PURPOSE AND PLAN OF THE CONGRESS 



THE idea of the Congress grows out of the thought that the sub- 

 division and multiplication of specialties in science has reached a stage 

 at which investigators and scholars may derive both inspiration and 

 profit from a general survey of the various fields of learning, planned 

 with a view of bringing the scattered sciences into closer mutual 

 relations. The central purpose is the unification of knowledge, an 

 effort toward which seems appropriate on an occasion when the 

 nations bring together an exhibit of their arts and industries. An 

 assemblage is therefore to be convened at which leading represent- 

 atives of theoretical and applied sciences shall set forth those general 

 principles and fundamental conceptions which connect groups of 

 sciences, review the historical development of special sciences, show 

 their mutual relations and discuss their present problems. 



The speakers to treat the various themes are selected in advance 

 from the European and American continents. The discussions will 

 be arranged on the following general plan: 



After the opening of the Congress on Monday afternoon, Septem- 

 ber 19, will follow, on Tuesday forenoon, addresses on main divisions 

 of science and its applications, the general theme being the unification 

 of each of the fields treated. These will be followed by two addresses 

 on each of the twenty-four great departments of knowledge. The 

 theme of one address in each case will be the Fundamental Concep- 

 tions and Methods, while the other will set forth the progress during 

 the last century. The preceding addresse^ will be delivered by Ameri- 

 cans, making the work of the first two days the contribution of 

 American scholars. 



On the third day, with the opening of the sections, the international 

 work will begin. One hundred twenty-eight sectional meetings will 

 be held on the four remaining days of the Congress, at each of 

 which two papers will be read, the theme of one being suggested by 

 the relations of the special branch treated to other branches; the 

 other by its present problems. Three hours will be devoted to each 

 sectional meeting, thus enabling each hearer to attend eight such 

 meetings, if he so desires. The programme is so arranged that related 

 subjects will be treated, as far as possible, at different times. The 

 length of the principal addresses being limited to forty-five minutes 

 each, there will remain at least one hour for five or six brief communi- 

 cations in each section. The addresses in each department will be 

 collected and published in a special volume. 



