Книга только для ознакомления
. It is in virtue of such a similarity that Birds, Fishes,
Cephalopoda, and Testacea have been made to form each a separate
class. For within the limits of each such class, the parts do not
differ in that they have no nearer resemblance than that of
analogy-such as exists between the bone of man and the spine of
fish-but differ merely in respect of such corporeal conditions as
largeness smallness, softness hardness, smoothness roughness, and
other similar oppositions, or, in one word, in respect of degree.
We have now touched upon the canons for criticizing the method of
natural science, and have considered what is the most systematic and
easy course of investigation; we have also dealt with division, and
the mode of conducting it so as best to attain the ends of science,
and have shown why dichotomy is either impracticable or
inefficacious for its professed purposes.
Having laid this foundation, let us pass on to our next topic.
5
Of things constituted by nature some are ungenerated,
imperishable, and eternal, while others are subject to generation
and decay. The former are excellent beyond compare and divine, but
less accessible to knowledge. The evidence that might throw light on
them, and on the problems which we long to solve respecting them, is
furnished but scantily by sensation; whereas respecting perishable
plants and animals we have abundant information, living as we do in
their midst, and ample data may be collected concerning all their
various kinds, if only we are willing to take sufficient pains
|
