5o8 



NATURE 



[February 15, 1912 



processes which we associate with the names of 

 Husserl, Mcinong, Bertrand Russell, and others. 

 Although he makes good use of modern views about 

 mathematics which have a certain connection with 

 the latter researches, yet Prof. Ostwald, from lack of 

 sympathy or for some other reason, appears to have 

 assimilated very little from these typically modern 

 doctrines about the fundamentals of his subject. 



(2) In his familiarity with the present situation in 

 logical criticism and philosophy, Graf Keyserling has 

 a manifest advantage over his scientific compatriot. 

 For this reason the six discourses which form his 

 latest work offer most instructive as well as attractive 

 reading even to those who cannot accept all his con- 

 tentions. He sees with perfect clearness that the 

 central question of natural philosophy is the question 

 how conceptual thought is related to perceptual ex- 

 perience — in other words, how it is that we are able 

 to theorise successfully. To understand the problem 

 aright we must recognise that theories deal in the 

 first place with entities — " universals," relations, num- 

 bers, &c. — which are distinct from the entities revealed 

 to us in physical phenomena, and yet are really quite 

 as external to our minds, quite as "objective" as the 

 latter. Conversely, the phenomena commonly called 

 external are known just as immediately and as 

 truly as the objects of thought. It follows that the 

 a priori laws which regulate our "inner" experience 

 are entitled to be called " laws of nature " equally 

 with the sequences determined a posteriori among 

 "outer" experiences. A mind capable of taking in 

 the universe at a glance would, in fact, see, not two 

 worlds, but one world of reality, the elements of 

 which are knit together by a univocal necessity. 



This conception of the universe admitted, it is possible 

 to understand that perpetual miracle — the power of 

 " prospective and retrospective prophecy " wielded by 

 the man of science. Consider one of the most notable 

 instances : the power to predict and reconstruct 

 phenomena by means of Newton's laws of motion. 

 Since mathematical thought and the spatio-temporal 

 series of external events run their courses under a 

 single system of laws, it is always possible that in a 

 given instance the mathematical realities and the 

 empirical will, to use Graf Keyserling 's word (p. 44), 

 "coincide." Suppose this relation to hold good 

 between Newton's laws and a group of mechanical 

 events. Then whatever consequences follow by 

 "logical" necessity from Newton's laws must be 

 exhibited empirically; nature is bound, so to speak, 

 to actualise this particular series of possibilities (p. 44). 

 This account of the matter explains why induction 

 does not (as the empiricists contend) involve essentially 

 the contemplation of numerous instances. The 

 essence of the process is (as Prof. Bosanquet and other 

 writers have urged) the analysis of a given pheno- 

 menon with the view of discovering the "mathematical 

 realities" which "coincide" with the empirical ob- 

 servations. If the details of the coincidence can be 

 brought to light by the examination even of a single 

 instance predictions based upon such an examination 

 may have the highest certainty. 



It is not possible to follow here the important con- 

 sequences of Graf Keyserling's views. It must suffice 

 NO. 2207, VOL. 88] 



to say that he develops them with great ability and 

 in a very interesting way. He finds occasion to of 

 illuminating criticism of the pragmatists and ot writ< 

 whose works are now the centre of much attention 

 for example, Hans Driesch and Henri Bergson. h 

 is not extravagant to say that by his understanding uf 

 the problems and methods, both of philosophy and 

 of science, his lucidity and his literary charm, he pro- 

 duces in no mean degree the same impression as the 

 great Frenchman. The book is one which should find 

 a welcome in an English translation. 



i. P. Ni-.s. 



TWO INTRODUCTIONS TO THE STUDY OF 

 EVOLUTION. 



(i) The Doctrine of Evolution: Us Basis and its Sco; 

 By Prof. H. E. Crampton. Pp. ix + 3H. (N« , 

 York: The Columbia University Press, 1911) 

 Price 65. 6d. net. 

 (2) Einfiihrung in die Deszendenztheorie. Fiinfund- 

 dreissig Vortrage. By Prof. Karl C. Schneid 

 Zweite Auflage. Pp. xii+386 + 3 Taf. (Jer 

 Gustav Fischer, 1911.) Price 9.50 marks. 

 (1) pROF. CRAMPTON has written a careful and 

 ^ interesting introduction to the study of evolu- 

 tion in the wide sense. It consists of eight lectui 

 given in New York to "mature persons of cultiva: 

 minds, but who were on the whole quite unfamiliar wiiii 

 the technical facts of natural history," and for such an 

 audience, which is certainly widespread, the book i 

 be strongly recommended. But even those who kn^ 

 a good deal of natural history may read Prof. Cramjj- 

 ton's lectures with great profit, for although they ha- 

 not perhaps the keenness which marked the auth( 

 important contribution to the theory of natural sel 

 tion (his study of Philosamia cytithia), they are ch 

 acterised by scientific restraint, by careful workman- 

 ship, and by a wide outlook. The outstanding feature 

 of the book is that half of it is devoted to the hig! 

 reaches of the evolution-process — to the ascent of m 

 and the establishment of human societies. 



After an introductory discourse on the living organ- 

 ism, Prof. Crampton sets forth the evidences of 

 evolution from comparative anatomy, embryology, and 

 palaeontology. The fourth lecture is on " Evolution 

 as a Natural Process," and here the author avoi' 

 controversy, contenting himself with a balanced sta 

 ment of the various interpretations that have Ix 

 offered. He then passes to the evolution of the huma 

 species and the human races, to mental evolution, and 

 to social evolution. These three chapters are full of 

 fresh illustrations of great interest. The book ends 

 up with a courageous chapter on those " evolved pro- 

 ducts " which we call (i) ethics, (2) religion and 

 theology, and (3) science and philosophy, the author" 

 particular point being that here also evolution pro\ 

 to be real. Not only are the higher elements in humaii 

 life subject to analysis, classification, and formulation, 

 but there are natural reasons in human evolution why 

 there should be a developing ethics, religion, theoIog\ 

 science, and philosophy. The author ends up fin^ 

 with a statement of the practical value of evolutioniM 

 conceptions : — 



