244 Ohio State Academy of Science 



possible the application of the methods of continuity-mathemat- 

 ics to the investigation of nature. They follow out the funda- 

 mental characteristics of continuous analytic functions. There- 

 fore we may designate our modern biology as a continuity- 

 biology. 



Thus, as the Russian Alexeieff has pointed out, after the con- 

 tinuity world-scheme had captured the fundamental natural sci- 

 ences, geometry, mechanics, astronomy, physics, chemistry, had 

 intrenched itself in them and dowered them with generality, 

 uniformity, universality, it went over gradually with scientific 

 investigators by habit so to say into flesh and blood, and began 

 to penetrate and dominate in physiology, in psychology, in 

 sociology, in biology. 



Darwin's attempt to found the law of the evolutionary- 

 origin of species is an outcome of the continuity world scheme, 

 permeated, saturated with its basal idea, continuity. 



Just so strengthens itself more and more the persuasion of 

 the continuous growth^ and continuous perfection of all the 

 elements of human society in its natural advance. 



The evolutionary development of social life permeates 

 always more and more the view of the historian. Many writers 

 are so habituated to this continuity world-scheme, that without 

 sufficiently critical consideration, they apply it where it is 

 essentiallv inapplicable and inappropriate. 



So we have the doctrine of a fatalist causality, denial of 

 efficient freedom of the will, belittling of the idealistic endeavor 

 of mankind, hence the pessimistic attitude toward the whole of 

 human existence. 



Paraphrasing a Russian poet. Nature thus speaks to man: 



Thou mayst be head of creation. 



But who gives thee any crown? 



Dost thou believe, poor fool, in blind delusion, 



That I am slave to thee, and thou my lord and master? 



Of the thick veil lift I a corner tip 



And pygmy, then presumst thou 



All through me that thou seest? 



Seeing thine own small law and plan, art then deluded 



Into the holy of holies to have pushed? 



Oh fool! I do but nod and wretchedly thou 'lit shudder. 



Cower like timid dog on the sod. The earth 



I shake and suddenly is dust 



Thy pride and might, the greatest of thy cities. 



War I send and pestilence its sister. 



The blooming fields transform I into deserts, 



The sea I drink up and the sun shroud I in darkness. 



And thou, brute-like, wilt howl with pain, with anguish. 



What you strive for and hope. 



To me that is indifferent. 



Pity know I none, and my law of the number 



