登陆注册
5406800000246

第246章 FRANCIS BACON(46)

Here is an induction corresponding with Bacon's analysis and ending in a monstrous absurdity.In what then does this induction differ from the induction which leads us to the conclusion that the presence of the sun is the cause of our having more light by day than by night? The difference evidently is not in the kind of instances, but in the number of instances; that is to say, the difference is not in that part of the process for which Bacon has given precise rules, but in a circumstance for which no precise rule can possibly be given.If the learned author of the theory about Jacobinism had enlarged either of his tables a little, his system would have been destroyed.The names of Tom Paine and William Wyndham Grenville would have been sufficient to do the work.

It appears to us, then, that the difference between a sound and unsound induction does not lie in this, that the author of the sound induction goes through the process analysed in the second book of the Novum Organum, and the author of the unsound induction through a different process.They both perform the same process.But one performs it foolishly or carelessly; the other performs it with patience, attention, sagacity, and judgment.Now precepts can do little towards making men patient and attentive, and still less towards making them sagacious and judicious.It is very well to tell men to be on their guard against prejudices, not to believe facts on slight evidence, not to be content with a scanty collection of facts, to put out of their minds the idola which Bacon has so finely described.But these rules are too general to be of much practical use.The question is, What is a prejudice? How long does the incredulity with which I hear a new theory propounded continue to be a wise and salutary incredulity?

When does it become an idolum specus, the unreasonable pertinacity of a too sceptical mind? What is slight evidence?

What collection of facts is scanty? Will ten instances do, or fifty, or a hundred? In how many months would the first human beings who settled on the shores of the ocean have been justified in believing that the moon had an influence on the tides? After how many experiments would Jenner have been justified in believing that he had discovered a safeguard against the small-pox? These are questions to which it would be most desirable to have a precise answer; but, unhappily, they are questions to which no precise answer can be returned.

We think, then, that it is possible to lay down accurate rules, as Bacon has done, for the performing of that part of the inductive process which all men perform alike; but that these rules, though accurate, are not wanted, because in truth they only tell us to do what we are all doing.We think that it is impossible to lay down any precise rule for the performing of that part of the inductive process which a great experimental philosopher performs in one way, and a superstitious old woman in another.

On this subject, we think, Bacon was in an error.He certainly attributed to his rules a value which did not belong to them.He went so far as to say, that, if his method of making discoveries were adopted, little would depend on the degree of force or acuteness of any intellect; that all minds would be reduced to one level, that his philosophy resembled a compass or a rule which equalises all hands, and enables the most unpractised person to draw a more correct circle or line than the best draftsmen can produce without such aid.[Novum 0rganum, Praef.

and Lib.I Aph.122.] This really seems to us as extravagant as it would have been in Lindley Murray to announce that everybody who should learn his Grammar would write as good English as Dryden, or in that very able writer, the Archbishop of Dublin, to promise that all the readers of his Logic would reason like Chillingworth, and that all the readers of his Rhetoric would speak like Burke.That Bacon was altogether mistaken as to this point will now hardly be disputed.His philosophy has flourished during two hundred years, and has produced none of this levelling.The interval between a man of talents and a dunce is as wide as ever; and is never more clearly discernible than when they engage in researches which require the constant use of induction.

It will be seen that we do not consider Bacon's ingenious analysis of the inductive method as a very useful performance.

Bacon was not, as we have already said, the inventor of the inductive method.He was not even the person who first analysed the inductive method correctly, though he undoubtedly analysed it more minutely than any who preceded him.He was not the person who first showed that by the inductive method alone new truth could be discovered.But he was the person who first turned the minds of speculative men, long occupied in verbal disputes, to the discovery of new and useful truth; and, by doing so, he at once gave to the inductive method an importance and dignity which had never before belonged to it.He was not the maker of that road; he was not the discoverer of that road; he was not the person who first surveyed and mapped that road.But he was the person who first called the public attention to an inexhaustible mine of wealth, which had been utterly neglected, and which was accessible by that road alone.By doing so he caused that road, which had previously been trodden only by peasants and higglers, to be frequented by a higher class of travellers.

同类推荐
  • 佛说阿耨颰经

    佛说阿耨颰经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 观心论

    观心论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 郊庙歌辞 享节愍太

    郊庙歌辞 享节愍太

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Way of All Flesh

    The Way of All Flesh

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 东林本末

    东林本末

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 国家传播战略

    国家传播战略

    《国家传播战略》在梳理国际传播和国家战略发展史的基础上提出国家传播战略概念,并从国家安全、国家利益的角度展开思路,探讨传播全球化背景下国家传播战略制定和实施的具体问题。为阐释国家传播战略演变的历史逻辑,《国家传播战略》还对大众媒体发展不同时代的国家传播战略模式作出整理;而作为把握全球传播竞争的横向视野,本书根据不同发展水平和意识形态性质国家的宏观特征对国家传播战略进行比较研究,进丽阐明了构建中国特色的国际传播新格局这一命题。
  • 末日BOSS

