On the Scientific Study of I lit man Xature. 485 



psychological laws which can alone explain the nature of 

 the subject of their research. 



After what has been said, it will not be supposed that 

 I entertain any very extravagant expectations of the im- 

 mediate results to be obtained from improved methods of 

 dealing with human nature. On the contrary, one of the 

 most impressive lessons of science is that permanent 

 growths are slow, and that there are limits which cannot 

 be overpassed. Dealing largely with causes which only 

 work out their results in the fulness of time, it teaches 

 patience, hope, and labour ; and not the least of its salu- 

 tary influences will be, through wholesome discipline of the 

 imagination, and a rational control of the sympathies, to 

 check the waste of power upon impossible projects, and re- 

 strain those enthusiasms which are born of the feelings 

 rather than of the judgment. Nor do I believe that the 

 perfectibility of the human race is at hand through the 

 teaching of a little more physiology in schools, or that 

 science is to apply a calculus to human actions, and thus 

 supersede the common sense and practical judgments of 

 mankind. That there is a vast body of valid knowledge 

 concerning the nature of man which is reduced to applica- 

 tion, and serves for the management of conduct, is shown 

 in all the multifarious aspects of social activity : I simply 

 hold that this knowledge, valuable as it is, is yet imperfect 

 — in many respects deplorably imperfect — and must grow 

 tp a higher state and a more scientific character : and that 

 the organized culture of the present age is bound to help 

 and not to hinder this tendency. The time, I i-hink, has 

 come for demanding that the curriculum of modern liberal 

 education be so reconstructed that its courses of study 

 shall have a more direct and positive bearing upon that 

 most desirable end — a clearer understanding of the Laws 

 of Human Nature. 



