Full Idea
I classify the sciences on Comte's general principles, in order of the abstractness of their objects, so that each science may largely rest for its principles upon those above it in the scale, while drawing its data in part from those below it.
Gist of Idea
I classify science by level of abstraction; principles derive from above, and data from below
Source
Charles Sanders Peirce (Reasoning and the Logic of Things [1898], I)
Book Reference
Peirce,Charles Sanders: 'Reasoning and the Logic of Things', ed/tr. Ketner,K.L. [Harvard 1992], p.114
A Reaction
He places mathematics at the peak of abstraction. I assume physics is more abstract than biology. So chemistry draws principles from physics and data from biology. Not sure about this. Probably need to read Comte on it.