Inhaltsangabe
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1856 Excerpt: ... SECTION V. EXPEBIMENT AND INDUCTION AEE DISTINCT AND COMPLEMENTAL. (1.) It is, I think, to be regretted, that Bacon adopted the word Induction as the name of Experimental Investigation. The word Induction now is not only used in its original signification, but is likewise, in many instances, made synonymous with Observation and Experiment, and also with Physical Discovery: and this vagueness and ambiguity have been a source of much obscurity, and an occasion of much controversy, in the philosophy of the sciences. (2.) Observation, Experiment. Before proceeding to examine some of the relations of Experimental Observation and Induction, it is requisite to notice a certain prior, and more familiar, distinction. Observation and experiment themselves are usually, and justly, discriminated: by Observation being meant the mere noting of phenomena; while Experiment includes the artificial combination of natural agents for the purpose of producing phenomena. It is also, however, not unusual, and it is allowable, to employ one or other of these terms generically, so as to denote all heedful examination of nature. There is no third word exactly equivalent to the two combined; for the word Experience bears a different signification; and the generic use of either of the two terms themselves has not been attended with inconvenience. Scientific observation, indeed, is essentially experimental; and experiment requires observation. "It is not intended," remarks Sir John Herschel9, "by thus distinguishing observation from experiment, to 9 Discourse on the Study of Natural Philosophy (C7). place them in any kind of contrast. Essentially they are much alike, and differ rather in degree than in kind." And similarly Mr. Mill1: "For the purpose of varying the circumstances we may...
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