The Evolution of the Sciences 



finality should pervade natural science to such an 

 extent that Professor Metchnikoff seemed very 

 daring in breaking a lance with it in his Essai 

 de Philosophic Optimiste. 



We have reviewed the many and important 

 improvements which would follow the realisation 

 of a symbiosis of the sciences which to-day tend 

 more and more to separate, but it is not easy 

 to oppose a tendency established for centuries. 

 Let us now see what endeavours are possible, 

 remembering that the problem is a pedagogical 

 one and not a question of authoritative modifi- 

 cations of methods, revisions of principles or re- 

 casting of hypotheses. No one can enact by 

 authority the unity of science. But we ought 

 to make it impossible for science to be made 

 or taught by narrow minds, products of special- 

 isation pushed to extremes. While the sciences 

 are tending to unite scientists must not draw 

 apart in mutual misunderstanding. But the 

 true remedy for this situation, so harmful to 

 the sciences, consists in the systematic adoption 

 of collaboration. 



The exasperating inf requency of this collabora- 

 tion between scientists cultivating different 



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