First Book in Physiology: For the Use of Schools and Families, Intended As Introductory to the Larger Work by the Same Author (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from First Book in Physiology: For the Use of Schools and Families, Intended as Introductory to the Larger Work by the Same Author

There is another consideration bearing upon this point, which is of great importance. It is essential to the successful study of science that good habits of mind be formed, and the earlier they are formed the better. I need not stop to show that clear logical presentations of facts and principles tend to form such habits, and that a loose, confused mode of presenting them tends to form habits of an opposite character.

Let me not be understood to advocate that prominence of logical framework, as it may be called, which is so common in books for instruction. With all this show of logical arrangement, there is often much that is really very illogical. With the beginner. At least, the less there is of the formalities of arrangement the better. And yet there should in reality be a strict regard to the proper logical order in introducing facts and principles to the mind of the learner. If this natural order be observed, every page that the student learns serves to prepare his mind for what comes after. There is no point in which books for instruction so often fail as in this.

Most books for the instruction of beginners in science, present a strange mixture of child's talk, and language that the child cannot understand, but can only learn by rote. Even the hard technical terms of science often enter abundantly into the compound. It seems to be forgotten that great simplicity of language may be the vehicle of even a deep philosophy, and is consistent with an elevated style. Clear, precise statement, logical order of arrange ment, and felicitous illustration, are the elements of such a style. And these elements cannot exist, unless there be an appreciation in the writer's mind of the attitude of the minds that he addresses. He must not only see clearly the facts and principles of science himself, but he must know how to make others see them clearly also.

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