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SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XLIV. No. 1130 



which it is occupied. But it would do some- 

 thing also toward the humanization of science. 

 JEts work is not only to make science, but to 

 make science human. Concerning its science- 

 producing function you will learn something 

 to-day from the other members of the staff. 

 So the time at my disposal may be devoted to 

 saying a little about what we mean by human- 

 izing science. 



First, I remark on the eagerness with which 

 we avail ourselves of this opportunity to help 

 you, teachers of science in the secondary 

 schools, to become acquainted with the insti- 

 tution. We know well enough that if ever 

 our theories about the humanization of sci- 

 ence are to be realized, the teachers of boys 

 and girls must be a large, probably the largest, 

 factor in doing it. 



Despite the stupendous development of 

 physical science in our day, there is wide- 

 reaching, deep-seated misconception as to what 

 science is; and this misconception is not con- 

 fined to the laity. It pervades the fold of sci- 

 ence itself. This assertion may surprise you; 

 but I believe a little reflection will convince 

 you of its truth. Being teachers, you do not 

 need to be told that the curricula of practically 

 all schools make the sharpest distinction, ex- 

 pressly or tacitly, between humanistic subjects 

 and scientific subjects; between cultural and 

 practical studies, science being the backbone 

 of most of the practical courses. Have you 

 ever known or heard of a school that consid- 

 ered its science courses to be cultural in a 

 genuine sense? When "culture courses" are 

 spoken of, are the scientific ones ever referred 

 to ? If so, it is only in the few instances where 

 some science teacher of exceptional insight 

 and personal force has driven his or her col- 

 leagues to accept such a valuation of subjects. 

 So far as my observation has gone, admission 

 of the culture-value of science that is not half- 

 hearted and grudging is so rare as to be prac- 

 tically negligible. And a fact of grave con- 

 cern is the tendency vocational training has 

 to blindfold scientists and teachers of science 

 into accepting this exclusively physical valua- 

 tion of science. Prom this influence and 

 others it happens that science has become the 

 ally, and to a large extent the background, of 



that theory and practise in the civilization of 

 our day variously spoken of as economism, in- 

 dustrialism, and commercialism. The mon- 

 strous power this theory of civilization has for 

 destroying all that is finest and noblest and 

 most cherished in human life is at last being 

 recognized by certain thoughtful persons. But 

 few there are, apparently, who yet see with 

 clear vision the profound importance for the 

 situation of beliefs touching the cultural 

 value of science. One lot of philosophers take 

 the ground that on the whole science is prov- 

 ing itself an enemy to mankind. They say the 

 undeniable good science has done in providing 

 man with more and better things to eat and 

 wear, better dwellings, better means of com- 

 munication, more abundant material wealth, 

 greater immunity from disease, and so forth, 

 are insufficient to offset the harm it does in 

 robbing him of aspirations, ideals, faiths, 

 sensitiveness to beauty in nature and in art, 

 and love of his fellow beings. Just how nu- 

 merous and influential these philosophers are, 

 is difficult to estimate; but without doubt a 

 sentiment of this kind is widespread in the 

 community. It seems to have been growing 

 during the last few decades; and the three- 

 continent-wide struggle now raging is un- 

 questionably helping it on. The dreadnaught 

 service, the submarine service, the air-machine 

 service, the giant artillery service, the poison- 

 ous-gas service, and the rest, are making evi- 

 dent to the whole world how efficient the sev- 

 eral departments of Hell can be made by ma- 

 king them thoroughly scientific. " Poor sci- 

 ence," said a writer for a Socialist paper the 

 other day, " is too busy working in the service 

 of militarism, perfecting instruments of de- 

 struction," to do much toward the advance- 

 ment of civilization. I am sure science is less 

 honored, less prized to-day, for any purpose 

 not commercial or purely physical in some 

 way, than it was when I was young; and to 

 one aspect of the matter I would direct your 

 special attention. 



Beyond a doubt these later years have wit- 

 nessed a flocking of people in increasing num- 

 bers to occult and mystical doctrines and prac- 

 tises of various sorts. Make the rounds of the 

 bookshops in almost any city and you will find 



