30 THE LIFE OF SCIENCE 



ies, like all other studies, are approximate; the approximation ob- 

 tained by historians may be looser, but the studies are none the 

 less scientific for that. It is not so much its degree of approxima- 

 tion, as a definite knowledge of this degree, that gives to a study 

 its scientific character. 



Scientists and philosophers are at the present time unanimous 

 in wishing that the general tendencies and fundamental principles 

 of science be constantly extricated, criticized and stated with 

 more precision. They are well aware that this is now an essential 

 condition of progress and security. But how will it be possible to 

 conciliate the imperious needs of synthesis and the division of 

 labor? 



It would seem that the only possible solution is that which 

 was recommended by Auguste Comte and partly realized by him- 

 self and his disciples : namely, to originate a new great specialty, 

 the study of scientific generalities. To secure the unity of knowl- 

 edge, it will be more and more necessary that some men make a 

 deep study of the principles and of the historical and logical de- 

 velopment of all the sciences. Of course, they will not be expected 

 to be perfectly acquainted with all the technical details, but they 

 must have at their command a thorough knowledge of the great 

 lines and of the cardinal facts of each science. It is a very difficult 

 but not an impossible task. The inconveniences of excessive spe- 

 cialization will be happily counterpoised by this new branch of 

 knowledge, which induces a collaboration of philosopher, his- 

 torian and scientist. It will appear clearly from the following 

 pages that the best instrument of synthesis, and the most natural 

 hyphen between scientist and philosopher is the history of science. 



Auguste Comte must be considered as the founder of the his- 

 tory of science, or at least as the first who had a clear and pre- 

 cise, if not a complete, apprehension of it. In his Cours de philo- 

 sophic positive, published from 1830 to 1842, he very clearly 

 brought forward the three fundamental ideas which follow: (1) 

 A synthetic work like his cannot be accomplished without having 



