The principles of science
The Principles of Science, first published in 1874, is William Stanley Jevons's treatise on logic and scientific method. Jevons, better known as an economist, builds the book on what he calls the substitution of similars, a single principle of reasoning from which he derives the rules of deduction, and he presents induction as the inverse of deduction, a process of framing hypotheses and testing their consequences. Long sections treat probability, measurement, the exact quantitative methods of the physical sciences, classification and the limits of scientific knowledge. The frontispiece shows his logical machine, a keyboard device that worked out simple syllogisms mechanically. This is the 1883 printing of the revised second edition. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.
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Frequently asked questions about The principles of science
The principles of science by William Stanley Jevons can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
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Yes. The principles of science opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
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The first chapter of The principles of science is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The principles of science in the public domain?
Yes. The principles of science by William Stanley Jevons is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The principles of science?
About 19 h 18 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The principles of science?
The principles of science by William Stanley Jevons is filed under "Philosophy" in the Vinteuil library.