    末日BOSS

    末日降临,在这个末世中谁主沉浮!“去TM的一刀999!”“等等,我才是boss?”
  • 二十几岁要懂得的办事技巧

    二十几岁要懂得的办事技巧

    办事是一种生存智慧,属于社交中的一个环节。仅仅把一件事做好,称不上会办事,能够通过办事谋求更好的生存和发展才能称得上是会办事。办事,与我们常说的“做事”是有很大差异的。办事更强调一种综合素质的应用。它是人际交往、思考能力、沟通能力、语言艺术、应酬公关、做事效率、个人形象等能力和素质的综合体现,是科学知识与社会经验的积淀,是一门实践性很强的艺术。办事过程中涉及时机、分寸、变通及方圓之术的运用,这些都需要二十几岁的年轻人在实际工作和生活中不断揣摩、体会和实践,从学和用两方面入手,用阅读指导实践,在实践中提升办事效能,在职场中得到更好的发展。
  • 黄泉阴镖

    黄泉阴镖

    你知道鬼节烧去的祭物去哪了吗?我们所认知的这些冥物,又真的能在阴曹地府流通吗?刀口舔血,苍莽一生!我受生人之托,为亡人走镖!
  • 生存博弈术:获得绝对生存优势的心理战术

    生存博弈术:获得绝对生存优势的心理战术

    在中国,博弈思维自古就有,博弈论这个词却是个舶来品,它的英文是“game theory”,也就是游戏的理论。《生存博弈术(获得绝对生存优势的心理战术)》就是对博弈论模型进行系统的梳理和阐释,理论联系实际,为大家在生活中面对困境或者选择时,提供最佳的决策,以获得最大化利益,从而进一步让自己的思维方式和处事方法都发生质的飞跃,为自己的人生走向提供另一种可能……
  • 黑骏马

    黑骏马

    小说通过马的视角讲述了一匹黑马的传奇一生。黑骏马的性格温顺,外形健壮、漂亮,常被人称作“美人”。她从小生活在良好的环境中,受过严格的训练,主人非常喜欢她。可随着主人遭遇变故,黑骏马的命运发生了转折——他不停被买卖,开始了颠沛流离的生活,也尝尽了心酸与苦难。
  • 最具影响力的外交巨擘(上)

    最具影响力的外交巨擘(上)

    文学是一种社会意识形态,与社会、政治以及哲学、宗教和道德等社会科学具有密切的关系,是在一定的社会经济基础上形成和发展起来的,因此,它能深刻反映一个国家或一个民族特定时期的社会生活面貌。文学的功能是以形象来反映社会生活,是用具体的、生动感人的细节来反映客观世界的。优秀的文学作品能使人产生如临其境、如见其人、如闻其声的感觉,并从思想感情上受到感染、教育和陶冶。文学是语言的艺术,是以语言为工具来塑造艺术形象的,虽然其具有形象的间接性,但它能多方面立体性地展示社会生活,甚至表现社会生活的发展过程,展示人与人之间的错综复杂的社会关系和人物的内心精神世界。
  • 上尉的女儿

    上尉的女儿

    本书是普希金最著名的代表作之一,也是俄国文学史上第一部反映农民斗争的现实主义作品,被果戈理誉为“俄国最优秀的叙事作品”,在俄国乃至世界文学史上占据着无可撼动的地位,被译成一百多种文字,至今畅销不衰,1903年被译介入中国,成为最早被翻译到中国的俄国文学作品。小说取材于18世纪的普加乔夫起义。贵族青年格里尼奥夫在一场暴风雪中偶遇普加乔夫,后来爱上了要塞司令的女儿。不久要塞被普加乔夫攻陷,普加乔夫因念旧情释放了格里尼奥夫,成全了他的婚姻。
  • 随身空间:明星们常去的那家店

    随身空间:明星们常去的那家店

    22岁的秦悠悠意外获得随身空间。从此开启不一样的都市田园生活。她只想赚点小钱,开一家果园作坊,然后提前过上退休生活,晒晒太阳,撸撸猫。可惜,美梦生活一夕被打破……前男友,闺蜜突然之间就变成了新晋人气男神女神,娱乐圈混得风生水起!还有啊!她不小心得罪的那个男人居然是超级巨星,国民爱豆……喂喂喂……你们几个怎么回事?不知道明星出门要低调么,不知道你们带来的明星效应很恐怖么……我这儿庙小,容不下你们这么多尊大佛!这边,秦悠悠刚开始苦口婆心的劝说前男友和闺蜜有点做明星的觉悟门口铃声响起,沈易虚弱的飘进来,“悠悠,好饿,赶紧上饭菜。”滚!这鸡飞狗跳的日子没法过了!
  • 快穿炮灰的花样作死

    快穿炮灰的花样作死

    为了拥有重来一次的机会,白芷开始了完成各种炮灰死亡的任务。