THE STRUGGLE FOR MORE LIGHT 



in the i8th and iQth, the exclusive methods and 

 assumptions of aristocratic science were fatal, not 

 alone for the masses, but also for the scientists 

 themselves. So long as science does not pulsate 

 in the throbbing life outside of the study of the 

 scientist, theological or metaphysical speculations 

 permeate the entire fabric of society. In the I7th 

 century, the class-struggles between the two great 

 religions kept the popular mind in a state of con- 

 tinuous excitement so that even kings had to be 

 careful not to exasperate the people in theological 

 matters. Neither Bacon nor the other material- 

 ists of the i /th century could get away from this 

 religious atmosphere, and their materialism is, 

 therefore, strongly tainted with theological and 

 metaphysical inconsistencies. As a logical result, 

 materialism did not get very far along on its evo- 

 lutionary road, and metaphysics retained its sway 

 in science as well as in philosophy. Neverthe- 

 less, it is the merit of Bacon to have imparted 

 fresh vigor to the inductive and empirical study 

 of nature. 



***** 



53 



