though shaped and
unfolded by external observation, which are necessary
conditions of the existence of such a science. These Ideas
it is, which impel man to such a knowledge of the
Composition of bodies, which give _meaning_ to _facts_
exhibiting this composition, and _universality_ to _special_
truths discovered by experience. These are the Ideas of
_Element_ and of _Substance_.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

History of scientific ideas

History of scientific ideas

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