The reason why : $b a careful collection of many hundreds of reasons for things which, though generally believed, are imperfectly understood. A book of condensed scientific knowledge for the million — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
The reason why : $b a careful collection of many hundreds of reasons for things which, though generally believed, are imperfectly understood. A book of condensed scientific knowledge for the million
John Stuart Mill · en
The greatest philosophers have been those who have clung to the
demonstrative sciences, and have held that a simple truth well
ascertained, is greater than the grandest theory founded upon
questionable premises. Newton made more scientific revelations to
mankind than any other philosopher; and his discoveries have borne the
searching test of time, because he snatched at nothing, leaped over
no chasm to establish a favourite dogma; but, by the slowest steps,
and by regarding the merest trifles, as well as the highest phenomena,
he learnt to read Nature correctly. He discovered that her atoms were
letters, her blades of grass were words, her phenomena were sentences,
and her complete volume a grand poem, teaching on every page the wisdom
and the power of an Almighty Creator.
When he observed an apple fall to the ground, he asked the "Reason
Why;" and in answer to that enquiry, there came one of the grandest
discoveries that has ever been recorded upon the book of science. With
that discovery a flood of light burst upon the human mind, illustrating
in a far higher degree than had ever previously been conceived, the
vastness of Almighty Power.
Why should not each of us enquire the "Reason Why" regarding everything
that we observe? Why should we mentally _grope_ about, when we may
_see_ our way? When addressed in a foreign tongue, we hear a number
of articulated sounds, to which we can attach no meaning; they convey
nothing to the mind, make no impression upon the in-dwelling soul.
When those sounds are interpreted to us, in a language that we can
understand, they impart impressions of joy, hope, surprise, or sorrow,
because the words convey to us _a meaning_. In like manner, if we fail
to understand Nature, its beauties, its teachings are lost. Everything
speaks to us, but we do not understand the voices. They come murmuring
from the brook, trilling from the bird, or pealing from the thunder;
but though they reach the ear of the body, they do not impress the
listening spirit.
Every flower, every ray of light, every drop of dew, each flake of
snow, the curling smoke, the lowering cloud, the bright sun, the pale
moon, the twinkling stars, speak to us in eloquent language of the
great Hand that made them. But millions lose the grand lesson which
Nature teaches, because they can attach no meaning to what they see or
hear.
"THE REASON WHY" is offered as an interpreter of many of Nature's
utterances. Great care has been taken that these interpretations may
be consistent with the latest knowledge, obtained from the highest
sources. If the author finds that his work if accepted for the good of
those who seek not only to know, but to _understand_, he will make it
his constant care to read the Book of Nature, and to add to the pages
of this volume whatever interpretations the progress of enquiry and
discovery may demand and supply.
INDEX, AND INDEX LESSONS.