COSMIC PHILOSOPHY 



In each of the five concrete sciences, therefore, 

 there is a sub-science which deals with the genesis 

 or evolution of the phenomena which form the 

 subject-matter of the science ; and it is with 

 these sciences of genesis that we shall chiefly be 

 concerned throughout the second part of this 

 work. It is of little consequence, however, 

 whether the symmetrical nomenclature here 

 used be adopted or not. Excessive symmetry 

 in naming is a mark of pedantry rather than of 

 accuracy ; and questions of terminology become 

 important only when differences of opinion 

 are involved. In reasoning about the Test of 

 Truth, it makes a great difference whether we 

 use the term " incredible " or the term " incon- 

 ceivable." In the present discussion, it makes 

 a great difference whether wc speak of biology 

 as an " abstract " or as a <; concrete " science. 

 But provided we bear in mind the twofold char- 

 acter of the problems which it is the office 

 of biology to solve, it makes little difference 

 whether or not we employ such a term as " bio- 

 geny ; " and such expressions will be used, in 

 the present work, only when it is desirable to 

 avoid tedious circumlocution. 



If now we proceed to inquire whether our 

 revised classification can be made to afford us a 

 bird's-eye view of the historic progression of 

 the respective sciences, we shall find that it can- 

 not be made to do so. The classification has 

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