Pcri:L.v:: m:::;- 



My own researches lia% e led me more than 

 other disciples of the school of natural sci- 

 ence into controversial regions ; and the ex- 

 pressions of metaphysical discontent havo 

 perhaps concerned me even moro than my 

 friends, as many of you aro doubtless aware. 



In order, therefore, to leave my own per- 

 sonal opinions quite on one side, I have 

 allowed two unsuspected warrantors to speak 

 for me Socrates and Kant both of whom 

 were certain that all metaphysical systems 

 established up to their time were full of empty 

 false conclusions, and who guarded them- 

 selves against adding any new ones. In 

 order to show that the matter has not 

 changed, either in the last two thousand 

 years or in the last one hundred years, let 

 me conclude with a sentence of ono who was 

 unfortunately too soon taken away from us, 

 Frederick Albert Lange, the author of the 

 " History of Materialism." In his posthu- 

 mous " Logical Studies," which he wrote in 

 anticipation of his approaching end, he gives 

 the following picture, which struck me be- 

 cause it would hold just as well in reference 

 to solidar or humoral pathologists, or any 

 other of the old dogmatic schools of medicine. 



Lange says : The Hegelian ascribes to the 

 Herbartian a less perfect knowledge than to 

 himself, and conversely ; but neither hesi- 

 tates to consider the knowledge of the other 

 to be higher compared with that of tho em- 

 piricist, and to recognize in it at any rate an 

 approximation to the only true knowledge. 

 It is seen, also, that here no regard is paid 

 to the validity of the proof, and that a mere 

 statement in the form of a deduction from 

 tho entirety of a system is recognized as 

 " apodictic knowledge." 



Let us, then, throw no stones at our old 

 medical predecessors, who in dark ages, and 

 with but slight preliminary knowledge, fell 

 into precisely the same errors as the great in- 

 telligences of what wishes to be thought tho 

 illuminated nineteenth century. They did 

 no worse than their predecessors, except that 

 the nonsense of their method was more promi- 

 nent in the matter of natural science. Let 

 us work on. In this work of true intelligence 

 physicians are called upon to play a promi- 

 nent part. Among those who are continually 

 called upon actively to preserve and apply 

 their knowledge of nature, you are thosa who 

 begin with the best mental preparation, and 

 are acquainted with the most varied regions 

 of natural phenomena. 



In order, finally, to conclude our consulta- 

 tion on the condition of Dame Medicine cor- 

 rectly with the epikrisis, I think wo have 

 every reason to be content with the success 

 of the treatment which the school of natural 

 science has applied, arid we can only recom- 

 mend the younger generation to continue the 

 same therapeutics. 



or. 



ON ACADEMIC FREEDOM IN GERMAN 

 UNIVERSITIES. 



INAUGURAL ADDRESS AS RECTOR C? THE FEED- 

 KEICK WILLIAM UNIVERSITY OF BERLIN. Ul> 

 LIVEIIED OCTOBER 15, 1877. 



IN entering upon tho honorable office to 

 which the confidence of my colleagues has 

 called me, my first duty is once more openly 

 to express my thanks to those who have thus 

 honored me by their confidence. I have tho 

 mo7o reason to appreciate it highly, as it was 

 conferred upon me, notwithstanding that I 

 havo been but few years among you, and 

 notwithstanding that I belong to a branch of 

 natural science which has come within the 

 circle of university instruction in some sense 

 as a foreign element ; which has necessitated 

 many changes in the old order of university 

 teaching, and which will, perhaps, necessi- 

 tate other changes. It is indeed just in that 

 branch (Physics) which I represent, and 

 which forms the theoretical basis of all other 

 branches of natural science, that tho particu- 

 lar characteristics of their methods are most 

 definitely pronounced. I have already been 

 several times in the position of having to 

 propose alterations in the previous regula- 

 tions of the university, and I have always 

 had the pleasure of meeting with the ready 

 assistance of my colleagues in the faculty, 

 and of the Senate. That you have made me 

 the director of the business of this university 

 for this yeai is a proof that you regard me 

 as no thoughtless innovator. For, in fact, 

 however the objects, the methods, the more 

 immediate aims of investigations in the nat- 

 ural sciences may differ externally from 

 those of tho mental sciences, and however 

 foreign their results, and however remote 

 their interest may often appear, to those who 

 are accustomed only to the direct manifesta- 

 tions and products of mental activity, there 

 is in reality, as I have endeavored to show in 

 my discourse as Rector at Heidelberg, tho 

 closest connection in the essentials of scien- 

 tific methods, as well as in the ultimate aims 

 of both classes of the sciences. Even if most 

 of tho objects of investigation of the natural 

 sciences are not directly connected with tho 

 interests of the mind, it cannot, on the othei 

 hand, be forgotten that the power of true 

 scientific method stands out in the natural 

 sciences far more prominently that tho real 

 is far more sharply separated from tho un- 

 real, by the incorruptible criticism of facts, 

 than is the case with the more complex prob- 

 lems of mental science. 



And not merely the development of this 

 new side of scientific activity, which waa 

 almost unknown to antiquity, but also tho 

 influence of many political, social, and even 

 international relationships make themselves 

 felt, and require to be taken into account. 

 The circle of our students has had to be in- 

 creased ; a changed national life makes other 

 demand.) upon those who aro leaving ; the 

 sciences become moro und more specialized 



