RECORDS 473 



German science has lost one of its most conscientious workers, 

 and Saxony one of its most respected citizens." 



Dr. Alexis A. Julien and Dr. Theodore G. White were unan- 

 imously elected Chairman and Secretary, respectively, of the 

 Section for the ensuing year. 



After a vote of thanks to the lecturers of the evening, the 

 meeting adjourned. 



Theodore G. White, 



Secretary. 



SECTION OF ANTHROPOLOGY AND PSY- 

 CHOLOGY. 



March 26, 1900. 



Section met at 8:15 P. M., Professor Cattell presiding. 



The following program was offered : 



A. L. Jones, The Symbolic Character of Geometrical 

 Forms as a Principle of Explanation. 



R. S. Woodworth, The Fatigue of Voluntary Movement. 



E. L. Thorndike, Weber's Law in Judgments of Compari- 

 son WITH A Mental Standard. 



Summary of Papers. 



Among the attempts to explain formal beauty that of Lipps 

 in his Raumasthetik is the most striking. He maintains that 

 the aesthetical value of beautiful geometrical forms is due to 

 the fact that they symbolize the activity of mechanical forces 

 working themselves out freely ; that we sympathize with the 

 forces thus represented and receive pleasure when their action 

 is unhindered ; that the forces and laws of their action are not 

 consciously recognized but are merely fe/t or known uncon- 

 sciously. His explanation involves some questionable met- 

 aphysics. The action of mechanical forces is no doubt an 

 important element in many beautiful objects, but it remains to 

 be proved that it is sufficient to explain all formal beauty in ob- 

 jects. 



Annals N. V. Acad. Sci., XIII, Feb. 13, 1901 — 31. 



