Ill SCIENCE AND PSEUDO-SCIENCE 103 



undertakes to discuss the philosophy of science 

 should be familiar. 



Thirty years have elapsed since the beginner of 

 1856 persuaded himself that he enlightened the 

 foremost geologist of his time, and one of the most 

 acute and far-seeing men of science of any time, 

 as to the scope of the doctrines which the veteran 

 philosopher had grown gray in promulgating ; 

 and the Duke of Argyll's acquaintance with the 

 literature of geology has not, even now, become 

 sufficiently profound to dissipate that pleasant 

 delusion. 



If the Duke of Argyll's guidance in that branch 

 of physical science, with which alone he has 

 given evidence of any practical acquaintance, is 

 thus unsafe, I may breathe more freely in setting 

 my opinion against the authoritative deliverances 

 of his Grace about matters which lie outside the 

 province of geology. 



And here the Duke's paper offers me such a 

 wealth of opportunities that choice becomes em- 

 barrassing. I must bear in mind the good old 

 adage, " Non multa sed multum." Tempting as 

 it would be to follow the Duke through his 

 labyrinthine misunderstandings of the ordinary 

 terminology of philosophy, and to comment on 

 the curious unintelligibility which hangs about 

 his frequent outpourings of fervid language, limits 

 of space oblige me to restrict myself to those 

 points, the discussion of which may help to en- 



