798 Scientific Fact and Scientific Inference. i 
us to interpret the present and explain the past, but to predio 
the future. In every way they may thus be made to show their 
exact harmony with nature. False inferences cannot be 
harmony with this truth, and errors cannot stand. Scie 
theories are very abundant, and many of them are wrong, bit ~ 
the world of facts gives an opportunity for examination, dispute, ; 
and final rejection of the false ones. This fact, that many the 
ories have been disproved and rejected by those who originally 
advanced them, is the greatest safeguard of science, for it gives 
universal acceptance of thinkers after long discussion. > 
in this way it is that scientific conclusions may, under the 
right conditions, appeal to us with such force. Such a veria 
and hopes, desir es, loves, and enmities may come in to modi i 
of dynamics, the classification of the animal kingdom, would be 
i . 
Assuming, then, the general truthfulness of nature me 
validity of mind, there is a general concession that there 
accepted theory claims so great credence it by no means ” 
that all science deserves a similar acceptance. Here a 
Scientists make their greatest mistake, in failing to S¢P 
= positive from the probable and the possible. The © 
