The Hunterian oration, delivered at the Royal College of Surgeons in London, February 14, 1842 / by G.G. Babington.

Date:
1842
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Hunterian oration, delivered at the Royal College of Surgeons in London, February 14, 1842 / by G.G. Babington. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    tigation, at least in physical sciences, was first indicated by Bacon. But this opinion, though general, has not been universal. There have not been wanting, even in modern times, those who have contended, that the Baconian system of induction, as generally un- derstood, is erroneous; that the first principles of philosophy cannot be deduced from the facts of experience which they are intended to explain, but must be developed by the pure light of reason, undistracted by sensible impressions, and operating on the objects of its internal consciousness alone; that then, from these first principles, thus ascer- tained, as from a geometrical axiom, are to be deduced in a descending series, those secondary and tertiary laws, which are of more partial ope- ration, and by which the phenomena that present themselves to the senses are directly explained. With every respect for those by whom these doctrines have been advocated, I cannot but con- sider them as so opposed to all sound philosophy, so dangerous to the future progress of discovery, and moreover so contrary to the example of John Hunter which we are assembled this day to com- memorate, that I feel I should ill fulfil the intention of those who founded this oration, were I to pass them over in silence. When the foundations of all modern science arc endangered, it becomes neces- sary to survey them with the view of ascertaining their solidity. Nor is there any better protection 2