AN APOLOGY FOR THE CHURCH's PERSECUTION OF SCIENCE 1 69 



results are of two kinds. Science has two distinct aims. The primary 

 and professed aim of science is to understand the world in which we 

 live. Science endeavors to describe and explain all that happens or 

 has happened. In other words, she tries to conceive things as they 

 really are, or were. But the scientist's interest in the world is not 

 purely theoretical. Human researches are not always prompted by 

 mere curiosity. Men seek knowledge often for reasons which are 

 practical. They investigate nature that they may be able to comply 

 with her laws and thus secure her co-operation in their enterprises. 

 Natura enint non nisi parendo vincitur. 



This second aim of science has proved in part attainable. It has 

 enabled her to frame rules or working hypotheses which serve as 

 unerring guides to the accomplishment of human ends. On the other 

 hand, that which we have termed primary and professed aim of science 

 can never be fully accompUshed. Final conceptions— conceptions, 

 that is, which correspond in all points with the realities they repre- 

 sent — are probably forever beyond our reach. 



Consider the conditions which a final conception must fulfil: (i) It 

 must cover all there is to know about the reaUty to which it corre- 

 sponds. (2) It must be in harmony with the true and final con- 

 ception of everything else and with the true conception of the 

 universe. (3) It must give the true explanation of all the character- 

 istics of its object by exhibiting them in their true relations. It is 

 obvious that these conditions imply omniscience. Only God himself 

 can have an adequate conception of the simplest thing. Man is 

 doomed to be ever learning but never able to arrive at full knowl- 

 edge of any truth. 



When, however, man turns from the vain effort to comprehend 

 fully the world to his real business of living in it, all is changed. He 

 finds soHd ground beneath his feet. He finds himself in touch with 

 realities, stable and trustworthy. These realities we are ever more 

 accurately comprehending. The full comprehension of them is a goal 

 infinitely remote; but already we can recognize them, and many of 

 their relations and their effects. For practical purposes our knowl- 

 edge of certain facts is adequate and cannot be increased. Already 



