How did the Edinburgh Philosophical Society promote experiments and observation?

The Edinburgh Philosophical Society for Improving Arts and Sciences and Particularly Natural Knowledge promoted experiments and observation by emphasizing the necessity of grounding philosophy in empirical evidence rather than abstract principles alone.1

The society encouraged this approach through several key practices:

• Publication of Findings: The society published its research in the three-volume Essays and Observations, Physical and Literary, which served as a platform for sharing empirical studies.1
• Methodological Rigor: Members were urged to balance the collection of facts with intellectual analysis. As Henry Home (Lord Kames) noted, while grasping at principles without facts is problematic, facts and experiments are considered useless without reasoning to draw consequences from them.1
• Diverse Empirical Inquiry: The society’s papers covered a wide range of observational and experimental topics, including physical dissections of the human body, accounts of natural phenomena like the agitation of waters in Loch Ness, and scientific correspondence regarding practical safety measures, such as securing houses from lightning.1

By focusing on "useful knowledge," the society fostered an environment where empirical methods were central to scientific advancement.1