There is another sense in which it is possible to contend that Gilbert's treatise introduced modern studies in these fields. He has frequently been credited with the introduction of the inductive method based upon stubborn facts, in contrast to the methods and content of medieval Aristotelianism.[5] No science can be based upon faulty observations and certainly much of _De magnete_ was devoted to the destruction of the fantastic tales and occult sympathies of the Romans, the medieval writers, and the Renaissance. However, let us also remember that Gilbert added few novel empirical facts of a fundamental nature to previous observations on the loadstone. Gilbert's experimental work was in large part an expansion of Petrus Peregrinus' _De magnete_ of 1269,[6] and a development of works like Robert Norman's _The new attractive_,[7] in which the author discussed how one could show experimentally the declination and inclination of a magnetized needle, and like William Borough's _Discourse on the variation of the compass or magnetized needle_,[8] in which the author suggested the use of magnetic declination and inclination for navigational purposes but felt too little was known about it. That other sea-going nations had been considering using the properties of the magnetic compass to solve their problems of navigation in the same manner can be seen from Simon Stevin's _De havenvinding_.[9] [5] For example, William Whewell, _History of the inductive sciences_, ed. 3, New York, 1858, vol. 2, pp. 192 and 217; Charles Singer, _A short history of science to the nineteenth century_, Oxford, 1943, pp. 188 and 343; and A. R. Hall, _The scientific revolution_, Boston, 1956, p. 185. [6] _Petri Peregrini maricurtenis, de magnete, seu rota perpetui motus, libellus_, a reprint of the 1558 Angsburg edition in J. G. G. Hellmann, _Rara magnetica_, Berlin, 1898, not paginated. A number of editions of Peregrinus, work, both ascribed to him and plagiarized from him, appeared in the 16th century (see Heinz Balmer, _Beitraege zur Geschichte der Erkenntnis des Erdmagnetismus_, Aarau, 1956, pp. 249-255). [7] Hellmann, _ibid._, Robert Norman, _The newe attractive, containyng a short discourse of the magnes or lodestone, and amongest other his vertues, of a newe discovered secret and subtill propertie, concernyng the declinyng of the needle, touched therewith under the plaine of the horizon. Now first founde out by Robert Norman Hydrographer_. London, 1581. The possibility is present that Norman's work was a direct stimulus to Gilbert, for Wright's introduction to _De magnete_ stated that Gilbert started his study of magnetism the year following the publication of Norman's book.