22 THE CONTROL OF LIFE 



Perhaps, however, there is more to be feared from the 

 second risk involved in the thesis that Science is for 

 Life — the risk of suggesting to the careless and unlearned 

 a falsely partial criterion. Speaking of the educational 

 value of Science, Professor Bateson has recently written 

 (Cambridge Essays in Education) : " There is something 

 horrible and terrifying in the doctrine so often preached 

 . . . that Science is to be preferred because of its 

 utiHty." Perhaps there is a bit of a bogey here too, for 

 "science" and "utility" are both great words, no 

 narrow meaning of which can be tolerated ; and it 

 is never for very long that man can forget that he does 

 not live by bread alone. But the risk is undeniable, 

 and the remedy is a continual re-appreciation of values. 

 It was in recognition of the risk we are discussing that 

 Bacon drew a distinction between those results of 

 Science which are light-giving (lucifera) and those which 

 are of direct practical utility (fructifera), and said so 

 nobly : " Just as the vision of light itself is something 

 more excellent and beautiful than its manifold use, so 

 without doubt the contemplation of things as they are, 

 without superstition or imposture, without error or 

 confusion, is in itself a nobler thing than a whole harvest 

 of inventions." 



§ 4. The Higher Services of Science to Human 

 Well-being 

 We have given many illustrations of what Science 

 can do for Life, but the thesis is wider than we have yet 

 indicated. 



