THE FRAGMENT OF A BACONIAN BOOK, ENTITLED THE ALPHABET OF NATURE. WHEREAS SO many things are produced by the earth and water, so many things pass through the air and are received by it, so many things are changed and dissolved by fire, the other inquiries would be less clear and complete, if the nature of those common masses that occur so often were not well known and explained. To these I subjoin inquiries concerning the Heavens and Meteors, seeing that they also are Greater Masses, and belonging to the Universal. Greater Masses. Sixty-seventh Inquiry, or that concerning the Earth; denoted by TTT. Greater Masses. Sixty-eighth Inquiry, or that concerning Water; denoted by vv v. Greater Masses. Sixty-ninth Inquiry, or that concerning Air; denoted by . Greater Masses. Seventieth Inquiry, or that concerning Fire; denoted by xxx. Greater Masses. Seventy-first Inquiry, or that concerning the Heavens; denoted by 44. Greater Masses. Seventy-second Inquiry, or that concerning Meteors; denoted by www. rest. Conditions of Beings. It remains to inquire in this alphabet into the conditions of Transcendental Beings, which have little concern with the body of nature, but yet in the method of inquiry which I use will give no small light to the In the first place therefore since, as Democritus has well observed, the nature of things is rich and (according to him) infinite in the quantity of matter, and the variety of individuals; but so limited in combinations and species as even to appear scanty and destitute, for there are hardly enough species existing or capable of existing to make up a thousand in number; and since negatives attached to affirmatives are of great use for the information of the mind; we must institute an inquiry concerning Existence and Non-Existence, which comes seventy-third in order, and is marked by a aaa. Conditions of Beings; or concerning Existence and Non-Existence; denoted by а а а а. Possibility and Impossibility are nothing else than Potentiality or Non-Potentiality of Being. Let the seventy-fourth inquiry be on this subject, and be marked ßßß ß. Conditions of Beings. Concerning Possibility and Impossibility; denoted by ß ßß ß. Much and Little, Rare and Common, are the Potentialities of Being in Quantity. Let the seventy-fifth inquiry be concerning them, and be marked by Y Y Y Y• Conditions of Beings. Concerning Much and Little ; denoted by γ γ γ γ· Durable and Transitory, Eternal and Momentary, are Potentialities of Being in Duration. Let the seventy-sixth inquiry be concerning them, and be marked 8 8 8 8. Conditions of Beings. Concerning Durable and Natural and Unnatural are Potenialities of Being, according to the course of nature, or according to deviations from it. Let the seventy-seventh inquiry, marked, be concerning them. Conditions of Beings. Concerning Natural and Natural and Artificial are Potentialities of Being, without or by means of human assistance. Let the seventy-eighth inquiry, marked , be concerning them. Conditions of Beings. Concerning Natural and Artificial; denoted by § § § §. Examples in explanation of the order of the alphabet are not adjoined, because the inquiries themselves contain whole hosts of examples. The titles by which the order of the alphabet is arranged should by no means have such authority as to be received for true and fixed divisions of things. For this would be to profess that we know the things which we inquire; since no one can divide things truly who · has not a full knowledge of their nature. Let it be enough if the titles are convenient for the course of inquiry, which is our present business. THE RULE OF THE ALPHABET. The alphabet is constructed and directed in this manner. The history and experiments occupy the first place. These, if they represent an enumeration and series of particular things, are set down in tables; otherwise they are taken separately. But since history and experiments are very often deficient, especially those light-giving and crucial instances which serve to satisfy the understanding as to the true causes of things; some injunctions are given touching new experiments, which form a kind of Designed History. For what other course is open to us who are just entering on the path? In the case of any more subtle experiment, the method which I have employed is explained; for there may be a mistake, and it may stimulate others to devise better and more exact methods. Admonitions and cautions are likewise interspersed respecting the fallacies of things, and the errors which are of frequent occurrence in discovery. I attach also my own observations on the history and experiments, that the interpretation of nature may be in the more forwardness. Rules and Imperfect Axioms, such as occur to me in the course of inquiry (for I do not pronounce upon anything), I set down and prescribe, but only provisionally. For they are useful if not altogether true. Lastly, I sometimes make attempts at interpretation, though of a very humble nature, and no way worthy in my estimation to be honoured with that name. For what need have I of pride or imposture, seeing that I so often declare that we are not furnished with so much |