172

O.58

For the idea of an experiential object that should never betray itself to experience would be self-contradictory.

Approximate induction makes with each new experiment, a new,—though not necessarily a better,—approximation to the truth. The law of approximation is that, considering any degree of error whatever, there will sometime come an approximation which is absolutely the last to be affected by as much error as that; and although we cannot make absolutely sure when that degree of error will disappear, we can inductively approximate to a correct estimate of this value each induction and to the value of this inductive estimate of it, and so indefinitely; but for the rapidly increasing expense of increased accuracy, combined with the absolute limitation of each item of personal wealth,—time, energy, money, all,—a limitation to the value of personal life on earth.

Cut 140