ave been disincorporated from general knowledge, do not
understand one and the same thing which Cicero's discourse and the note and
conceit of the Grecians in their word _circle learning_ do intend. For I
mean not that use which one science hath of another for ornament or help in
practice; but I mean it directly of that use by way of supply of light and
information, which the particulars and instances of one science do yield
and present for the framing or correcting of the axioms of another science
in their very truth and notion."[68] In accordance with this, Bacon placed
at the basis of the particular sciences which treat of God, nature and man,
one fundamental doctrine, the _Prima Philosophia_, or first philosophy, the
function of which was to display the unity of nature by connecting into one
body of truth such of the highest axioms of the subordinate sciences as
were not special to one science, but common to several.[69] This first
philosophy had also to investigate what are called the adventitious or
transcendental conditions of essences, such as Much, Little, Like, Unlike,
Possible, Impossible, Being, Nothing, the logical discussion of which
certainly belonged rather to the laws of reasoning than to the existence of
things, but the physical or real treatment of which might be expected to
yield answers to such questions as, why certain substances are numerous,
others scarce; or why, if like attracts like, iron does not attract iron.
Following this summary philosophy come the sciences proper, rising like a
pyramid in successive stages, the lowest floor being occupied by natural
history or experience, the second by physics, the third, which is next the
peak of unity, by metaphysics.[70] The knowledge of the peak, or of the one
law which binds nature together, is perhaps denied to man. Of the sciences,
physics, as has been already seen, deals with the efficient and material,
_i.e._ with the variable and transient, causes of things. But its inquiries
may be directed either towards concrete bodies or towards abstract
qualities. The first kind of investigation rises little above mere natural
history; but the other is more important and paves the way for metaphysics.
It handles the configurations and the appetites or motions of matter. The
configurations, or inner structure of bodies, include dense, rare, heavy,
light, hot, cold, &c.,--in fact, what are elsewhere called simple natures.
Motions[71] are either simple or compoun