THE ANATOMY OF SCIENCE 75 



is the "handmaiden of theology," she has yet a hfe of her own. This 

 new autonomy is of prime importance. Science feels free to reject as 

 subject matter much that concerns theology and philosophy: for this 

 and other reasons the problems of science often can be solved as 

 many of those of theology and philosophy cannot. Moreover, many 

 then "extraneous" considerations cease to trouble the aflFairs of an 

 autonomous science. Investigators who differ profoundly in their 

 metaphysical convictions can still collaborate in science. In defense 

 of the germ theory Pasteur, devout Roman Catholic, makes common 

 cause with Tyndall, an atheist in the eyes of most of his contempo- 

 raries. 



The separation of an autonomous science is followed by the sepa- 

 ration of semi-autonomous sciences, and then of specialties within 

 these. Scientific advance assumes a new pattern. At a number of dis- 

 tinct growing tips purely local correlations are projected outward. 

 Larger correlations come later, as the separate shoots are linked 

 through the same branch, and tlie several branches come (perhaps) 

 to depend from the same trunk. Impatient to advance, we set aside 

 this pattern only at detriment to advance. 



The ancient scientist aspired to a general system embracing much 

 if not all of his experience. He had then some fear of making radical 

 separations of that experience: separated "parts" might not again fit 

 together in a whole. But, reading what seems to be the lesson of 

 scientific history, ice venture quite drastic separations of elements of 

 our experience. We become bold enough even to subdivide a unitary 

 "phenomenon" for consideration in different disciplines. We observe 

 the flight of a pigeon. Physics ( aerodynamics ) tells us something of 

 how the beating of wings sustains motion in air, physics ( kinematics ) 

 affords us a very simple description of the motion of the bird when 

 it is shot, and physics ( energetics ) makes us aware that further prob- 

 lems remain to be solved. We may turn then to chemistry and bio- 

 chemistry to learn something of the mechanisms of power produc- 

 tion in birds. To biology we leave the problem of how a bird of this 

 particular sort has come to be; to psychology the problem of why the 

 bird elects to fly when and as he does. We deploy the concept of 

 dissolubility more aggressively as we gain confidence in its natural 

 complement. Accepting a principle of superposition, we take it for 

 granted that parts loill ultimately fit together in a whole. With faith 



