282 THE PRESENT IMPORTANCE OF SCIENCE 



lem of how to secure a measure of social honesty in a world 

 of knaves is here illustrated. There can be no progress to- 

 ward its solution without recourse to the facts and the method 

 of science and without subordination of the legalistic to the 

 scientific frame of mind. 



Further examples of the conflict between this formal, 

 conservative, sacerdotal, legalistic, and, in general, archaic 

 attitude and the scientific spirit might be cited. The illus- 

 trations given are sufficient to show the nature of the strug- 

 gle and the fields in which it is waged. We do not claim that 

 scientists as a group have a monopoly of the scientific frame 

 of mind, but that the nature of science is such that the for- 

 ward-looking attitude tends to be emphasized more than 

 any other. Science must be willing to stand the gaff, when- 

 ever it can be convicted of a lack of open-mindedness and 

 a backward-looking spirit. Men naturally prefer that to 

 which their individual experience has made them accustomed, 

 both in ideas and in material surroundings. Conservatism 

 has this great law of human thinking always at its back. 

 But the frame of mind that challenges tradition is not 

 impotent. Had it been so, a certain type among the higher 

 apes would never have broken with the traditions of animal 

 mentality, as happened at a remote period of human ancestry. 



INFLUENCE OF SCIENCE UPON GOVERNMENT 



The influence of science upon governmental organization 

 may now be considered. There are, in the last analysis, 

 but two forms of government aristocracy and democracy. 

 Aside from maintaining order and administering justice, 

 government exists to promote the general good. To this 

 all will agree. But what constitutes the general good and 

 how it may best be promoted are questions regarding which 

 there is no such agreement. Self-interest and prejudice, 

 together with divergent points of view make unanimity of 

 opinion seem hopeless. Aristocracy and democracy are 



