96 HUXLEY MEMORIAL LECTURES 



and sociology. In the pursuit of physical science 

 men have passed this stage of objection. No one 

 would find it difficult to understand that technical 

 chemical researches may have a bearing on the 

 selection of the food we eat, or that biological 

 studies like those of Darwin may have great value 

 in the field of human action and morals. Why 

 then should we doubt that special and minute 

 studies in history and psychology may be a guide 

 to conduct in the present? In all branches of 

 science one pursues the truth for its own sake; 

 but one reaches a result of practical advantage, 

 a far richer result probably than one could ever 

 have attained by limiting one's investigation to 

 what appeared to be fruitful subjects. 



The sum of the matter is this. Three appeals 

 are possible in justification of lines of action. 

 The first, that to authority, is passing out of 

 favour. The second, that to fixed principles, 

 must always be of value to all who try to think 

 consistently : but in the haste and confusion of 

 modern life it does not convince people as it used. 

 The third, that to fact and experience, falls in 

 very much with the tendencies of the times; and 

 therefore it is the bounden duty of those who 

 have leisure and intelligence to organize it, to 

 endow it, to give it a great place in our Universi- 

 ties. If it be taken up in a rash and hasty mood, 

 it may lead the human race into infinite trouble. 

 But if taken up in the true spirit of science, 

 modest, slow to affirmation, given to testing again 



