Page:Herschel - A Preliminary Discourse on the Study of Natural Philosophy (1831).djvu/12

PART II.

Of the Principles on which Physical Science relies for its successful Prosecution, and the Rules by which a systematic Examination of Nature should be conducted, with Illustrations of their Influence as exemplified in the History of its Progress.

CHAP. I.

Of Experience as the Source of our Knowledge.—Of the Dismissal of Prejudices.—Of the Evidence of our Senses.Page 75

CHAP. II.

Of the Analysis of Phenomena.85

CHAP. III.

Of the State of Physical Science in General, previous to the Age of Galileo and Bacon.104

CHAP. IV.

Of the Observation of Facts and the Collection of Instances.118

CHAP. V.

Of the Classification of Natural Objects and Phenomena, and of Nomenclature.135

CHAP. VI.

Of the First Stage of Induction.—The Discovery of Proximate Causes, and Laws of the lowest Degree of Generality, and their Verification.144

CHAP. VII.

Of the higher Degrees of Inductive Generalization, and of the Formation and Verification of Theories.190