318 Darwinism and Other Essays. 



versal philosophic culture is essential to the right 

 understanding of any one science. 



But a general elementary training we deem 

 serviceable only in so far as it is ancillary to the 

 intelligent study of special subjects; and in pro- 

 viding for the former, our scheme of education is 

 only half completed. Provision must also be 

 made for the latter. Along with the pass-course 

 at Oxford, there is another system of study, mak- 

 ing quite different demands upon the energies 

 of the student, and called the class-course. Our 

 system of minimums likewise needs to be supple- 

 mented by a course entailing far greater labour, 

 and crowned with still higher results. In re- 

 ducing, as here recommended, the amount of work 

 in the required studies, in uniformly postponing 

 doctrine to method, in contemplating scientific 

 truths only in their general bearings, and in ex- 

 tending its instruction over so wide a field, the 

 university will have secured but one of its great 

 educational ends. It will have supplied the in- 

 struments for investigation ; it must now supply 

 the material. In order to discharge its second 

 great duty of providing each student with the 

 means of thoroughly conducting special duties, 

 the university should introduce an extensive and 

 well-regulated system of electives. For this we 



