SUGGESTIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 

 ARTS AND SCIENCES. 



By W. R. Livermore, Major of Engineers, U. S. Army. 



Presented June 9, 1897. 



It is often said that we are rapidly approaching a limit to the develop- 

 ment of the Arts and Sciences ; that the next century will not witness 

 as much progress in this direction as the present. We have discovered the 

 correlation of forces, and the conservation of energy, found the mechanical 

 equivalent of heat, formulated an electro-magnetic theory of light, and 

 made wonderful applications of steam and electricity. We have found 

 the missing link in the chain of evolution. There are strong reasons, 

 however, to believe that the Arts and Sciences will make far greater 

 progress in the immediate future than ever in the past. 



The words Arts and Sciences are used in the most general sense. Both 

 relate to investigations of truth, but Science inquires for the sake of 

 knowledge. Art for the sake of production. A Science teaches us to 

 know, an Art to do. In Art truth is a means to an end, in Science it 

 is the only end. 



No Arts are possible unless they are founded on Sciences, and Sci- 

 ences depend on generalizations. By induction individuals are raised to 

 generals, and these to higlier generalities. By deduction universals are 

 brought down to lower genera and to individuals. A knowledge of facts 

 is mainly useful as a basis for Science. Whatever may be the aim of 

 Philosophy or Religion, the final object of the Arts and Sciences should 

 be to ascertain laws to apply to acts. 



The tendency of the age has been to specialize. As a reaction against 

 the mediaeval practice of framing theories on insufficient foundations, 

 most of the scientific work of modern times has been devoted to collecting 

 facts, arranging and classifying them ; and those who have devoted their 

 lives to investigating abstract laws and principles have been out of touch 

 with those who have handled the facts to which the laws apply. All the 

 professions have been driven into independent channels. A university 

 town has been likened by its inhabitants to an archipelago. 



