An Introduction to a Biology 



M. Bergson has expressed himself, in his Clifford Lectures, 

 on the Problem of Personality, very strongly on the lines 

 indicated above. 



In short, I should regard the use of the cinematograph 

 in the teaching of biology as fraught with the gravest dangers 

 to the mind. 



I am, yours faithfully, 



A. D. DARBISHIRE, 



Lecturer on Genetics and Demonstrator of 

 Zoology in the University of Edinburgh. 



[Notes for a paper read to the Students' Natural History 

 Society at the Royal College of Science, December 19th, 

 1910.] 



The man of science, in announcing his conclusions, says 

 " the facts speak for themselves." But facts do not speak 

 for themselves. They say what we make them say. What, 

 then, is the scientific investigator to do ? Is he merely to 

 record facts and leave them to say what anyone who comes 

 across them chooses to make them say, or is he to make 

 them speak ? In other words, is it the function of science 

 merely to record, or is its function to record and interpret 

 as well ? 



I think an answer to this question can be attained by 

 first answering another question with regard to the function 

 of science. Is the sole function of science the elucidation of 

 truth ? I think it ought to be ; but there is no question that 

 it is not. I mean that many who genuinely believe that 

 they are engaged in laying bare the truth are certainly, 

 in many cases, doing no such thing ; and, even when they 

 do accidentally provide a clearer vision of things as they 

 are, they are engaged in this work not solely because they 

 wish to get at the truth. They do wish to get at the truth, 

 of course ; but that is only a symptom of the force that 

 drives the natural philosopher to construct his philosophies. 



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