SCIENCE VERSUS METAPHYSICS 17 



We can gain the impression from some modern 

 oversimplifications that science deals with empirical 

 facts, that philosophy attends to principles and 

 eternal truths, and that religion is concerned with 

 values. In the following pages it will be necessary 

 to shake aside such artificial limits and to present 

 principles along with the evidence that supports 

 them; to test these against experience and to attempt 

 frequently to weigh the general biological values 

 involved. This last process will be easier if we assay 

 survival values only. Admittedly in dealing even 

 with survival values we must be relatively rough 

 and ready in our methods, and perhaps the conclu- 

 sions will carry a strong odor of the laboratory in 

 which they had their origin. 



Basically the approach will be that of the experi- 

 mental biologist rather than that of the theorist, 

 which might be more polished, or of the philoso- 

 pher, which would certainly be more abstract and 

 would probably use a great many more words for 

 the same number of ideas. Despite much practice 

 to the contrary, any biological fact which concerns 

 us can be accurately described and the conclusions 

 from its study be clearly expressed in relatively sim- 

 ple and direct language. 



In research reports and scholarly discussions there 

 is need for the conciseness and precision made pos- 



