The concepts and theories of modern physics / By J.B. Stallo.

  • John Stallo
Date:
1900
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The concepts and theories of modern physics / By J.B. Stallo. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    58/376 (page 8)
    of reasoning, but that it has likewise emancipated itself from the control of its fundamental assumptions. It is my conviction that this belief is but partially conform- able to the fact, and that the prevailing misconceptions in regard to the true logical and psychological ju'emisses of science are prolific of errors, whose reaction upon the character and tendencies of modern thought becomes more apparent from day to day. The shallow and scio- listic materialism—I allude, of course, not to its sup- posed ethical but to its purely intellectual aspects— which for a time threatened to blight the soil and poi- son the atmosphere even of the old highlands of thought on the continent of Europe, claims to be a presentation of conclusions from the facts and principles established in the several departments of physical science. It is ])art of my endeavor to meet this claim by an examina- tion of the fundamental concepts and general theories of that department of pliysical science which is, in a sense, the basis and support of all its other departments —the department of physics. It will be seen at once, upon a most cursory glance at any one of the chapters of this little book, that it is in no wise intended as an 0])en or covert advocacy of a return to metaphysical methods and aims; but that, on the contraiy, its ten- dency is throughout to eliminate from science its latent metaphysical elements, to foster and not to rejmess the spirit of experimental investigation, and to accredit in- stead of discrediting the great endeavor of scientific research to gain a sure foothold on solid empirical ground, wdiere the real data of experience may be re- 0 0^1 cal prepossessions. An attentive l^erusal of these pages will make it clear, I think, that this endeavor is continually thwarted by the insidious intrusion into the meditations of the man of science