LIKNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDON, 3 1 



those branches of science in which experiment is most active, 

 this method only affects the technique required to attain the 

 results. The results themselves are secured by observation, and 

 require co-ordination like the results arrived at in those sciences 

 where the assistance of experiment cannot be invoked. The 

 method by which knowledge is obtained does not affect the 

 intellectual process involved. 



When a natural fact new or old is applied to the business of 

 life, those who employ it may desire only to benefit a particular 

 industry, or they may also have at heart the promotion of the 

 science which supplies the fact. Where Science and Technology 

 are partners this diversity in outlook cannot lead to harm. 



Some workers may be strictly scientific, others as strictly 

 technological. As a rule, however, those who increase natural 

 knowledge do much, even if unconsciously, to promote material 

 interests; those whose work is avowedly technological do much 

 to increase natural knowledge. These two theoretically distinct 

 types of activity do not correspond with different kinds of 

 knowledge. Long ago a very eminent Fellow of our Society 

 pointed out that what is popularly termed applied science is only 

 pure science applied to particular problems, llecently a captain 

 of industry has observed that in ordinary practice there is no 

 sharp line to separate pure from applied science ; kjiowledge 

 that has not yet been used economically from knowledge that 

 is useful. 



The stress of existing conditions has at last compelled the State 

 to accord recognition to two types of activity, the official titles of 

 which are " Scientific Research " and "Industrial Research." This 

 subdivision, as one of our Fellows has pointed out, tiikes no 

 cognizance of that particular type of activity which philosophical 

 study has always considered of the utmost importance ; upon 

 which during the past century and a half science has chiefly 

 concentrated her attention. The three types of activity recognized 

 by him are : — the philosophical study \\ hose purpose is to ascertain 

 the truth with regard to the causes of things ; the scientific study, 

 utilitarian in object, wliich is undertaken without expectation of 

 pecuniary reward ; the technological study undertaken with the 

 object of reaping a financial return. The first of these activities 

 is the XVII. Century "improvement of natural knowledge for dis- 

 covery" which the State still regards as a pastime no more worthy 

 of recognition than any other type of amusement. The second is 

 the " impi'ovement of natural knowledge for use," considered by 

 science in the XVII. Century to be her first duty. The third is 

 that application of natural knowledge by industry to the arts and 

 crafts, which, about the middle of the XVIII. Century, largely 

 replaced the application by science herself of her own results. 



The otficial terminology is open to objection. Scientific Research 

 is an ambiguous term, because discovery, which does not interest 

 the State, usually involves research and investigation. Industrial 



