INTRODUCTION 



IN a recent volume entitled " Ideals of Science 

 and Faith," the editor had the satisfaction of 

 bringing together a group of thoughtful writers, 

 each representing some well-marked standpoint, 

 and stating it with personal vigour, with fresh 

 and independent yet convergent thought. The 

 reception of these essays has been such as not 

 only amply to justify their preparation, but to 

 bring out very clearly that there is also place 

 and need for kindred discussions of the great and 

 growing place and influence of science throughout 

 all departments of life. It has, of course, long 

 been obvious enough that the progress of our 

 knowledge of the order of nature brings with it 

 corresponding advances in our control and com- 

 mand of her resources and powers, and also that 

 empirical progress and inventions, even in the 

 homeliest and humblest arts, may react profoundly 

 upon our theories of the Universe. But though 

 in general terms these ideas may be but truisms, 

 their particular applications have an ever-renewing 

 force and freshness, and they are thus not only 

 open to periodic restatements, but positively require 

 them. But science does not merely transform 



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