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Preliminary Discourse on the Study of Natural Philosophy — John Shaqi

Preliminary Discourse on the Study of Natural PhilosophyHerschel, John F. W. (John Frederick William)

Philosophy

Preliminary Discourse on the Study of Natural Philosophy

Name: Preliminary Discourse on the Study of Natural Philosophy
Author: Herschel, John F. W. (John Frederick William)

Herschel, John F. W. (John Frederick William)

Astronomy -- History; Physics -- History; Science -- History; Science -- Philosophy

_PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE_
  on the Study of
  NATURAL PHILOSOPHY

  BY
  SIR JOHN F. W. HERSCHEL, BART. K.H.
  _M.A.--D.C.L.--F.R.S.L&E.--M.R.I.A.--F.R.A.S.
  F.G.S.--M.C.U.P.S.--&c. &c._

  NEW EDITION.
  1851.

[Illustration:

  _H. Corbould del._      _E. Finden. sculp._

NATURÆ MINISTER ET INTERPRES.]

  NEW EDITION.

  London:
  PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN & LONGMANS, PATERNOSTER ROW

CONTENTS.

                                                                    Page
                                PART I.

        OF THE GENERAL NATURE AND ADVANTAGES OF THE STUDY OF THE
                           PHYSICAL SCIENCES.

  CHAP. I.

  Of Man regarded as a Creature of Instinct, of Reason, and
    Speculation.--General Influence of Scientific Pursuits on
    the Mind.                                                          1

  CHAP. II.

  Of abstract Science as a Preparation for the Study of Physics.--
    A profound Acquaintance with it not indispensable for a
    clear Understanding of Physical Laws.--How a Conviction
    of their Truth may be obtained without it.--Instances.--
    Further Division of the Subject.                                  18

  CHAP. III.

  Of the Nature and Objects, immediate and collateral, of
    Physical Science, as regarded in itself, and in its
    Application to the practical Purposes of Life, and its
    Influence on the Well-being and Progress of Society.              35

                                PART II.

  OF THE PRINCIPLES ON WHICH PHYSICAL SCIENCE RELIES FOR ITS
    SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION, AND THE RULES BY WHICH A SYSTEMATIC
    EXAMINATION OF NATURE SHOULD BE CONDUCTED, WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
    OF THEIR INFLUENCE AS EXEMPLIFIED IN THE HISTORY OF ITS
    PROGRESS.

  CHAP. I.

  Of Experience as the Source of our Knowledge.--Of the
    Dismissal of Prejudices.--Of the Evidence of our Senses.          75

  CHAP. II.

  Of the Analysis of Phenomena.                                       85

  CHAP. III.

  Of the State of Physical Science in General, previous to the
    Age of Galileo and Bacon.                                        104

  CHAP. IV.

  Of the Observation of Facts and the Collection of Instances.       118

  CHAP. V.

  Of the Classification of Natural Objects and Phenomena, and of
    Nomenclature.                                                    135

  CHAP. VI.

  Of the First Stage of Induction.--The Discovery of Proximate
    Causes, and Laws of the lowest Degree of Generality, and
    their Verification.                                              144

  CHAP. VII.

  Of the higher Degrees of Inductive Generalization, and of the
    Formation and Verification of Theories.                          190

                               PART III.

    OF THE SUBDIVISION OF PHYSICS INTO DISTINCT BRANCHES, AND THEIR
                           MUTUAL RELATIONS.

  CHAP. I.

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Preliminary Discourse on the Study of Natural Philosophy

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