Observation, Analogy, Experiment, by Sir Humphry Davy

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LET a wine glass filled with water be inverted over the Conferva, the air will collect in the upper part of the glass, and when the glass is filled with air, it may be closed by the hand, placed in its usual position, and an inflamed taper introduced into it; the taper will burn with more brilliancy than in the atmosphere. This is an experiment. If the phenomena are reasoned upon, and the question is put, whether all vegetables of this kind, in fresh or in salt water, do not produce such air under like circumstances, the enquirer is guided by analogy: and when this is determined to be the case by new trials, a general scientific truth is established — That all Confervae in the sunshine produce a species of air that supports flame in a superior degree;* which has been shewn to be the case by various minute investigations.

These principles of research, and combinations of methods, have been little applied, except in late times.*

by Sir Humphry Davy 1778-1829

From ‘Elements of Chemical Philosophy’ Part 1 Volume 1 (1812), by Sir Humphry Davy (1778-1829).

* Owing to a high proportion of oxygen, a product of photosynthesis.

* That is, only recently. Davy makes a great deal of the contrast between mediaeval alchemy and the chemistry which accompanied the industrial revolution, though he shows proper respect to pioneers such as Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626).

Précis

Davy described a simple instance of observation, analogy and experiment. He remarked, by Analogy, that water weeds of all kinds produced the little gas bubbles he had noted by Observation in one sample. He then showed by Experiment that the gas consistently burns more brightly than air, before adding that such scientific method was a recent innovation.

Questions for Critics

1. What is the author aiming to achieve in writing this?

2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that strike you. How do they help the author communicate his ideas more effectively?

3. What impression does this passage make on you? How might you put that impression into words?

Based on The English Critic (1939) by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn, Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University, USA.

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