Now, when we consider that there exists no science purely abstract from its origin, and that the measure of advancement of every science is the degree to which it has co-ordinated the ideas with which it deals under general propositions and laws, it becomes obvious that the division into experimental and abstract is totally inapplicable to the existing state of science.

2. The classifications according to purpose, the division into speculative and applied or practical sciences, fail almost in the same way, since the progression of every science is marked, step by step, by the removal of certain truths from the position of abstract theories, interesting only to the learned, into the rank of axioms from which practical results of the greatest value to mankind are derived.

3. The third point of view is that from which we regard only the objects of our study, without considering either the faculties or processes by which we obtain our knowledge, or the advantages we may derive from its acquisition.

When we reflect upon the ordinary operations of our reasoning faculties, upon the common rules of logic, it becomes evident that this last mode of classification is the only one that can be called rational, since it is the only one which proceeds, according to the indispensable rule, of advancing from the most simple to the more complex of the ideas, which we wish to co-ordinate in our minds. The other two modes, the division into experimental and rational, abstract and applied sciences, must not only, from their nature, continually shift their ground as knowledge progresses, but they both set out from considerations of a highly complex character, which it would be vain to attempt to analyze, until a very large

2. Those based upon the purpose for whic ledge is sought; and

3. Those based upon the nature of the ob 1. The classifications of the first kind, arrange the various branches of knowle to the character of the intellectual metho by means of which they are cultivated, jective, as regarding alone the nature mind, or subject.

If we disregard the technicalities rather psychology, we may conve analysis of this, to the distinction o of perception and reflection.

By perception, by the aid of t facts: these facts may be either fluence, when we call the obser may be the result of special c when the mode of observation and, again, we may receive in“ by testimony of others. All acquisition of experience, dire the sciences pursued especi experimental, and the trut

only n of the e to deal, Comuch that it for a certain constitutes the -added to which at of the individual pation of the validity at, although the first neously in all the great down, the most simple ped, in exact proportion

1

v, those which involve more ities; so that, as it has tecedents have always

r.

onces may be

ups or

ling to ne, their r of qualideal.

a ideas which

terial existence,

e and number.

addition, the actual

both, in addition to they are still confined

e distinguished, in a most ependence; the laws of life elations in space and time, and ice; they display, moreover, in ndence upon physical laws, which ; but they are distinguished by the ization and life, characterized by a and power of resistance to the physical ndividuality of a different kind from that anic matter.

e view of Comte, but there are other conditions which have the order in which the various relations among phenomena vered. Mr. Herbert Spencer has stated these further conad the point is so important, that I have placed an extract from ment in the Appendix.-[ED.]

70

portion of the
cleared.
The objec
have been f.
manner by
from a lens

and evid with t taken in

acqu ador

114

Man

Mathematical Sciences.

Biological Sciences.
Social Sciences.

de respectively a number of d from, dependent on, or formof the groups. With these we ourselves here as relates to sovegical science. Certain common chese, life and organization being objects with which they are conand morphology traverse the whole ure, animal as well as vegetable. vegetables exhibit, in mass, a mani

degree of complexity of the vital ganization, since the animal kingties which are superadded to, and

which it shares with the vegetable wes necessary to distinguish the Agy relating to these, and to divide der two heads, Botany and Zoology. uplicity of the physiological processes alone sufficient to indicate their in

lent position in the scale of natural this is further confirmed, in accordance

NAPgle of objective classification, by their ady, since they extend through the suc

ceeding group, in the vegetative or organic life of animals, while the animal life proper is restricted to the latter. And this physiological distinction is in agreement with a morphological or anatomical difference; for not only is the apparatus of organic life more complicated in animals, but these possess a system of organs, the nervous system, which is not represented in any way in vegetables, and constitutes the especial instrument or seat of that kind of spontaneity which is the most striking characteristic of animal life.

These observations will suffice to give an indication of the place which Botany holds in the natural classification of the sciences generally, according to the objects of their investigation.

Let us turn now to the methods employed in the various sciences, in order to ascertain the relative position of that with which we are engaged, in this respect also. Those sciences devoted to the investigation of purely abstract truths, the mathematical sciences, are free from the necessity of applying the perceptive faculties, or senses, since the objects of their pursuit are ideas from which have been abstracted all qualities having material existence. Those sciences, geometry and algebra, proceed by reasoning, and calculation, which has been well designated an abridged mode of reasoning. When we advance to the examination of material phenomena, the faculties of observation come into play, and, in the first place, in application to facts over which we can exercise no control; thus, in astronomy, pure observation is added to the reasoning and calculation used in mathematics. In the investigation of the physical phenomena of our own globe, however, we have greater scope, and are able to prepare facts for observation-to