2 4 o THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



also in the percentages of the total number of eminent men. Italy sur- 

 passes all countries in the proportionate number of artists. If the 

 ancient civilizations were included in this comparison, the supremacy 

 of the north would not be so evident; but it is hardly fair to include 

 the ancient civilizations, for when they were flourishing, societies in 

 northern countries had not advanced. When northern societies did de- 

 velop they produced their quota of scientists, though they did not pro- 

 duce their proportionate number of artists. 



The chief explanation of any advantage which cold countries may 

 have in the development of science is to be found in their greater needs. 

 The environment is harder to subdue and at the same time man's re- 

 quirements are greater, hence there is a continual incentive to improve 

 the useful arts : and the attempt to improve the arts is, as has already 

 been said, the most important stimulus to the advancement of science. 

 In addition to this, life in northern countries seems somewhat better 

 adapted to the development of a thoughtful people. In southern coun- 

 tries social life is more continuous and the conditions are therefore less 

 favorable for meditation. In northern countries social life is inter- 

 spersed to a greater extent with periods of isolation, and this condition 

 is most favorable to the development of new ideas. A more completely 

 isolated life, however, with little social intercourse would not be stimu- 

 lating enough to develop new ideas. Of course the most desirable bal- 

 ance between the social and the solitary life may exist in particular 

 cases in warm countries, but their general conditions for society, as a 

 whole, seem to be less favorable than those of colder countries. 



Physical conditions are, however, less potent than social conditions 

 in stimulating the advancement of science as well as that of art. Three 

 conditions in social life may be mentioned as especially important in 

 preparing the way for scientific development. First, society should be 

 far enough advanced in numbers and in wealth to have evolved a class 

 with opportunities to devote their time to intellectual pursuits. This 

 condition is brought about comparatively early in society by the caste or 

 class system, and later is made much more effective by the system of 

 division of labor. New societies cultivate science but little because they 

 have neither produced a leisure class nor have they extended the system 

 of division of labor far enough to permit individuals to devote their 

 whole time to scientific pursuits. Secondly, a society should be active, 

 for such a society undertakes new enterprises and stimulates society 

 through the medium of the arts. Eigid societies, such as China and 

 India, are satisfied with past achievements in knowledge, but when such 

 societies become active, as in the case of Japan, they feel the need of 

 devoting themselves to the acquisition and the extension of knowledge. 

 Thirdly, social conditions should be such that man may easily free his 

 mind from the influences of the past. He must emancipate himself 



