Remarks On Elementary Education In Science PDF Download

Excerpt from Remarks on Elementary Education in Science: An Introductory Lecture, Delivered at the Opening of the Classes of Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry, in the University of London, November 2, 1830 They form part of the occupation of every child from the time when the development of its ideas commences. They are readily made; their results are easily remained; and so simple are the last in their nature, that it would have been thought childish to put them into words, had it not become necessary to embody them as the principles and groundwork of the mathematical sciences. The fact is that the terms observation and experiment are closely connected. The first is the faculty of the mind by which the second is experiments, whether they are derived by the senses alone, or by the assistance of the telescope or the thermometer. For Example, we learn to distinguish by the sight and touch that which we call a straight line. If any proof were necessary that our ideas on this subject are derived from observation alone, it would be found in the impossibility of defining this term. If any one were to ask me what is meant by the word, I could only answer by referring him to some visible object. By the evidence of our senses, and by no other means, we find that a straight line is such that two of this species can only coincide or meet in two points. The moment they are made to coincide or meet in one point. Again, suppose a straight line drawn and a point taken without it. Through this point let any other straight lines be drawn in all directions. We can demonstrate that there is one of these straight lines which will never met the first line, though ever so far produced or lengthened in either direction. But it is to experiment or observation that we are indebted for the knowledge of the fact, that there is only one straight line which is in this predicament, since no demonstration of this assertion has ever been given. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.