240 SCIENCE. [x. 



of the common mind of all men. All men can partake 

 of the gains of free scientific thought,, not merely 

 by enjoying its physical results, but by becoming more 

 scientific men themselves. 



Therefore it was, that though I began my first lecture 

 by defining superstition, I did not begin my second 

 by defining its antagonist, science. For the word 

 " science " defines itself. It means simply knowledge ; 

 that is, of course, right knowledge, or such an approxi- 

 mation as can be obtained ; knowledge of any natural 

 object, its classification, its causes, its effects ; or in 

 plain English, what it is, how it came where it is, and 

 what can be done with it. 



And scientific method, likewise, needs no definition ; 

 for it is simply the exercise of common sense. It is 

 not a peculiar, unique, professional, or mysterious 

 process of the understanding : but the same which all 

 men employ, from the cradle to the grave, in forming 

 correct conclusions. 



Every one who knows the philosophic writings of 

 Mr. John Stuart Mill, will be familiar with this opinion. 

 But to those who have no leisure to study him, I should 

 recommend the reading of Professor Huxley's third 

 lecture on the origin of species. 



In that he shows, with great logical skill, as well 

 as with some humour, how the man who, on rising in 

 the morning finds the parlour- window open, the spoons 

 and teapot gone, the mark of a dirty hand on the 

 window-sill, and that of a hob-nailed boot outside, and 

 comes to the conclusion that someone has broken open 

 the window, and stolen the plate, arrives at that hypo- 

 thesis for it is nothing more by a long and complex 

 train of inductions and deductions of just the same 



