The object of the book
was to show that the history of human knowledge is a history of
false inferences and the erroneous interpretations of correctly
observed phenomena, that the increase of knowledge always means the
destruction of existing opinions, that of all the scientific systems
up to the present day, only those retained their position which
proved the futility of earlier theories--never those which built up
new structures on the foundations of the old house of cards that had
been blown down. In a word, that progress means not the acquisition
of fresh knowledge, but an ever-extended consciousness of the
futility of the knowledge we thought to possess.
Wilhem spared himself no pains with this work. He brought all the
thoroughness and industry of his honest nature to bear upon it,
would accept no statement at second-hand, but went for every
information to the fountain head. It would cost an immense amount of
time, but after all he had that at his disposal. There was no need
for him to hurry, seeing that he did not write from ambition or for
any material advantage, but simply for his own gratification. He
began by rubbing up his school Greek sufficiently to enable him to
read the ancient philosophers with ease, which he achieved in a few
months, and then set to work to learn Arabic, that being the chief
language of science in the Middle Ages.
Pages:
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291