Greek]), being
careful also to tell us that his rejection of all other forces is
essentially deliberate and the result of a preconceived theory and by no
means due to carelessness of any kind.

Now, of the general value of the abstract method and the legality of its
employment in the sphere of history, this is perhaps not the suitable
occasion for any discussion. It is, however, in all ways worthy of note
that Polybius is not merely conscious of, but dwells with particular
weight on, the fact which is usually urged as the strongest objection to
the employment of the abstract method--I mean the conception of a society
as a sort of human organism whose parts are indissolubly connected with
one another and all affected when one member is in any way agitated. This
conception of the organic nature of society appears first in Plato and
Aristotle, who apply it to cities. Polybius, as his wont is, expands it
to be a general characteristic of all history. It is an idea of the very
highest importance, especially to a man like Polybius whose thoughts are
continually turned towards the essential unity of history and the
impossibility of isolation.

Farther, as regards the particular method of investigating that group of
phenomena obtained for him by the abstract method, he will adopt, he
tells us, neither the purely deductive nor the purely inductive mode but
the union of both. In other words, he formally adopts that method of
analysis upon the importance of which I have dwelt before.

And lastly, while, without doubt, enormous simplicity in the elements
under consideration is the result of the employment of the abstract
method, even within the limit thus obtained a certain selection must be
made, and a selection involves a theory. For the facts of life cannot be
tabulated with as great an ease as the colours of birds and insects can
be tabulated. Now, Polybius points out that those phenomena particularly
are to be dwelt on which may serve as a [Greek] or sample, and show the
character of the tendencies of the age as clearly as 'a single drop from
a full cask will be enough to disclose the nature of the whole contents.'
This recognition of the importance of single facts, not in themselves but
because of the spirit they represent, is extremely scientific; for we
know that from the single bone, or tooth even, the anatomist can recreate
entirely the skeleton of the primeval horse, and the botanist tell the
character of the fl