Cosmologia Generalis

from which no world can be conceived, can be abstracted (§. 237. Ontol. dogmata): Whatever is demonstrated in general Cosmology concerning the world in general from the principles of first philosophy (by virtue of §. 2.), can be confirmed by observations.

It is therefore evident how examinations of cosmological truths are to be instituted, by which we are rendered certain that we have correctly established principles in first philosophy and have legitimately applied them in Cosmology; wherefore it will be permitted to trust our principles the more securely, the more evident their agreement with observations is discovered to be: which, for this reason, I shall not be loath to demonstrate here and there.

§. 4.

Difference between scientific and experimental Cosmology.Thus, a twofold Cosmology is given: the one scientific, the other experimental. General scientific Cosmology is that which demonstrates a general theory of the world from the principles of Ontology: on the contrary, experimental [Cosmology] is that which elicits the theory established, or to be established, in the scientific [branch] from observations.

The definition we provided (§. 1.) fits scientific Cosmology, by virtue of those things which are deduced thence (§. 2.). The foundation of the experimental [branch] is contained in the preceding article (§. 3.). And this is what we treat in this place, even though, for the sake of illustrating and confirming dogmas, we shall sometimes bring forward things which pertain to the latter. For it is our purpose throughout the whole of philosophy to confirm a posteriori the dogmas established a priori—especially the fundamental notions from which the rest are derived—so that their agreement with truth may appear more clearly, and so that no one may fear that things abhorrent to the truth might perchance be inferred from incorrectly established principles, since error easily creeps into scientific treatment. By this very endeavor, therefore, we shall achieve two things: namely, that we are rendered continuously more secure in the truth of preceding points through the subsequent ones, and also that those who are not yet sufficiently exercised in weighing concatenated demonstrations may grant their assent to our principles without doubt. Since it is our purpose to make philosophy both certain and useful, nothing at all is to be omitted which in any way pertains to its certainty, lest the suspicion of uncertainty impair its utility. For utility shines forth from application to obvious cases; indeed, things that are thought uncertain are neglected.