The concepts and theories of modern physics / By J.B. Stallo.

  • John Stallo
Date:
1900
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The concepts and theories of modern physics / By J.B. Stallo. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    270/376 (page 220)
    the consideration of the other properties and of the ir- regularities, and to reason as if these did not exist: ac- cordingly, we formally announce in the dchnitions that we intend to proceed on this plan. Eut it is an error to suppose, because we resolve to confine our attention to a certain number of the properties of an object, that we therefore conceive, or have an idea of, the object, denuded of its other })roperties. AVe are thinking, all the time, of precisely such objects as we have seen and touched, and with all the properties which naturally be- long to them ; but, for scientific convenience, we feign them to be divested of all properties, except those which are material to our purpose, and in regard to which we design to consider them. “ The peculiar accuracy, supposed to be character- istic of the first principles of geometry, thus aj^pears to be fictitious. The assertions on which the reasonings of the science are founded do not, any more than in other sciences, exactly correspond with the fact; but we suppose that they do so, for the sake of tracing the consequences Mdiich follow from the supposition. The opinion of Dugald Stewart respecting the foundations of geometry is, I conceive, substantially correct; that it is built on hypotheses; that it owes to this alone the peculiar certainty supposed to distinguish it; and that in any science whatever, by reasoning from a set of hypotheses, we may obtain a body of conclusions as cer- tain as those of geometry, that is, as strictly in accord- ance with the hypotheses, and as irrcsistiblv com]')elling assent, on eonclition tliat those hypotheses are true.” I have quoted this passage, from Mill's Logic, at length, not ordy because it is the most elaborate and connected statement of the sensationalist theories con- cerning the character of necessary truths and especially