124 MEDIEVAL HISTORY 



the historic point of view, sciences the objects of which belong to 

 the passing moment. However, if one does this, nothing remains but 

 to admit that there are biological agencies even in inorganic nature; 

 with this we are driven out of the sphere of science into the atmo- 

 sphere of hypothetic philosophy, into metaphysical mode of thought. 

 It is not necessary to transcend the bounds of our subject, to pass 

 over the border-line that divides philosophy and science. But one 

 thing has been determined by these reflections, that the modern 

 science of history has opened up for itself a vastly greater field of 

 endeavor and conflict, and that it will require thousands of diligent 

 workers and creative minds to open up its rich and in many respects 

 unknown regions, and to cultivate them successfully. 



