64 PROGRESS OF SCIENCE IN THE CENTURY. 



the use of animals, and so forth. We say " without 

 prejudice," since we cannot, for a moment, allow 

 that a science, as a science, should ever submit to 

 the practical man^s canon which makes immediate 

 utility a stringent criterion of worthiness. 



Third, while the partial pursuit of certain paths 

 may sometimes have dulled or even played false to 

 healthy emotion, the general result of Biology is to 

 deepen our wonder in the world, our love of beauty, 

 our joy in living. The modern botanist is, or at 

 least ought to be, more aware of the Dryad in the 

 tree than the Greek poet could be. 



Fourth, Biology has partially worked out certain 

 general conceptions of life and health, of growth and 

 development, of order and progress, — centred in the 

 idea of evolution, — which are not only attempts to 

 see more clearly what is true, but which make for 

 finer feeling and for the betterment of life. No 

 doubt there have been impetuous attempts to apply 

 immature biological results to the problems of hu- 

 man conduct; no doubt the sociologist has some- 

 times tried unwisely to force the biologist^s hand; 

 but one may still maintain with confidence that 

 biology has justified itself in contributing to the 

 ascent of man. 



In the introduction to his Grammar of Science* 

 Prof. Karl Pearson has admirably expounded the 

 claims of science in general, and his summary may 

 be quoted : ^^ The claims of science to our support 

 depend on : (a) The efficient mental training it 

 provides for the citizen; (h) the light it brings to 

 bear on many important social problems; (c) the 



* The author's statement was written some years before 

 reading the work cited. 



