44 KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



The mystery of consciousness, so profound as to seem impenetrable, 

 will certainly yield something to experimental investigation. The 

 subject possesses an interest amounting to fascination, but it is en- 

 tirely beyond my ability to discuss. The distinguished Professor 

 Minot, in his presidential address before the American Association for 

 the Advancement of Science, last summer, advanced the hypothesis 

 that the universe consists of matter, energy, and consciousness. Is it 

 too much to say that consciousness presents the most profound prob- 

 lem of science ? Is it too much to believe that the future holds some 

 Newton who will reveal the solution ? 



Human nature in its natural condition is positive, prejudiced and 

 narrow. The study of science gives breadth ; the attitude of science 

 is one of receptivity. He who has in part gained the clearer vision, 

 who has penetrated some of the mists of verbiage, realizes that all 

 knowledge is relative ; that absolute knowledge of even one thing is 

 not within the power of the human intellect ; that not only the infi- 

 nitely little and the infinitely large are beyond our deepest ken, but 

 the every-day phenomena which so many think they know. In ulti- 

 mate analysis, I think we can be sure of but one thing, "I think, 

 therefore I am." This, only, is positive ; all else is relative. When 

 we reach that point we are humbled ; we realize our insignificance in 

 the universe, and we drop our attitude of positiveness and prejudice, 

 and, on the broad platform of tolerance for every sincere view, we con- 

 sider with cold, passionless intellect the various thoughts that come, 

 or are presented, concerning the relations between phenomena. Not 

 all students of science have reached this point ; many get into a 

 groove which they wear so deep that they can see out in but one di- 

 rection ; they work to prove a theory rather than to make a better 

 one; but the tendency is stronger in science than anywhere else to- 

 ward breadth and tolerance. By those who know little of its contro- 

 versies, science is accused of endeavoring to fasten her theories on 

 mankind regardless of facts. These little suspect the joj' that would 

 fill a young scientist could he but assert, and plausibly maintain, 

 some new hypothesis that would displace the old. This is the spring 

 of life in science : the realization that all knowledge is relative, and 

 that what we call truth is but the expression of views that at the time 

 coordinate most phenomena. Next year, next day, may bring a new 

 fact that will necessitate a new theory. This is no disgrace to sci- 

 ence ; it proves her to be alive and growing ; it demonstrates her elas- 

 ticity and perennial vitality. Let him who boasts of certainty and 

 permanence beware lest he be found hugging a delusion born of preju- 

 dice and ignorance. 



During the last half of the last century we heard much of the con- 



