98 WHAT IS SCIENCE? 



SCIENCE AND IMAGINATION 



At the risk of wearying the reader by endless repetition 

 I have insisted on the fallacy of neglecting the imaginative 

 element which inspires science just as much as art. If 

 this book is to fulfil any useful purpose that insistence is 

 necessary. For it is my object to attract students to 

 science and to help them to understand it by showing 

 them from the outset what they may expect from it. 

 It is certain that one of the chief reasons why science 

 has not been a popular subject in adult education, and is 

 scarcely recognized even yet as a necessary element of 

 any complete education, is the impression that science 

 is in some way less human than other studies. And for 

 that impression men of science are themselves more to 

 blame than anyone else ; in a mistaken endeavour to 

 exalt the certainty of their knowledge they deliberately 

 conceal that, like all possible knowledge, it is personal. 

 They exhibit to the outside world only the dry bones of 

 science from which the spirit has departed. 



It is true that it is less easy for the beginner to grasp 

 the imaginative element in science than in some other 

 studies. A larger basis of mere information is perhaps 

 required before it becomes apparent. And, of course, 

 he can never hope to share himself the joy of discovery ; 

 but in that respect he is no worse off than many who make 

 of science their life-work. But he can, if he will take the 

 trouble, appreciate the discoveries of others and experi- 

 ence at second-hand the thrill of artistic creation. For 

 those who have the necessary knowledge, it is as exciting 

 to trace the development of a great scientific theory, 

 which we could never have developed ourselves, as it is 

 to read great poetry or to hear great music which we 

 ourselves could never have written. But I must admit 

 that the books on science are few which make it easy 

 for the beginner to share that experience. And so, 



