THE METHODS OF SCIENCE 93

Making free use of the indispensable aid of symbols,

science proceeds to investigate the objects of its study

(i) by observation, (2) by reasoning, (3) by putting for-

ward hypotheses, and (4) by testing the hypotheses put

forward.

Scientific observation consists in carefully and attentively

bringing to bear the senses appropriate to each fact to be

investigated, making use of all the artificial means and

appliances available for the purpose, with a mind well

informed as to what has been done in the same field before,

the intellect being also aroused for the detection of like-

nessses and differences between the objects or actions

studied, and other allied objects or actions, and in a state

of expectancy as to the possibilities or probabilities of

results to be anticipated.

Where it is possible, such observations have to be supple-

mented by others in which circumstances and conditions

have been specially arranged to facilitate discover}'. In

other words, simple observations have to be supplemented

by experiments, and these must evidently be varied accord-

ing to the nature of the matter under investigation.

In many sciences it is evident that no true experiments

are possible, but only different degrees of ingenuity in

devising modes of accurate observation. Such must be of

course the case with the study of Astronomy, History,

Palaeontology, etc.

Facts having been sufficiently ascertained, the truths so

elicited may be further developed by reasoning according

to the laws of Logic. Thus it is we gain a distinct and

certain perception of truths, which were before but imper-

fectly, only implicitly, apprehended, through the deductive

reasoning of the syllogism. By induction, as we all know,

we can form judgments more or less probable, and some-

times even certain. Thus, for example, having examined

Making free use of the indispensable aid of symbols,

science proceeds to investigate the objects of its study

(i) by observation, (2) by reasoning, (3) by putting for-

ward hypotheses, and (4) by testing the hypotheses put

forward.

Scientific observation consists in carefully and attentively

bringing to bear the senses appropriate to each fact to be

investigated, making use of all the artificial means and

appliances available for the purpose, with a mind well

informed as to what has been done in the same field before,

the intellect being also aroused for the detection of like-

nessses and differences between the objects or actions

studied, and other allied objects or actions, and in a state

of expectancy as to the possibilities or probabilities of

results to be anticipated.

Where it is possible, such observations have to be supple-

mented by others in which circumstances and conditions

have been specially arranged to facilitate discover}'. In

other words, simple observations have to be supplemented

by experiments, and these must evidently be varied accord-

ing to the nature of the matter under investigation.

In many sciences it is evident that no true experiments

are possible, but only different degrees of ingenuity in

devising modes of accurate observation. Such must be of

course the case with the study of Astronomy, History,

Palaeontology, etc.

Facts having been sufficiently ascertained, the truths so

elicited may be further developed by reasoning according

to the laws of Logic. Thus it is we gain a distinct and

certain perception of truths, which were before but imper-

fectly, only implicitly, apprehended, through the deductive

reasoning of the syllogism. By induction, as we all know,

we can form judgments more or less probable, and some-

times even certain. Thus, for example, having examined