88 The Higher Usefulness of Science 



Jesus, can be grasped only when they are perceived 

 to be in strictness part and parcel of what we call the 

 natural order, or the system of nature, the "frame and 

 substance of the universe." 



The loftiness and inspiration of such a conception 

 of man's nature and chance of progress is enhanced by 

 noticing in bird's-eye view the course over which world- 

 civilization has run, and where it now stands. 



All the great religious and some of the greatest 

 ethical philosophies of the world have come, as has 

 apparently man himself, out of Asia. No world- 

 moving religious idea has sprung from Europe or any 

 of the other continents. Europe, on the other hand, 

 has greatly modified and elaborated one of Asia's 

 religious systems, Christianity, and has originated two 

 or three ethical systems of first importance. But the 

 supreme contribution of Europe to civilization has 

 been Science Science as a vast body of positive knowl- 

 edge, as a distinct way of thinking, and as a character- 

 istic outlook upon the world and human life. So far 

 the gifts of Europe to civilization are glorious beyond 

 comparison, for Asia and the other continents have 

 contributed only subordinately to science in the stricter 

 sense. 



But the story of Europe's achievements has a very 

 dark side. With all the expanding and refining and 

 uplifting forces it has brought to bear on man, it has 

 not been able to stay or even greatly to control his 

 fighting and marauding and despoiling instincts. The 



