PROGRESSIVENESS OF SCIENCE. 63 



the developing human spirit, this is justification 

 enough. Yet a more detailed justification may be de- 

 manded, not only by critics who object to the vast ex- 

 penditure of time and money, labour and life, which 

 the pursuit of knowledge involves, but also by those 

 who at times lose confidence and enthusiasm, and are 

 inclined to cry ^' Vanity ^' with the Preacher. Great 

 conclusions are few and far between, practical dis- 

 coveries bring curses as well as blessings, increase of 

 knowledge often means increase of sorrow ; and there 

 is the endlessness of it, like that of an asymptotic line 

 always approaching nearer a given curve but never 

 reaching it. " Advance brings us no nearer the end 

 of our labour, for the more we know the more we see 

 of what remains to be known. Every problem laid 

 at rest gives birth to two new problems which did not 

 present themselves to the mind before." * 



If we can suppose a science — Biology, for in- 

 stance — arraigned before the bar of Humanity, as it 

 should for its own sake feel itself arraigned, the 

 lines of defence might be briefly summed up as fol- 

 lows : f 



First, Biology is, like the other sciences, like art 

 and poesy, a natural expression of human activity, 

 at once a development and discipline of man. To 

 cease to be scientific is to abdicate manhood. Along 

 certain lines even the so-called savage is scientific. 



Second : and " without prejudice," Biology is jus- 

 tified by practical results. In spite of many mistakes, 

 it has made valuable contributions in relation to hu- 

 man health, the supply of food and other necessaries, 



* Alex. Hill, An Introduction to Science, London, 1900, 

 p. 41. 



t See my lecture. " The Humane Study of Natural His- 

 tory," in Humane Science Lectures, London, 1897. 



