28 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



to recognize the applications of science in whole or in part. 2. 

 The tendency to certainty — dogmatism, infallibility. This reaches 

 its culmination in the balancing of a scientific chip on the 

 shoulder. 3. The tendency to mistake acquisition for the power to do 

 something. This is profoundly characteristic of science teaching 

 in our educational system. 4. The tendency to immature research 

 — dilettantism. To which I would add: 5. The tendency to 

 Phariseeism; the scorning of all not scientists; a holier-tha,n- 

 thou attitude that puts the possessor out of touch with human 

 struggle; the despisicg of all efforts that are not of a certain 

 superfine order; lack of charity for fellov/ scientists; criticism of 

 every man's honest endeavor. 6. The tendency to minimize 

 theoretical considerations; the cry for the practical. 



It is obvious that these tendencies cannot fail to create a 

 feeling in popular thought of distrust, contempt, and disregard 

 of science aud scientific methods. The effect on the scientist 

 is stultifying, narrowing, dogmatizing. The worst result will be 

 that progress in solving humanity's problems will be retarded. 

 Every tendency to restrict the application of scientific methods 

 is detrimental to progress. 



I believe that science and the methods of science must take 

 in the future a greater share in shaping the destiny of the race 

 than they have in the past, not so conspicuous perhaps, but 

 none the less real. I believe most profoundly in an earthly 

 order founded on a scientific basis. I see no other hope for 

 society. I am not visionary. Hence I can make no forecast of 

 a rainbow- tinted land of promise, wherein the plutocratic lion 

 deals with the democratic lamb on a strictly scientific basis. 

 Scientific method is not a universal panacea. But the problems 

 that perplex humanity will be settled justly only as they are 

 approached from a rational standpoint, 



I am not pessimistic as to the future of science. But the 

 best results will not be achieved unless some of our methods 

 are radically changed. Materialism and philosophic nihilism 

 are no bugbears to me. Though science and scientific methods 

 cannot make a perfect humanity, any attempt to solve the 

 problem by ignoring science is basest folly. I believe the day 

 will come when empiricism and its twin brother dogmatism will 

 yield the field to the scientific spirit. Speed the day ! 



