The origin, development and aims of our scientific societies / [Sir John Evans].

  • John Evans
Date:
1900
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The origin, development and aims of our scientific societies / [Sir John Evans]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    interest, and not without a direct bearing on the history of the advancement of human knowledge—the “ Origin, Development, and Aims of our Scientific Societies.’’ The subject is a large one, and it will be impossible to enter into details with regard to its almost innumerable ramifications. In justification of a considerable degree of limitation, I may in¬ cidentally mention that the “ Official Year¬ book of the Scientific and Learned Societies of Great Britain and Ireland,” for the year 1900, extends over upwards of 290 octavo pages. The principle of collective action was at an early date recognised among the Greeks and Romans, and associations for the purposes of finance, trade, religion, and politics, known as collegia, were of great importance in Roman civil life. In those days three persons sufficed to form a “ college,” whereas now seven are re¬ quired to constitute a “ Limited Liability Com¬ pany.” I will not enter into the relations be¬ tween the collegia and the Universitas of7 classical times, but may call attention to the fact that the modern university with its colleges derives its name from the ancient institution, though its scope has been most materially modified. The Academia at Athens and the Museum, founded in B.C. 280 by Ptolemy Philadelphus at Alexandria, with botanical and zoological gardens as well as a lecture-room attached, were much of the nature of modern scientific