CLASSIFICATION OF SCIENCES 109 



progress on the earth, or by actual records pre 

 served in her crust. The earth is thus at once 

 the grandest of laboratories and the grandest of 

 museums available to man." 



Another idea which seems useful is that of 

 sub-sciences, as distinguished from special sci- 

 ences. Let us explain with reference to Biology. 

 (i.) A general or fundamental science is distin- 

 guished partly by its subject-matter, e. g. living 

 organisms; and partly by its point of view, which, 

 in the case of Biology, for instance, is not the 

 physico-chemical point of view. A general 

 science has a well-defined subject-matter to which 

 it applies characteristic methods and concepts. 

 Furthermore, it is concerned with general ques- 

 tions and not with particular descriptions. Biol- 

 ogy is concerned with what is common to all 

 living creatures, and with averages, not individuals. 



(ii.) But under the rubric of Biology we have 

 the special, particulate, or derivative sciences of 

 Botany and Zoology, which divide the world of 

 organisms between them and are both concerned 

 with particular description as well as with general 

 formulation. It might also be convenient to 

 have a special science of Protistology for the 

 minute and simple organisms which seem to 

 hesitate between plant and animal life. And 

 other special sciences may be recognized if de- 

 sired. It is all a matter of convenience. 



