Book excerpt: Excerpt from Typical Methods of Thinking in Science and Philosophy It is evident that in this step in the theory, the scientist has changed his method of procedure. Up to this step, he had established all upon an experimental basis. Here he attempts to establish a step in his theory upon other grounds. That the atom is a spherical shell of positive electrification surrounding negative charges, he does not verify experimentally. He assumes that it is true and according to the established laws of physics, finds that the structural relations will be such as to explain the chemical to a remarkable degree. The validity of the assumption rests alone on its explaining power. The Atom may not be formed as assumed; it may be but accidental that if it were, all that correspondence between physical and chemical relations would result, yet such chance occurrences are so anomalous in our experience, that where we find such perfect correspondence we faithfully seek for dependency. And when in an experimental chain, we are at a loss for a link and we find one fitting perfectly, our experience has been such that we take it as very probable that such a perfect fitting is not accident, but that our assumed link is really existent and perhaps some day to be experimentally revealed. 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.