DISCUSSION 95 



touch upon such a subject as the origin of the 

 human race, than he brings dogma to bear upon 

 scientific research, and we disapprove of this. 



In ascribing to me a twofold character, 

 Professor Plate was not original. Several of 

 the monistic critics of my book Modern Biology 

 and the Theory of Evolution, such as Forel, 

 Haeckel, von Wagner, etc., have done the same, 

 and have adopted the easy method of putting 

 down all that displeased them in my views to 

 my being a theologian, and all that pleased 

 them to my being a scientist. It is obvious 

 that in this way they can prove nothing 

 against me. A man who is at the same time 

 a scientist, a philosopher, and a theologian, 

 must examine a complicated question, such as 

 the theory of evolution, from these various 

 points of view, and not merely from one ; but 

 in as far as certain knowledge is to be derived 

 from these various aspects, they cannot con 

 tradict one another, because there is only one 

 truth. Plate thinks that if Wasmann the 

 scientist comes into conflict with Wasmann the 

 theologian, the former always lays down his 

 arms ; but many a theologian might with equal 

 right bring exactly the contrary charge against 

 me, and assert that I am constantly striving to 

 make my theological opinions agree with the 

 ascertained facts of science. In making this 



