The principles of science : $b a treatise on logic and scientific methodJevons, William Stanley
Philosophy
The principles of science : $b a treatise on logic and scientific method
Jevons, William Stanley
Logic; Science -- Methodology
Few alterations of importance have been made in preparing this second
edition. Nevertheless, advantage has been taken of the opportunity to
revise very carefully both the language and the matter of the book.
Correspondents and critics having pointed out inaccuracies of more
or less importance in the first edition, suitable corrections and
emendations have been made. I am under obligations to Mr. C. J. Monro,
M.A., of Barnet, and to Mr. W. H. Brewer, M.A., one of Her Majesty’s
Inspectors of Schools, for numerous corrections.
Among several additions which have been made to the text, I may mention
the abstract (p. 143) of Professor Clifford’s remarkable investigation
into the number of types of compound statement involving four classes
of objects. This inquiry carries forward the inverse logical problem
described in the preceding sections. Again, the need of some better
logical method than the old Barbara Celarent, &c., is strikingly shown
by Mr. Venn’s logical problem, described at p. 90. A great number
of candidates in logic and philosophy were tested by Mr. Venn with
this problem, which, though simple in reality, was solved by very few
of those who were ignorant of Boole’s Logic. Other evidence could
be adduced by Mr. Venn of the need for some better means of logical
training. To enable the logical student to test his skill in the
solution of inductive logical problems, I have given (p. 127) a series
of ten problems graduated in difficulty.
To prevent misapprehension, it should be mentioned that, throughout
this edition, I have substituted the name *Logical Alphabet* for
*Logical Abecedarium*, the name applied in the first edition to the
exhaustive series of logical combinations represented in terms of
*A*, *B*, *C*, *D* (p. 94). It was objected by some readers that
*Abecedarium* is a long and unfamiliar name.
To the chapter on Units and Standards of Measurement, I have added two
sections, one (p. 325) containing a brief statement of the Theory of
Dimensions, and the other (p. 319) discussing Professor Clerk Maxwell’s
very original suggestion of a Natural System of Standards for the
measurement of space and time, depending upon the length and rapidity
of waves of light.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account