An Introduction to a Biology 



of such of the meaning as has remained in the mind, 

 in order to stigmatise it, as it were, for its lack of 

 taste in remaining subjective. But in spite of this 

 attempt, its subjective meaning still retains a cer- 

 tain dignity and independence of its own. Curiosity 

 signifies an interest in things which convention has 

 pronounced to be outside the sphere of the legitimate 

 interest of mankind, in things which a conspiracy 

 of silence chooses to ignore. A convention of Modern 

 Science, for instance, is to regard the prying into 

 the workings of the human mind as mere meta- 

 physical curiosity, and the products of such researches 

 as mere metaphysical curiosities. Sir Ray Lankester, 

 K.C.B., F.R.S., for example, in his introduction to 

 " Modern Science and the Illusions of Professor 

 Bergson," says : " I am glad to write a few words 

 by way of preface to Mr. Hugh Elliot's valuable 

 little book, entitled 6 Modern Science and the Illu- 

 sions of Professor Bergson.' I am glad to do this, 

 not merely because I think that the books in which 

 M. Bergson formulates these illusions are worthless 

 and unprofitable matter, causing waste of time and 

 confusion of thought to many of those who are 

 induced to read them, but also because an unmerited 

 importance has been attached to them by a section 

 of the English public, misled by the ingenious and 

 systematic advertisement of M. Bergson by those 

 who amuse themselves with metaphysical curiosities." 

 I Curiosity is a defiance of the conspiracy of 

 silence, a defiance urgently needed when the topic 

 which has been pronounced taboo is the operation 

 of the human mind. The answer to the question 

 " Why is this topic taboo'd by Modern Science ? " 



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