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How would a sense of method be discovered?

Benjamin Franklin: Discovering the method

From: Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography

 

HOMER

PLATO

ARISTOTLE

THE GREEK OLD TESTAMENT (SEPTUAGINT)

THE NEW TESTAMENT

PLOTINUS

DIONYSIUS THE AREOPAGITE

MAXIMUS CONFESSOR

SYMEON THE NEW THEOLOGIAN

CAVAFY

More...

Page 5

Men should be taught as if you taught them not, And things unknown propos'd as things forgot,- 

farther recommending it to us, 

To speak tho' sure, with seeming Diffidence. 

And he might have couple'd with this Line that which he has coupled with another, I think less properly, 

For want of Modesty is want of Sense. 

If you ask why less properly, I must repeat the Lines; 

"Immodest Words admit of no Defence; "For Want of Modesty is Want of Sense." 

Now is not Want of Sense, (where a Man is so unfortunate as to want it) some Apology for his Want of Modesty? and would not the Lines stand more justly thus? 

Immodest Words admit but this Defence, That Want of Modesty is Want of Sense. 

This however I should submit to better Judgments.

 

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Cf. Aristotle Anthology | Rilke, Letter to a Young Poet | Plato, Whom are we talking to? | Kierkegaard, My work as an author | Emerson, Self-knowledge | Gibson - McRury, Discovering one's face | Emerson, We differ in art, not in wisdom | Joyce, Portrait of the Artist