6 DEGENERATION : I 



the stars, or of the joints of a beetle's leg. Science 

 cannot be identified with knowledge of any particular 

 class of objects, however detailed that knowledge may 

 be. It is a common mistake to consider all knowledge 

 of raw products, of living objects or other natural 

 objects, as necessarily "science." The truth is, that 

 a man may have great knowledge of these things as 

 so many facts, and yet be devoid of " science." And, 

 on the other hand, that which is properly called 

 science embraces not only such subject-matter as 

 that just alluded to, but also may find its scope in 

 the study of language, of human history, and of the 

 workings of the human mind. 



The most frequent and objectionable misuse of the 

 word " science " is that which consists in confoundino- 

 science with invention — in applying the term which 

 should be reserved for a particular kind of knowledge 

 to the practical applications of that knowledge. Such 

 things as electric lighting and telegraphs, the steam- 

 engine, gas, and the smoky chimneys of factories, are 

 by a certain school of public teachers, foremost among 

 whom is the late Oxford Professor of Fine Art, per- 

 sistently ascribed to science, and gravely pointed out 

 as the pestilential products of a scientific spirit. They 

 are, in fact, nothing of the kind. American inventors 

 and electric lamps, together with all the factories in 

 Shefiield, might be obliterated without causing a 

 moment's concern to a single student of science. It 

 is of the utmost importance for the progress and well- 

 being of science that this should be understood ; that 

 the eager, practical spirit of the inventor who gains 



