246 GREAT MEN OF SCIENCE 



Laplace's achievement, the consideration may be put for- 

 ward that Gauss, the eminent mathematician, regarded 

 analytical calculus - although he was a master of it - only as 

 an appliance for carrying out without error work previously 

 done by pure thought in the simplest manner, to such an 

 extent, that he never sat down to put the calculation on 

 paper, before he saw completely through the problem and 

 regarded it as soluble. 



What is now taught in all kinds of educational institutions 

 in an increasing degree under the name of science is what 

 Gauss - and of course everyone who is in the first place an 

 investigator - regarded as a mere tool, a subsidiary matter; 

 mathematical technique. Physics taught in this way is not 

 a field for the practice of healthy and simple thinking in 

 direct contact with nature, whereby it could be of the highest 

 value to humanity, but only a field for the practice of the 

 technique of calculation, a pleasure for small minds. In 

 order that there may nevertheless be an appearance of actual 

 science, experimenting in schools is increasingly overdone, 

 technical achievements and showpieces are exhibited, gen- 

 erally of a particularly complicated description - again giving 

 an opportunity for much calculation - while the simple ideas, 

 which have led all great men of science by contact with 

 nature to their successes and to an insight into the world, and 

 which are also of educational value, are lost to view. 



A consideration of the work of great men of science should 

 help mankind to rid itself of this insane idea, to get out of its 

 microcosm, back again to the macrocosm, to the greatness 

 of nature itself, in face of which we should not however 

 stand as masters, but as modest admirers. The mastery of 

 motors and wireless waves - by 'knowing all about them' - 

 does not ennoble humanity; it coarsens and degrades them, 

 and even makes them obviously more stupid. On the other 

 hand, the joy at newly found insight lifts them up, when 

 understanding for it has been cultivated. 



