Fragments of Science for Unscientific People

Abstract

THIS volume is a reprint of a number of detached essays, lectures, and reviews, by Prof. Tyndall, published at various times and in various places during the last ten years. Besides a few shorter pieces collected at the end, there are in all thirteen articles. These consist of two classes of a totally distinct nature. The larger number constitute considerably the greater bulk of the volume, deal entirely with scientific subjects, and are of a special scientific nature. The remainder deal either directly or indirectly with the question of the opposition or concordance of science and religion. To this question, Prof. Tyndall brings that same remarkable clearness and definiteness of statement which characterises his writings on purely scientific subjects. It is a highly desirable thing for all parties that it should be distinctly stated what are the issues, in their ultimate form, to which our various hypotheses may lead. Prof. Tyndall, from the scientific side, makes this statement clearly and distinctly. He views an hypothesis, so to speak, in its widest generalisation, and does not shrink from it or its consequences. If? he would say, you hold these or those views, then this is what they must imply, and what, if these views be true, you must come to; and so you need not be afraid, and if you hide it from yourself you only cloak the truth in the one case, or hinder the exposure of error in the other. As an example, let us take the statement of the Natural Evolution hypothesis in the lecture on “The Scientific Use of the Imagination”(page 163 of the present volume). Speaking of the evolution of the present world from a nebulous mass he says:—

Fragments of Science for Unscientific People.

By Prof. Tyndall. (London: Longmans: 1871.)