Do not waste time by ignorance of existing inventions. XLVI. (2 R) Save time by contracting the inquiry within narrow limits. XLVII. (2 S) The resistance of ignorance and prejudice has a temporary effect in retarding the progress of knowledge. (2 T) That understanding is in a sound state for the acquisition of knowledge which is capable at any time to acquire any sort of knowledge. L. (2 U). An imperfect understanding is either unable to acquire any knowledge, which is exceeding rare, or unable to acquire some particular knowledge, or unable at some particular time to acquire knowledge. (2 V) Defects of Understanding. LI. There is scarcely any mental defect of a sound mind which may not be remedied. (2 W) Errors from Lobe of Truth. LIII. The mind has a tendency to hasty assent without due and mature suspension of judgment. LIV. (2 X) The tendency to hasty assent originates in anxiety to store the mind with knowledge, and disinclination to the labour of thought. LV. (2 Y) Hasty assent is the parent of credulity. (2 Z) LVI. The evils from assent are, Credulity, Scepticism, and LVII. (3 A) Hasty assent is sometimes caused by the strength of immediate impression. LVIII. (3 B) Prevent the effect of powerful impression by deferring immediate decision. (3 C) LIX. The mind has a tendency to hasty generalization, or to infer that a particular truth is a general truth. LX. (3 D) The tendency to hasty generalization originates in an anxiety to possess general truths. LXI. (3 E) Genius sometimes discovers a general in a particular truth. (3 F) LXII. The evil of hasty generalization is increased by our education. (3 G) LXIII. The remedies for hasty generalization are, to consider whether there are not limits to the truth, either in quantity, time, or space. LXIV. (3 H) The mind has a tendency to run into subtleties and refinements, and endless inquiries. (3 I) LXV. The cause seems to be the love of truth, which in excess knows not where to stop. (3 K) |