The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

348 NOVUM ORGANUM. BOOK I.
it affords,) forces every thing else to add fresh generalities in nature must be positive, just as
support and confirmation; and although more they are found, and in fact not causable, yet, the
cogent and abundant instances may exist to the human understanding, incapable of resting, seeks
contrary, yet either does not observe or despises for something more intelligible. Thus, however,
them, or gets rid of and rejects them by some whilst aiming at further progress, it falls back to
distinction, with violent and injurious prejudice, what is actually less advanced, namely, final
rather than sacrifice the authority of its first con- causes; for they are clearly more allied to man's
clusions. It was well answered by him who was own nature than the system of the universe;
shown in a temple the votive tablets suspended and from this source they have wonderfully corby such as had escaped the peril of shipwreck, rupted philosophy. But he would be an unskiland was pressed as to whether he would then filul and shallow philosopher, who should seek
recognise the power of the gods, by an inquiry; for causes in the greatest generalities, and not'i But where are the portraits of those who have be anxious to discover them in subordinate ohperished in spite of their vows." All supersti- jects.!; i.!''!
tion is. much the same, whether it be that of 49. The human understanding resembles not
astrology, dreams, omens, retributive judgment, a dry light, but admits a tincture of the will and
or the like; in all of which the deluded believers passions, which generate their own system acobserve events which are fulfilled, but neglect cordingly: for man always believes more readily
and pass over their failure, though it be much that which he prefers. He, therefore, rejects
more common. But this evil insinuates itself difficulties for want of patience in investigation;
still more craftily in philosophy and the sciences; sobriety, because it limits his hope; the depths
in which a settled maxim vitiates and governs of nature, from superstition; the light of experievery other circumstance, though the latter be ment, from arrogance and pride, lest his mind
much more worthy of confidence. Besides, even should appear to be occupied with common and
in the absence of that eagerness and want of varying objects; paradoxes, from a fear of the
thought, (which we have mentioned,) it is the opinion of the vulgar; in short, his feelings imbue
peculiar and perpetual error of the human under- and corrupt his understanding in innumerable and
standing to be more moved and excited by affirma- sometimes imperceptible ways.
tives than by negatives, whereas it ought duly 50. But by far the greatest impediment and
and regularly to be impartial; nay, in establishing aberration of the human understanding proceeds
any true axiom, the negative instance is the most from the dulness, incompetency, and errors of the
powerful. senses: since whatever strikes the senses pre47. The human understanding is most excited ponderates over every thing, however superior,
by that which strikes and enters the mind at once which does not immediately strike them. Hence
and suddenly, and by which the imagination is contemplation mostly ceases with sight; and a
immediately filled and inflated. It then begins very scanty, or perhaps no regard is paid to inalmost imperceptibly to conceive and suppose visible objects. The entire operation, therefore,
that every thing is similar to the few objects of spirits enclosed in tangible bodies is concealed
which have taken possession of the mind; whilst and escapes us. All that more delicate change
it is very slow and unfit for the transition to the of formation in the parts of coarser substances
remote and heterogeneous instances, by which (vulgarly called alteration, but in fact a change
axioms are tried as by fire, unless the office be of position in the smallest particles) is equally
imposed upon it by severe regulations, and a unknown; and yet, unless the two matters we
powerful authority. have mentioned be explored and brought to light,
48. The human understanding is active and no great effect can be produced in nature. Again,
cannot halt or rest, but even, though without the very nature of common air, and all bodies of
effect, still- presses forward. Thus we cannot less density (of which there are many) is almost
conceive of any end or external boundary of the unknown. For the senses are weak and erring,
world, and it seems necessarily to occur to us, nor can instruments be of great use in extending
that there must be something beyond. Nor can their sphere or acuteness; all the better interprewe imagine how eternity has flowed on down to tations of nature are worked out by instances, and
the present day, since the usually received dis- fit and apt experiments, where the senses only
tinction of an infinity, a parte ante and a parte judge of the experiment, the experiment of nature
post, cannot hold good: for it would thence follow and the thing itself.
that one infinity is greater than another, and also 51. The human understanding is, by its own
that infinity is wasting away and tending to an nature, prone to abstraction, and supposes that
end. There is the same difficulty in considering which is fluctuating to be fixed. But it is better
the infinite divisibility of lines, arising from the to dissect than abstract nature; such was the
weakness of our minds, which weakness inter- method employed by the school of Democritus,
feres to still greater disadvantage with the dis- which made greater progress in penetrating nature
corery of causes. For, although the greatest I than the rest. It is best to consider matter, its