FOR THE TEACHER AND THE STUDENT 239 



edge," according to the universal definition ; 

 and an understanding of the methods by 

 which knowledge is classified must naturally 

 open to the student's mind the very begin- 

 nings and processes of science. 



Speaking broadly, science deals with two 

 kinds of materials with objects and with 

 phenomena. Through the study of phenom- 

 ena, science discovers laws or principles. 

 Each so-called natural law is merely a classifi- 

 cation of phenomena. When Newton an- 

 nounced the law of gravitation he classified 

 the phenomena of falling bodies of the at- 

 traction of masses. Through the study of 

 objects, science discovers relationships or, at 

 least, similarities and dissimilarities ; and on 

 the basis of these likenesses and unlikenesses 

 objects are classified. 



The classification of objects is obviously a 

 simpler form of science than the classification 

 of phenomena. The methods of science are, 

 therefore, more easy to follow. That is why 

 they have greater "pedagogic value." 



The classification of objects naturally 

 precedes the classification of phenomena in 

 any science; in fact, the objects with which 

 the scientist has to deal must be under- 



