ANTHROPOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 121 



Working naturalists postulate evolution. Zoologic re- 

 search is largely directed to the discovery of the genetic 

 relations of animals. The evolution of the animal kingdom 

 is along multifarious lines and by diverse specializations. 

 The particular line which connects man with the lowesl 

 forms through long successions of intermediate forms is a 

 problem of great interest. This special* investigation has to 

 deal chiefly with relations of structure. From the many 

 facts already recorded, it is probable that many detached 

 portions of this line can be drawn, and such a construction, 

 though in fact it may not be correct in all its parts, yet 

 serves a valuable purpose in organizing and directing re- 

 search. 



The truth or error of such hypothetic genealogy in no 

 way affects the validity of the doctrines of evolution in the 

 minds of scientific men, but, on the other hand, the value 

 of the tentative theory is brought to final judgment under 

 the laws of evolution. 



It would be vain to claim that the course of zoologic de- 

 velopment is fully understood or even that all of its most 

 important factors are known.- So the discovery of facts and 

 relations guided by the doctrines of evolution react upon 

 these doctrines, verifying, modifying, and enlarging them. 

 Thus it is that while the doctrines lead the way to new fields 

 of discovery, the new discoveries lead again to new doc- 

 trines — increased knowledge widens philosophy, wider phi- 

 losophy increases knowledge. 



It is the test of true philosophy that it leads to the dis- 

 covery of facts, and facts themselves can only be known as 

 such; that is, can only be properly discerned and discrimi- 

 nated by being relegated to their places in philosophy. The 

 whole progress of science depends primarily upon this rela- 

 tion between knowledge and philosophy. 



In the earlier history of mankind philosophy was the pro- 

 duct of subjective reasoning, giving mythologies and meta- 

 physics. When it was discovered that the whole structure 

 of philosophy was without foundation, a new order of pro- 



