Science in Public Affairs 



not given enough of it, but have stinted it and 

 grudged it to those whose school days must be 

 short. There are signs of a change of public 

 opinion on the subject, but the old tradition 

 of narrowness and of premature specialisation 

 whether for scholarships or for practical industry 

 will die hard. 



Fourthly, over and above a well-equipped school 

 system, there is need, if scientific knowledge is to 

 permeate national life, for the more systematic 

 encouragement of research. This encouragement 

 has been much less systematically given in Eng- 

 land than in Germany or France. It is not enough 

 to set a man to find out something which can 

 be turned to immediate profit. Disinterested and 

 systematic research for the extension of know- 

 ledge is the indispensable thing. Profitable ap- 

 plications will result, no doubt, but the history of 

 science shows that they mostly come as bye- 

 products from some long process of investigation 

 which was carried through from the love of know- 

 ledge and without the direct intention of finding 

 new sources of profit. " Keep your eye upon the 

 originator of knowledge," said Tyndall ; " give 

 him the freedom necessary for his researches, 

 not overloading him with the duties of tuition or 

 administration, not demanding from him so-called 

 practical results : above all, avoiding that question 

 which ignorance so often addresses to genius 

 ' What is the use of your work ? ' Let him make 

 truth his object, however unpractical for the time 

 being that truth may appear. If you cast your 



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