The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

INTERPRETATION OF NATURE. 429
novel and surprising than fit for profit and utility. the mind. So that if the ideas themselves,
But even novelty has often the advantage of which are the souls of words, are vague, incomagitating somewhat the intricate folds of-nature, plete, and not sufficiently defined, (which is for
and assisting with light at least, if not withdeed. the most part the case in nature,) the whole
So he saw that, neither in the opinions of the sinks. Induction remains the last and only reGreeks or the moderns, nor in the traditions of fuge and aid for matter; nor are our hopes
alchymy or natural magic, could any thing be placed in it undeservedly, since it can collect
found leading to the increase of human means. laborious works, and the certain evidence of
Wherefore all these should either be thrown into facts, and lay them before the mind. But its
oblivion, or given up to the pursuit of the multi- name only is known, its power and use has
tude, while the true sons of knowledge turn their hitherto lain hid. For induction must be judged
course elsewhere. of thus; in its use and form men have erred
He thought also that the modes of demonstra- doubly. First, that impatient of delay and
tion should be reviewed; for demonstrations, by searching round for short cuts, and hastening to
a certain influence, are philosophy; and, in pro- fix some things as certain, round which as poles
portion as they are just or faulty, complete or discussions might turn, they have only applied it
imperfect, doctrines will probably ensue from to the general principles of sciences, lightly
them. But he found that the demonstrations hoping to work all within by syllogistic deducwhich are in use are neither full nor certain. Yet tion. Secondly, that having examined the sylwe should not blame the senses, as some have logism accurately, but this demonstration hastily
done. For the errors of the senses in particulars and carelessly, they have devised its form very
have no great effect on the sum of the sciences: simple and indeed puerile, to proceed by enumenot more at least than may be corrected by the ration alone, and thus conclude precariously, not
rightly informed mind. But that the mind itself, necessarily. No one, therefore, can wonder if
if it rely on nature without art and discipline, is he, with this opinion on demonstrations, does not
unequal to the matter and below it, may be pro- agree on natural philosophy with others, either
nounced boldly. For it is neither so capacious ancient or modern. For it cannot be, (to speak
as to admit and arrange the infinite variety of jestingly,) that the drinkers of water and wine
particulars necessary for information, nor so free should feel alike. For they swallow a raw fluid,
and unbiassed as- to receive true and natural either flowing spontaneously from the mind, or
impressions without some warp and colouring. pumped up with some labour; but he drinks a
Nay, it is very certain both that the human mind liquor prepared from innumerable grapes, mature
is generally like an uneven mirror, which re- and in season, plucked and heaped up in bunches,
ceives and reflects the rays of objects according afterwards squeezed in the winepress, purified in
to the angle of each facet, and not on a plain the vat, and clarified; which will bear time, and
surface; and also that every one, from his educa- at the same time is corrected of all intoxicating
tion, pursuits, and constitution, is haunted with a quality, by neither giving nor leaving any room
kind of misleading power, and, as it were, for the vapours of the fancy. So he saw that the
familiar spirit, which mocks and disturbs the philosophies of which we have spoken should be
mind with various and fantastic devices. Yet rejected, not only for their barrenness of works,
we must not, therefore, fall into the opinion of but for the weakness and fallaciousness of their
incapability. For it is evident, that by no steadi- demonstrations also, since they are not only reness of hand or skill of eye, however exquisite, moved from nature, but deserted and betrayed by
could an exact straight line or circle be described; the very auxiliaries they have raised.
yet, on applying a ruler or turning the compasses, He thought also, that we should make a sepathe matter is easy. Again, in mechanical crafts rate review of the modes of invention in use, if
the naked hand of man can work but little, yet there be any. But in this quarter not so much
with the aid and means of instruments it con- misleading and devious paths, as solitude and
quers alike the vastest and most minute. It vacancy, are found, which strike the mind with a
follows then that we must fly to art, and must kind of stupor. It has not been the object or
look to demonstration, which is governed by art. desire of any man to guide the force of human
And sentence may-be given in a few words on wit and understanding to the invention and imthe syllogism which is Aristotle's oracle. It is, provement of arts and sciences, and hew a road
doubtless, a useful instrument and aid to the thither; but the whole has been, and is left to the
understanding in sciences, which are founded in dimness of tradition, the steps and fury of arguhuman opinion, as the moral and political; but ments, or the waves and turnings of chance and
inferior and incompetent to the subtlety and experiment. Hence, it was not without reason,
obscurity of natural processes. For the syllo- that, in the temples of the Egyptians, who (as
gism certainly consists of propositions, and the was the custom of antiquity) used to deify
proposition of words, and words are the evi- inventors, so many images of brutes were found;
dences and signs of ideas or conceptions of Isince animals without the light of reason have