FOR THE TEACHER AND THE STUDENT 239 



edge," according to the universal definition ; 

 and an understanding of the methods by 

 which knowledge is classified must naturally 

 open to the student's mind the very begin- 

 nings and processes of science. 



Speaking broadly, science deals with two 

 kinds of materials with objects and with 

 phenomena. Through the study of phenom- 

 ena, science discovers laws or principles. 

 Each so-called natural law is merely a classifi- 

 cation of phenomena. When Newton an- 

 nounced the law of gravitation he classified 

 the phenomena of falling bodies of the at- 

 traction of masses. Through the study of 

 objects, science discovers relationships or, at 

 least, similarities and dissimilarities ; and on 

 the basis of these likenesses and unlikenesses 

 objects are classified. 



The classification of objects is obviously a 

 simpler form of science than the classification 

 of phenomena. The methods of science are, 

 therefore, more easy to follow. That is why 

 they have greater " pedagogic value." 



The classification of objects naturally 

 precedes the classification of phenomena in 

 any science; in fact, the objects with which 

 the scientist has to deal must be under- 



