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Herschel’s idea of the goal of science is to identify the causes behind the phenomena under investigation - not unlike many of his predecessors. Indeed, Herschel’s philosophy of science as portrayed in PD appears at first to be straightforward Humean empiricism.[[CiteRef::Cannon (1961a)|p. 221]] Upon closer examination, however, some ambiguities and subtleties appear. For one, the meaning of the word “cause” in the above-stated goal is unclear - Ducasse identified four possible meanings, but the most accessible and important are the concepts of a “proximate” versus an “ultimate” cause.[[CiteRef::Cannon (1961a)|pp. 221-222]][[CiteRef::Ducasse (1960)]] An ultimate cause is one which, when arrived at, cannot be improved upon in terms of explanatory power, and truly describes the source of the phenomenon in question. A proximate cause can be improved upon, and only practically describes the phenomenon. Herschel’s goal is to identify the ''ultimate'' causes, though it is unclear whether he believes we can achieve this. In parts of PD, he states that “increasing knowledge only shows us the infinite complexity which both destroys and earthly hope of understanding the totality of the system and simultaneously assures us that the progress of our knowledge can continue forever”, and that we must “limit our view to that of laws, and to the analysis of complex phenomena by which they are resolved into simpler ones, which, appearing to us incapable of further analysis, we must consent to regard as causes.”[[CiteRef::Cannon (1961a)|p. 226]][[CiteRef::Herschel (1831)|pp. 87-88]] But in other parts, he suggests that we may somehow be able to approach these ultimate causes, saying that sometimes, in the face of overwhelming evidence in support of a hypothesis, “we are compelled to admit one of two things: either that it is an actual statement of what really passes in nature, or that the reality, whatever it be, must run so close a parallel with it, as to admit of some mode of expression common to both”.[[CiteRef::Herschel (1831)|pp. 196-197]] So Herschel thus believes in ultimate causes, and is pessimistic about our capability to reach them - but he thinks that they can be approached and that we are able to tell when we are getting closer. Thus, Herschel’s methodology of science now becomes clear - a scientist is to strive for the ultimate cause of a phenomenon, regardless of whether it is possible or not, and this will guide them on the proper path towards an explanation. It is crucial that Herschel believes that sometimes we can say we are approaching or close to ultimate truth, because otherwise this formulation of the aim of science would not be instructive at all. As for how best to do this, we must examine Herschel’s views on theory construction and evaluation.