DEPARTMENT IX PHYSICS 



(Hall 6, September 20, 2 p. m.) 



CHAIRMAN: PROFESSOR HENRY CREW, Northwestern University. 

 SPEAKERS: PROFESSOR EDWARD L. NICHOLS, Cornell University. 

 PROFESSOR CARL BARUS, Brown University. 



THE Chairman of the Department of Physics was Professor Henry 

 Crew, of Northwestern University, who opened the proceedings of 

 the Department by saying: " Whatever views we may entertain con- 

 cerning the classification of the sciences which Professor Miinster- 

 berg has proposed for the guidance of this congress, we will, I believe, 

 all concur in the opinion that it is full of suggestion and very instruct- 

 ive. For my own part, I think it gives a really profound glimpse 

 into the relationships of the various departments of human learn- 

 ing. You will recall that the first main division is between the pure 

 and applied sciences. We have come together this afternoon to con- 

 sider a subject which lies in the former group. But physics is not the 

 only pure science: it is merely one belonging to that subdivision 

 which deals with phenomena. Again, there are two classes of phe- 

 nomena, the mental and the physical: and physics has to do only 

 with the latter class. Indeed, it does not cover the entire field of 

 physical phenomena, but constitutes merely one of the six Depart- 

 ments in this Division. Physics is, however, the most general and 

 most fundamental of this group of six. It is properly found, there- 

 fore, at the head of the list. Our theme this afternoon, then, is that 

 fundamental science which deals with the general properties of 

 matter and energy and which includes the general principles of all 

 physical phenomena. We are fortunate in having with us men who, 

 by wide experience gained in their own researches, and by a thor- 

 ough study of the philosophy of the subject, are eminently fitted to 

 treat this topic." 



