DISCUSSION 145 



evolution of animals with that of man, with 

 regard to which I showed in the third lecture 

 that it was not a purely zoological problem. 

 Von Hansemann is, however, perfectly right in 

 saying that it was a mistake to drag religion 

 and theology into the discussion of my lectures. 

 The result of so doing has not been the re 

 futation of my scientific and philosophical 

 opinions by my opponents, but the trans 

 ference of the whole discussion to a region 

 lying beyond the province of a scientific con 

 ference. Unhappily von Hansemann was not 

 able to avoid the mistake which he pointed out, 

 as his subsequent remarks clearly show. 



Religion, said the speaker, is a matter of 

 faith, whereas natural science is the quest of know 

 ledge. What would become of us, if we had to 

 behave like Father Wasmann, and say : &quot;As long 

 as the supreme authority has not decided anything, I 

 cannot venture to express my opinion.&quot; If Coper 

 nicus had waited until the supreme authority had 

 stated its views, the sun would still be moving 

 round the earth. It is impossible in our day to 

 carry on scientific research thus. 



This remark is also the outcome of a mis 

 apprehension on the part of the speaker. 

 Even if the ultimate decision of what is ad 

 missible from the theological point of view 



