i897. THE GENEALOGY OF THE SCIENCES. 399 



But many sciences, aiming too high at first, have had to create 

 auxiliary sciences to furnish them with the necessary materials. 

 Thus geology has created palaeontology, and there is in the history of 

 geology a long period during which its votaries were absorbed in the 

 study and classification of fossil organisms ; and it was only when 

 these palaeontological researches were sufficiently advanced that 

 stratigraphy could re-assert its importance. Finally, in our own 

 days, we have been able to attack with success other problems more 

 directly geological, such as the origin of mountains, i.e. dynamics of 

 the earth-crust. The questions treated of to-day are old, they were 

 discussed before geology was a science ; and it is only because we 

 philosophised over these questions of a general nature that we were 

 led to record observations, add comments and so, as it were, to build 

 up a science. The needs of geology have likewise created petrology, 

 which in turn has sought assistance from optics, and as that does not 

 suffice, we now see it seeking assistance from chemistry. Shortly we 

 shall hear of synthetic petrology. But this science will take further 

 time to develop properly, because chemistry cannot furnish all that 

 the synthesis of rocks requires. 



Thus it is that a science, having become positive, serves another 

 science. Mathematics is an example. Physics another, which at 

 the present time, being of current application in chemical, physio- 

 logical and other investigations, renders services both by its methods 

 of investigation and by its laws and other acquired influences. 



But on the other hand many well-defined sciences, becoming 

 relatively far advanced in their development, fuse, making place for 

 higher investigations where philosophy already impinges on science. 

 Physico-chemistry, which in these latter days has developed in 

 Germany to a considerable extent, which has already numerous 

 methods of investigation, and which is sufficiently well-characterised 

 as a distinct science, is a good example. And thus we see sciences, 

 coming from one stock, dividing up in the course of development, and 

 then fusing again to pursue ideas still greater than before, to synthe- 

 tise the knowledge acquired in some more general law, and in this 

 way, by the intermediary of purely scientific investigation, one is led 

 to the philosophy of one or the other great branches of human 

 knowledge. Thus, close bonds unite positive philosophy to scientific 

 investigation, and it would be very difficult to draw a clear line of 

 demarcation between science and philosophy. 



All things meet, but all are not confused. Order exists ; let us 

 look for it. Let us first see the historical beginning of a science. 

 Origins are vague. One can always push the origin of a science back 

 as far as one will ; but in reality the science has a history only from 

 the time when it is individualised, the day it ceases to be a part of an 

 assemblage of subjects till then confounded. Generally its birth is 

 due to some great thinker, who has specialised in the branch. Such 

 an one, by inventing methods of experiment, or by co-ordinating his 



