Novum organon renovatum: Being the second part of the philosophy of the inductive sciencesWhewell, William
Philosophy
Novum organon renovatum: Being the second part of the philosophy of the inductive sciences
Whewell, William
Science -- Philosophy
And in a great number of Arts and Manufactures, the necessity of a
knowledge of theory to the right conduct of practice is familiarly
acknowledged and assumed. In the testing and smelting of metals, in
the fabrication of soap, of candles, of sugar; in the dyeing and
printing of woollen, linen, cotton and silken stuffs; the master
manufacturer has always the scientific chemist at his elbow;--either
a 'consulting chemist' to whom he may apply on a special occasion,
(for such is now a regular profession;) or a chemist who day by day
superintends, controls, and improves the processes which his workmen
daily carry on. In these cases, though Art long preceded Science,
Science now guides, governs and advances Art.
15. Other Arts and manufactures which have arisen in modern times
have been new creations produced by Science, and requiring a
complete acquaintance with scientific processes to conduct them
effectually and securely. Such are the photographic Arts, now so
various in their form; beginning with those which, from their
authors, are called Daguerrotype and Talbotype. Such are the Arts of
Electrotype modelling {246} and Electrotype plating. Such are the
Arts of preparing fulminating substances; gun-cotton; fulminate of
silver, and of mercury; and the application of those Arts to use, in
the fabrication of percussion-caps for guns. Such is the Art of
Electric Telegraphy, from its first beginning to its last great
attempt, the electric cord which connects England and America. Such
is the Art of imitating by the chemistry of the laboratory the
vegetable chemistry of nature, and thus producing the flavour of the
pear, the apple, the pine-apple, the melon, the quince. Such is the
Art of producing in man a temporary insensibility to pain, which was
effected first through the means of sulphuric ether by Dr Jackson of
America, and afterwards through the use of chloroform by Dr Simpson
of Edinburgh. In these cases and many others Science has endowed man
with New Arts. And though even in these Arts, which are thus the
last results of Science, there is much which Science cannot fully
understand and explain; still, such cases cannot but be looked upon
as notable verifications of the anticipations of those who In former
times expected from the progress of Science a harvest of material
advantages to man.
We must now conclude our task by a few words on the subject of
inductions involving Ideas ulterior to those already considered.
{{247}}
CHAPTER X.
OF THE INDUCTION OF CAUSES.
APHORISM LX.
_In the_ Induction of Causes _the principal Maxim is, that we must
be careful to possess, and to apply, with perfect clearness, the
Fundamental Idea on which the Induction depends._
APHORISM LXI.
_The Induction of Substance, of Force, of Polarity, go beyond mere
laws of phenomena, and may be considered as the Induction of
Causes._
APHORISM LXII.
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