Civilisation : Its Cause and Cure 



centuries the two theories would lead to results 

 utterly different. 



Thus the certitude of Astronomy as a Science 

 arises largely from the fact that our times are so 

 brief compared with Celestial periods. The 

 proper periods of Celestial changes are to be 

 reckoned by thousands, perhaps millions, of years ; 

 but we, ignoring that aspect of the problem, fix 

 our observations on one little point of time, and 

 are quite satisfied with the result ! 



As another illustration of my meaning, consider 

 the Fixed Stars, so-called. These stars in their 

 groups and clusters, which we know so well by 

 sight, have remained apparently in the very same, 

 or nearly the same, relative positions during all 

 the 2,000 or 3,000 years that we have any record 

 of the shapes of the Constellations. Yet now by 

 minute telescopic and spectroscopic examination 

 we know that they are moving, and have been 

 moving all the time, in various differing directions 

 with great velocities, amounting to miles per second, 

 Nevertheless, so great are the spaces concerned. 

 so great the times, that all this long period has 

 not sufficed to bring them into any greatly changed 

 attitude with regard to each other ! What would 

 you think of an intelligent foreigner who, coming 

 to England to study the game of cricket, remained 

 on the cricket field for a quarter of a minute 

 during which time the players would have hardly 

 changed their positions and having noted a few 

 points, went away and wrote a volume on the 

 laws of the game ? And what are we to think of 



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