A Look Inside
The cover page, being very simple and very different than the elaborate and wordy introductions from the 17th century works.
From the preface, Hutton makes an interesting claim: “Philosophy surely is the ultimate of human knowledge, or the object at which all science properly should aim…” In this more modern context, the author seems to be uniting the goals of experiment and theory. Contrary to earlier arguments to return to practical observations, modern scientists like Hutton saw the role of theory in the advancement of science.
The first pages of Part V, which discusses the principle of fire as related to burning. Hutton’s language is very lofty here; this is not a work for laymen to read.
Another part which shows the connection between Hutton’s study of light as related to the earth and its atmosphere.