54 MODERN IDEAS OF EVOLUTION 



But we should not too strongly denounce these 

 speculative tendencies of scientific minds. They may 

 point the way to new truths, and in any case they 

 have an intense subjective interest. Nothing can be 

 more interesting in a psychological point of view 

 than to watch the manner in which some of the 

 strongest and most subtle minds of our time exhaust 

 their energies in the attempt to solve impenetrable 

 mysteries, to force or pick the lock of natural secrets 

 to which science has furnished no key. The objec 

 tionable feature of the case is the representation that 

 such efforts have any real scientific basis. 



Whence, then, arise these strange inconsistencies 

 and contradictions which infest modern science like 

 parasites ? The expression I have already quoted is 

 the only solution. They represent a confused move 

 ment of the mind of the age of an age strong in 

 material discoveries, but weak in self-control and 

 higher consciousness. The mind of our time is un 

 settled and restless. It has a vague impression that 

 science has given it the power to solve all mysteries. 

 It is intoxicated with its physical successes, and has 

 no proper measure of its own powers. It craves a 

 constant succession of exciting and sensational gene 

 ralisations. Yet all this frenzy is no more the 

 legitimate outcome of science than the many fantastic 

 tricks which men play in the name of religion are the 

 proper results of revelation or theology. 



The true remedy for these evils is twofold. First, 





