BIOLOGY AMONG THE SCIENCES 1123 



expressed together, and in perpetual reminder; even with fertile 

 stimulus. We thus become organically, as well as abstractedly, 

 familiar with our three main squares, here diagonally arranged; and 

 yet more easily when conveniently labelled: here with a balance, 

 for the physical sciences, of matter and energy; with a scarabaeus 

 for biology; and with a book for the tradition of the social sciences. 

 These squares now need but their sides produced to furnish a com- 

 plete larger square; yet thus of three more sub-divisions on either 

 hand, so nine in all. Each of these three main fields of science has 

 now two vacant squares in line with each of its diameters ; and thus 

 four in all for each. What meaning can we now attach to these new 

 squares? Begin with the two lower ones adjacent to physics. The 

 first of these brings the physicist into full contact with the square 

 of biology. So now he can apply his balance, and other resources to 

 a fertile study of organic life. 



Thus suppose ourselves now standing in the square of Biology. 

 The physical investigator — in the square immediately below that 

 of biology — now explains our bodies mechanically, as a vast com- 

 bination of wonderfully constructed and well- working machines; 

 and these in terms of their energy consumed, and consequent need 

 of replacement by appropriately chosen qualities and quantities of 

 food. As chemical physiologist, beginning with our need of air and 

 effect on it, he advances to subtlest chemistry of respiration and 

 more, and rapidly recapitulates for us his whole vast knowledge of 

 our organic life, in its physico-physiological aspect. He is thus out- 

 lining for us that education of the surgical and medical student 

 which prepares him for repairing a fracture, for treating indigestion, 

 and what not ; yet with all this careful and fruitful survey from the 

 side of the physical sciences, we feel he has not yet fully penetrated 

 the organic unity of life, nor explained its self -regarding and species- 

 maintaining activities, which remain to the biologist essentially, in 

 their characteristic developments. 



The physicist, proceeding now to his next square, that looking 

 upwards to that of social science, sees how house and village and 

 city are alike materially conditioned, as by fuel-supplies onwards; 

 yet again, he has not really considered the higher characteristics of 

 social life. The biologist takes his step nearer to this: he notes and 

 observes the particular social conditions for which his studies have 

 prepared him, as notably the population question, and the ways in 

 which human groupings are aU influenced by activities of self- 

 maintaining and family-continuing, in short, by hunger and love. 

 Each science in ascending order thus makes its contribution to the 

 succeeding one. Our blank squares are thus becoming usefully 

 occupied; and each by what we may follow the founder of sociology 

 in calling a "legitimate materialism", which only become excessive, 

 and so far "illegitimate", when these claim to replace the main 



