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Title: The Classification of the Sciences

Author: Herbert Spencer

In: The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 24

Publication details: Victoria University of Wellington Library, Wellington

Part of: The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout

License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 New Zealand Licence

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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 24

Table I

ABSTRACT SCIENCE. Universal law of relation—an expression of the truth that uniformities of connexion obtain among modes of Being, irrespective of any specification of the natures of the uniformities of connexion. Laws of relations that are qualitative; or that are specified in their natures as relations of coincidence or proximity in Time and Space, but not necessarily in their terms: the natures and amount of which are indifferent. (Logic.) * that are quantitative -(Mathematics) negatively: the terms of the relations being definitely-related sets of positions in space; and the facts predicated being the absences of certain quantities. (Geometry of Position.**) positively : the terms being magnitudes composed of units that are equal only as having independent existences. (Indefinite Calculus, †) equal units ' the equality of which is not defined as extensive, protensive, or intensive (Definite Calculus) when their numbers are completely specified, (Arithmetic.) when their numbers are specified only in their relations. (Algebra.) in the relations of their relations. (Calculus of Operations.) the equality of which is that of extension considered in their relations of coexistence. (Geometry.) considered as traversed in Time that is wholly indefinite (Kinematics.) that is divided into equal units. (Geometry of Motion, ‡) * This definition includes the laws of relations called necessary, but not those of relations called contingent. These last, in which the probability of an inferred connexion varies with the number of times such connexion has occurred in experience, are rightly dealt with mathematically. ** Here, by way of explanation of the terra negatively-quantitative, it will suffice to instance the proposition that certain three lines will meet in a point, as a negatively-quantitative proposition; since it asserts the absence or any quantity of space between their intersections. Similarly, the assertion that certain three points will always fall in a straight line, is negatively-quantitative; since the conception of a straight lino implies the negation of any lateral quantity, or deviation. † Lest the meaning of this division should not be understood, it may be well to name, in illustration, the estimates of the statistician. Calculations respecting population. crime, disease, etc., have results which are correct only numerically, and not in respect of the totalities of being or action represented by the numbers. ‡ Perhaps it will be asked—How can there be a Geometry of Motion into which the conception of Force does not enter? The reply is, that the time-relations and space-relations of Motion may be considered apart from those of Force, in the same way that the space-relations of Matter may be considered apart from Matter.

Table I.