8.-THE RELATION OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH TO ECONOMIC PROBLEMS. 



BY GEORGE BROWN GOODE, 



Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 



Address as Chairman of the scientific section of the World 's Fisheries Congress, Columbian Exposition, 



Chicago, October jy, i8gj. 



It would seem quite unnecessary at this period in the history of civilization to 

 plead for the right of science to participate in the discussion of economic problems, 

 or of any problems whatsoever which may concern mankind. 



"Natural science is no longer content with the contemplative attitude which suf- 

 ficed for Newton and Laplace. Science is now concerned with all the personal acts of 

 our existence; she intervenes in all measures of public interest; industry owes to her 

 its immense prosperity; agriculture is regenerated under her fostering care; com- 

 merce is forced to take her discoveries into account; the art of war has been trans- 

 formed by her; politics is bound to admit her into its councils for the government of 

 states. How could it be otherwise? Have not mechanics, physics, chemistry, the 

 natural sciences, become intelligent and necessary agents for the creation of wealth 

 by labor"? If comfort is more universal, the life of man more prolonged, wealth better 

 distributed, houses more commodious, furniture and clothing cheaper, the soldier 

 better armed, the finances of the state more prosperous, is it not to the sciences that 

 all this progress is due"? Whether we wish it or not, we must needs accept Science as 

 a companion, to possess her or to be possessed by her. If you are ignorant, you are 

 her slave; if you are skilled, she obeys you. The future belongs to Science; unhappy 

 are they who shut their eyes to this truth."* 



We celebrate this year in Chicago the discovery of America, the end of the dark 

 ages, the birth of individual freedom and of popular government. We celebrate at 

 the same time, it seems possible, the beginning of a new epoch. The mediaeval 

 renaissance was limited to Europe; ours will embrace all the nations of the earth. 

 It may be that this should be considered the outgrowth and fulfillment of that which 

 marked the end of the middle ages; but whether we are at the beginning of a new 

 movement or the culmination of an old one, the last forty years have undoubtedly 

 I witnessed greater changes in the spirit of men's thoughts than the four centuries 

 j which had gone before. 



* Address of M. Dumas, President of the French Association for the Advancement of Science, at 



(the Fifth Annual Meeting, Clerrnont-Terrand, August 18, 1876. 



49 

 F. C. B. 1893-4. 



