November 14, 1919] 



SCIENCE 



449 



nears the vanishing point. It requires pecu- 

 liar devotion to a cause to face such obscurity 

 and indifference hence those who chose to be 

 naturalists imder such conditions are often 

 seclusive, reticent and even indiilerent to in- 

 terests of others. 



In recent years there has been a good deal 

 of discussion of the need of considering the 

 wholeness of organisms, of organizations of 

 various social groups, etc. Every one seems 

 ready to concede that we do not know a thing 

 until we know all its relationships and that we 

 do not know an organism or an organization 

 until we know all its component parts. Every 

 one seems willing to concede in the abstract 

 that an organism is not complete if even the 

 smallest part be missing or the obscurest 

 function impaired. Practically when it comes 

 to cases this view is not fully sustained as is 

 well illustrated in case of the naturalist whose 

 talents are insufficiently used and whose 

 valuable point of view is largely ignored. 

 The community as a whole suffers material 

 loss from his submersion. 



At this point it may be well to raise the 

 question as to the proper status of the nat- 

 uralist in our own social order. Should he be 

 expected to take the highest place in leader- 

 ship? Or a secondary place? Or should he 

 be denied any leadership at all? Intelligent 

 answer to such questions requires some exami- 

 nation of the naturalist's worth to his com- 

 mimity or to society at large. Typically a 

 statement of this worth may be brought under 

 the following heads. (1) He may make dis- 

 coveries which will extend the sources for 

 food, clothing, transportation and manufac- 

 ture. (2) He may make discoveries which 

 enable better preservation and greater con- 

 servation of resources in health and wealth. 

 (3) He may make discoveries which will en- 

 able better understanding of the fundamental 

 laws governing the activities of all living 

 things. (4) With his broad outlook he may 

 so organize all available knowledge as to ob- 

 tain better development of natural resources 

 and better distribution and use of natural 

 products. (5) He may so systematize useful 

 information as to make essential features 

 readily available for specialists with limited 



time and restricted outlook. (6) He may so 

 condense, simplify and popularize available 

 information as to make it not only usable but 

 to some extent tasteful to those miskilled 

 in scientific thought. Thus the sympathy of 

 his fellows may be extended and their positive 

 support secured. (7) He may be on the look- 

 out for young people with ability who need 

 encouragement to proceed along lines of study 

 in natural history and he may so encourage 

 them. (8) Last, but not least, he may him- 

 self give time consistently and regularly to 

 consideration of the problems of his com- 

 munity and of society at large and he may 

 then exert his voice and influence for the 

 things which from his broad viewpoint ap- 

 pear right. Thus he may to some extent act 

 as a balancing power even though he may not 

 have or care to exercise powers of aggressive 

 leadership. 



From the foregoing it must appear that the 

 naturalist should be accorded and that he 

 should be willing to assume a place of very 

 considerable importance in our social order. 

 The character of this place will vary materially 

 with conditions. In a small community exist- 

 ing under very simple conditions a naturalist 

 of even modern abilities might be expected in 

 most cases to be dominant in leadership. In 

 a larger, more complex commimity only one 

 of exceptional ability might reach great 

 prominence. In such a community the nat- 

 uralist of moderate ability would probably be 

 limited to exerting influence in various ways. 

 His efforts might bring larger results and his 

 life accomplish more than in the smaller com- 

 munity though obscured by his relatively less 

 importance. Here and there are a few nat- 

 uralists of sufficient general ability to assume 

 leadership in national affairs. It is a matter 

 of great importance that they should be en- 

 couraged to do so. 



This paper must further concern itself 

 mainly with the naturalist of moderate ability, 

 limited opportunities and restricted field, that 

 is to say the ordinaiy sort. It seems to me 

 that he ought to be encouraged to think of 

 himself as having an obligation to the com- 

 munity, an obligation beyond the direct re- 

 sults of his scientific work, the obligation of 



