At several points in the essay, Emerson criticizes science for relying too heavily on objective facts and measurements. But here he suggests the opposite, claiming that science relies more heavily on abstract ideas than observation. This is one of several contradictions in the essay that scholars have pointed out. But Emerson’s overarching point in this passage is that people must focus on experiencing the physical, natural world, and that in doing so, a person can learn those more abstract lessons. A person can’t focus on “unseen” or “eternal” things (e.g., heaven) without looking to the natural world first for spiritual guidance.