1910.] The Renaissance. 13 



rapidly reached the "phvlogerontic stage" of its evohition, and produced all 

 sorts of bizarre sjK'cializations in terminology and in dialectics. 



It has been said of the scholastic philosophy that it "vigorously exercised 

 the understanding without bringing it to any conclusions." However this 

 may be, it cannot be doubted that the very excesses of scholasticism stim- 

 ulated the reactive return to experience, which gave rise incidentally to 

 biological science. The schoolmen furthermore perpetuated and aroused 

 interest in Aristotle's analyses, and gave currency to many methods of 

 analysis and description. Among these we may cite, first, the dichotomous 

 method of division, which is a forerunner of modern classifications; secondly, 

 the logical concepts of genus and species. Especially noteworthy was the 

 expansion of classical Latin into a highly specialized language of philosophy 

 and science. 



III. The Modern Period. 



Synopsis. 



Curiosity about nature, followed by direct appeal to nature. RapitUv 

 widening fields of discovery. Subordination of speculation to dis- 

 covery. 



Reasoning becoming inductive, and inductive- deductive. 



Separation of science and metaphysics. 



Gradual recognition of the universality of natural law. 



Gradual ■separation of myth from fact. 



Rise of the idea of the natural classification of animals. 



Search for the causes of differences and resemblances between animals. 



Rise of the idea of evolution. 



Comparison of all the following epochs (Renaissance, Raian, Linnsean, 

 pre-Cuvierian, Cuvierian and Darwinian) leads to the conclusion that from 

 the point of view of the history of mammalogy they form a natural grouj), 

 here called the IVIodern Period, which is as sharply distinguished from the 

 preceding Graeco-scholastic, as that is from the Prescientific Period. 



1. The Renaissance Epoch. 



Revolt against authority and direct appeal to nature initiated (e. g., in 



human anatomy by Vesalius). 

 Rapid spread of exploration and discovery. 

 Collection of natural history specimens. 

 Development of botany: 



