EVOLUTION OF TIIK SCIKNTIFIC INVESTIGATOK." 



By Simon Nkwcomb. 



As Ave look at the asseinblajic oatlicivd in (his hall, coiuprisintr so 

 iiiaiiv naiiu's of widest renown in every branch of learning — we might 

 nhuost sav in every field of human endeavor — the first iiuiuiry sug- 

 -icsted must be after the object of our meeting. The answer is that 

 our purpose corresponds to the eminence of the assemblage. We ann 

 at nothing less than a sui-vey of the realm of knowledge, as compre- 

 hensive as is permitted by the limitations of time and space. The 

 organizers of our congress hiwe honored me with the charge of pre- 

 senting such preliminary view of its field as may make clear the 

 spirit of our undertaking. 



Certain tendencies characteristic of the science of our day clearly 

 sdii-o-est the direction of our thoughts most appro[)riate to the occasion. 

 Among the strongest of these is one toward laying greater stress on 

 questions of the beginning of things, and regarding a knoAvledge of 

 the laws of development of any object of study as necessary to the 

 understanding of its present form. It may be conceded that the 

 principle hei-e involved is as api)licable in the broad field before us as 

 in a special research into the properties of the minutest organism. 

 It therefore seems meet that Ave should begin by inquiring what 

 airency has bi-ought about the i-euiarkabl(> development of science to 

 which the world of to-day bears witness. This view is recognized in 

 the plan of our i)r()ceedings by providing for each great department 

 of knowledge a revicAV of its j)rogress during the century that has 

 (•la])sed since the great event counnemorated by the scenes outside this 

 hall. But such revicAvs cjo not make up that general survey of science 

 at large which is necessary to the development of oui' theme, and 

 Avhich nnist include the action of causes that had their origin long 

 before our time. The movement Avhich culminated in making the 

 nineteenth century e\-er memorable in history is the outcome of a 

 long series of causes, acting through many centuries, which are Avorthy 



« Opening address at the International Congress of Arts and Science, St. T.ouis, 

 September 10, lOO-t. Reprinted from author's revised copy. 



221 



