THE ANATOMY OF SCIENCE 



Methods of Science; Numbers 



THE strength of science lies in its naivete. 

 Science is like life itself ; if we could fore- 

 see all the obstacles that lie in our path we 

 would not attack even the first, but would settle 

 down to self -centered contemplation. The aver- 

 age scientist unequipped with the powerful 

 lenses of philosophy, is a nearsighted creature, 

 and cheerfully attacks each difficulty in the 

 hope that it may prove to be the last. He is not 

 given to minute analysis of his own methods. 

 Indeed, if he should become too self-conscious 

 he might lose his power, like the famous centi- 

 pede who, after too profound analysis of his 

 own method of locomotion, found he could no 

 longer walk. 



Yet, as the artist, after painstaking effort, 

 steps back from his easel to view his picture as 

 a whole, so it may not be unprofitable for the 

 scientist to forsake from time to time his own 

 specialty and survey the general trend of sci- 



