MS 1343 (1902) - Of the Classification of the Sciences

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deutic, the science of the art of discovery, be conducted as a separate science, as occasionally has been done, and not as a secondary branch of logic, as is more usual, it is par excellence the science ministrant to the Gnostic Instinct. As examples of such treatment may be mentioned Jean Senebier's 'L'art d'observer' (Geneva: 1776 2 vols, Ovo) and Catherine Aiken's admirable and remarkable 'Methods of Mind Training (Harpers: 1896).

We have thus passed in review all the sciences of direct gratification. There remain many other practical sciences. Considering how these are, in living fact, affiliated we find that they are of two classes. Namely, some groups of practical sciences each of which is held together by the bond of a common kind of purpose, although this is not itself a gratification of any one instinct. They differ from the sciences of gratification only in the comparatively unimportant circumstance that there is no human instinct immediately motive to that end. Such, for example, is

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deutic, the science of the art of discovery, be conducted as a separate science, as occasionally it has, in such books, for example, as Jean Senebier's 'L'art d'observer (Genève: 1775 2 vols

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B. Materioperous Sciences, concerned with matter of special texture or special chemical constitution.

C. Viroperous Sciences, concerned with molecular or etherial forces.

D. Vitoperous Sciences, concerned with plants or animals.

A. The Moloperous Sciences, or Engineering.

This has four divisions, as follows:

i. Mining Engineering, with Surveying

ii. Constructional Engineering not Transportational.

iii. Sciences of Transportation.

iv. Mechanical Engineering.

Under Mining Engineering there are the sciences of Mining, of Quarrying, of Well Driving, of Tunnelling, of Subaqueous Tunnelling, of Subaqueous Foundations, of Diving, of Seawall Building, of Blast, of Wrecking, of Surveying (Triangulation, Planetable Work, Chain and Compass Work, Running Courses, Levelling, Astronomical Surveying, Sounding, Navigation, Map Drawing etc.)

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g. Sciences of Feathers

h. Sciences of Straw and wicker work

i. Sciences of Ivory, Bonework, Shell, Horn,

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of the near future which we endeavor to classify.

Every class is constituted and held together by a concept or idea. Every arrangement of ideas is itself an idea. Consequently, every classification whatsoever is governed by an idea, however loose and inconsequential it may be.

A natural classification, that is, a birth-al classification is classification whose governing idea coincides with the idea which determines the things classified to exist.

An idea, in so far as it has any relation to life, is a possible purpose. Therefore, a natural classification is one which proceeds according to the purpose, or quasipurpose, of the existence of the objects classified. In case we know what this purpose is, as for example if we had to classify vehicles, it will be a comparatively easy thing to produce a natural classification. In case