Miscellaneous Papers. 229 



SCIENTIFIC FALLACIES AND FRAUDS. 



By W. F. HoxTj Wesleyan University, Salina. 



TTT'HETHER the Darwinian theories have played the chief 

 ^ ^ part in the development of living being-s is being ques- 

 tioned by Hugo DeVries and other present-day investigators; 

 but that scientific theories themselves are subjected to the most 

 rigid application of the principle of the "survival of the fit- 

 test" cannot be doubted. The pathway of human progress 

 is strewn with the debris of cast-off theories of natural phe- 

 nomena. The student is often perplexed by the facility with 

 which science molts her outgrown coverings, but this same 

 facility is an evidence of abounding life and vigorous growth. 

 Each discarded theory, however, if based upon careful obser- 

 vation and rational deduction, served its purpose of aiding 

 science in its search after truth, just as the varying tacks of 

 a sailing-vessel brings it nearer its destination, though few 

 of them were in the direct line of port. 



In order to claim the serious consideration of scientists, a 

 theory concerning natural phenomena must stand the following 

 tests: (1) It must accord with the facts of nature, and should 

 be based upon painstaking investigation. (2) It should fur- 

 nish rational explanation of certain phenomena, without con- 

 flicting with other well-known facts. Nature is not contra- 

 dictory. (3) It should be simple and ought not assume greater 

 causes than are necessary to explain the phenomena under 

 consideration. Nature is direct and economical in her opera- 

 tions. She rarely invokes an earthquake to overturn an ant- 

 hill. 



There have been in all ages, including the present one, 

 ill-informed theorists who believe that the fancies and phan- 

 tasms that course through their disordered craniums have the 

 same stamp of divine authenticity as a prophetic vision, es- 

 pecially if they misquote and misapply the Scriptures in sup- 

 port of their theories. They have their uses, perhaps, in 

 adding to the hilarity of thinking people, but hardly add 

 to the sum total of human knowledge. These misconceived 

 theories fail in one or all of the above tests. They are usually 

 not in accord with the facts of nature, they do not furnish 

 rational explanation for natural phenomena, nor are they 



