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Article ON THE STUDY OF NATURAL PHILOSOPHY. ← Page 3 of 6 →
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On The Study Of Natural Philosophy.
ef Des Cartes , have possessed their successors , particularly in this country , with the mistaken notion , that the means whereby the immortal author of the former was enabled to demonstrate the fallacy of the Cartesian system , and establish his own , are those only on which the farther advancement of natural knowledge is to be prosecuted . More solid , however , than ingeniousmore secure from
^ , being misled themselves , than capable of leading others , our present race of mathematicians appear to have reached their ne plus ultra in such pursuits , till some happier genius , of a different and more adventurous turn , strike out some new path , and throw open another field of scienceto cultivate which he need their ' labour and
, may . assistance . I will not deny , that it is equally to be regretted logicians should stand as much in need of the elements of geometry , as the professors of the latter science generally do of the advantages attending the knowledge of the dialectic art . A proper acquaintance with both is undoubtedly necessary , for such as would make any new or considerable in
improvements philosophy . Logic , however , is less easily to be dispensed with in philosophers , than geometry . Indeed , the latter may not be improperly ranked as an inferior species of the former ; the superior kinds of which are liable to the more uncertainty , as their objects are more refined and important . Sir Isaac Newton himself admitsthat a moderate share of
, very mathematical knowled ge is sufficient to enable anyone perfectly to comprehend and judge of his philosophy . It is to be wished , for the honour of that superlative genius , that we could say the same with respect to a superficial acquaintance with the art of reasoning ; or that he had paid as great a regard to , or possessed as much skill in , loo-ic as geometry . ¦ °
My readers , many of them at least , will doubtless be surprised at an intimation of Sir Isaac Newton's being inattentive to , or defective in , this particular . A true philosopher , however , should never be afraid to _ think for himself , and speak his own sentiments , on what lie conceives erroneous , whatever sanction may be given to such error , bybeing sheltered tinder the most respectable names . Nullius addictus hirare in verba
magistr . i , is the motto of the present writer , who , though not fond of innovations , as well knowing their dangerous consequence to science , is yet too impatient of ' restraint , and tenacious of liberty , to plod on in the common road , merely because it is alread y beaten . or to be supported even by scientific leading-strings . Philosophical preceptors I will readily admit of , but no philosophical nurses , however boasted their
age , sagacity , or experience . That 1 may not be thought , however , to advance only vague assertion , or seem to expectimplicic belief in my readers , I shall bring an instance , wherein I conceive that p-reat genius stumbled at the threshold , and , as , he entered on his ohiiosophy , gave a convincing proof how little he had attended to ' the art of philosophising . - . In the last and most important of his Regular Philosophandi he lays down the following rule , as the foundation ofall natural philosophy , Z z z
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Study Of Natural Philosophy.
ef Des Cartes , have possessed their successors , particularly in this country , with the mistaken notion , that the means whereby the immortal author of the former was enabled to demonstrate the fallacy of the Cartesian system , and establish his own , are those only on which the farther advancement of natural knowledge is to be prosecuted . More solid , however , than ingeniousmore secure from
^ , being misled themselves , than capable of leading others , our present race of mathematicians appear to have reached their ne plus ultra in such pursuits , till some happier genius , of a different and more adventurous turn , strike out some new path , and throw open another field of scienceto cultivate which he need their ' labour and
, may . assistance . I will not deny , that it is equally to be regretted logicians should stand as much in need of the elements of geometry , as the professors of the latter science generally do of the advantages attending the knowledge of the dialectic art . A proper acquaintance with both is undoubtedly necessary , for such as would make any new or considerable in
improvements philosophy . Logic , however , is less easily to be dispensed with in philosophers , than geometry . Indeed , the latter may not be improperly ranked as an inferior species of the former ; the superior kinds of which are liable to the more uncertainty , as their objects are more refined and important . Sir Isaac Newton himself admitsthat a moderate share of
, very mathematical knowled ge is sufficient to enable anyone perfectly to comprehend and judge of his philosophy . It is to be wished , for the honour of that superlative genius , that we could say the same with respect to a superficial acquaintance with the art of reasoning ; or that he had paid as great a regard to , or possessed as much skill in , loo-ic as geometry . ¦ °
My readers , many of them at least , will doubtless be surprised at an intimation of Sir Isaac Newton's being inattentive to , or defective in , this particular . A true philosopher , however , should never be afraid to _ think for himself , and speak his own sentiments , on what lie conceives erroneous , whatever sanction may be given to such error , bybeing sheltered tinder the most respectable names . Nullius addictus hirare in verba
magistr . i , is the motto of the present writer , who , though not fond of innovations , as well knowing their dangerous consequence to science , is yet too impatient of ' restraint , and tenacious of liberty , to plod on in the common road , merely because it is alread y beaten . or to be supported even by scientific leading-strings . Philosophical preceptors I will readily admit of , but no philosophical nurses , however boasted their
age , sagacity , or experience . That 1 may not be thought , however , to advance only vague assertion , or seem to expectimplicic belief in my readers , I shall bring an instance , wherein I conceive that p-reat genius stumbled at the threshold , and , as , he entered on his ohiiosophy , gave a convincing proof how little he had attended to ' the art of philosophising . - . In the last and most important of his Regular Philosophandi he lays down the following rule , as the foundation ofall natural philosophy , Z z z