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veloped it to such perfection that it has come 

 into general use throughout the entire school 

 of evolution and seems to be a characteristic 

 mark of every member of that school from 

 Darwin down to Father Wasmann. This new 

 species we may call the fallacy of the double 

 hypothesis ; and its operation is thus-wise. 

 First a hypothesis is framed, wholly possible, 

 more or less probable, absolutely without proof, 

 and with little presumption in its favor. After 

 more or less discussion this hypothesis quietly 

 takes its place as a proven fact, though it has 

 not progressed in its evolution beyond the as 

 sumption stage. Later, in another totally differ 

 ent department of science another totally dif 

 ferent hypothesis is needed for another totally 

 different purpose. It is forthwith invented, 

 and, after its invention, follows the usual dis 

 cussion, when suddenly someone discovers 

 that the first hypothesis has some bearing on 

 the question. The first hypothesis is instantly 

 invoked, and presto! the second hypothesis is 

 proven by the first. Meanwhile the fact that 

 it has been instrumental in proving the truth 

 of the second hypothesis at once raises the 



