Januaky 1, 1904.] 



SCIENCE. 



9 



make of his knowledge ? When we speak of 

 intellectvial results of scientific investiga- 

 tion, we mean not only accumulated knowl- 

 edge, but the way in which this knowledge 

 is invested. A man who simply accumu- 

 lates money and does not see to it that this 

 money is carefully invested, is a miser, and 

 no large results can come from his efforts. 

 While, then, the intellectual state of a 

 nation is measured partly by the extent to 

 which it has taken possession of the general- 

 izations that belong to the world, it is also 

 measured by the extent to which the 

 methods by which knowledge is accumu- 

 lated have been brought into requisition and 

 have become a part of the equipment of the 

 people of that nation. The intellectual 

 progress of a nation depends upon the adop- 

 tion of scientific methods in dealing with in- 

 tellectual problems. The scientific method 

 is applicable to all kinds of intellectual 

 problems. We need it in every department 

 of activity. I have sometimes wondered 

 what the result would be if the scientific 

 method could be employed in all the mani- 

 fold problems connected with the man- 

 agement of a government. Questions of 

 tariff, of finance, of international re- 

 lations would be dealt with much more 

 satisfactorily than at present if the spirit 

 of the scientific method were breathed 

 into those who are called upon to deal 

 with these questions. It is plain, I think, 

 that the higher the intellectual state 

 of a nation the better will it deal with all 

 the problems that present themselves. As 

 the intellectual state is a direct result of 

 scientific investigation, it is clear that the 

 nation that adopts the scientific method will 

 in the end outrank both intellectually and 

 industrially the nation that does not. 



What are the ethical results of scientific 

 investigation? No one can tell. There is 

 one thought that in this connection I should 

 like to impress upon you. The funda- 

 mental characteristic of the scientific 



method is honesty. In dealing with any 

 question science asks no favors. The sole 

 object is to learn the truth, and to be guided 

 by the truth. Absolute accuracy, absolute 

 fidelity, absolute honesty are the prime con- 

 ditions of scientific progress. I believe that 

 the constant use of the scientific method 

 must in the end leave its impress upon him 

 who uses it. The results will not be satis- 

 factory in all cases, biit the tendency will 

 be in the right direction. A life spent in 

 accordance with scientific teachings would 

 be of a high order. It would practically 

 conform to the teachings of the highest 

 types of religion. The motives would be 

 different, but so far as conduct is concerned 

 the results would be practically identical. 

 I need not enlarge upon this subject. Un- 

 fortunately, abstract truth and knowledge 

 of facts and of the conclusions to be drawn 

 from them do not at present furnish a suffi- 

 cient basis for right living in the case of the 

 great majority of mankind, and science can 

 not now, and I do not believe it ever can, 

 take the place of religion in some form. 

 When the feeling that the two are antagon- 

 istic wears away, as it is wearing away, it 

 will no doubt be seen that one supplements 

 the other, in so far as they have to do with 

 the conduct of man. 



What are we doing in this country to en- 

 courage scientific investigation? Not until 

 about a quarter of a century ago can it be 

 said that it met with any encouragement. 

 Since then there has been a great change. 

 Up to that time research was sporadic. 

 Soon after it became almost epidemic. The 

 direct cause of the change was the estab- 

 lishing of courses in our universities for 

 the training of investigators somewhat 

 upon the lines followed in the German uni- 

 versities. In these courses the carrying 

 out of an investigation plays an important 

 part. This is, in fact, the culmination of 

 the course. At first there were not many 

 following these courses, but it was not long 



