The Relation of Science and Religion.pdf - Online Christian Library

CONDITIONS OF THE INQUIR Y. 37There is not, in this, absolute security for accuracy,but neither is there such security inthe circumstances for scientific men tliemselves,and there can be no reasonable ground for hesitancyor complaint, either on our part or ontheirs, if we are ready to accept general agreementas sufficient testimony for the time. Itwould be utterly impracticable and unreasoningto insist that we can not intelligentlyaccept the conclusions of astronomy unlesswe are able to go through the mathematicalprocesses; or the main facts of humanphysiology unless we have verified each positionby personal investigation into the structureof the organs, and the conditions of functionalactivity. Conjectures find from anintelligent public no higher acknowledgmentthan is due to conjecture, simply becausethose who have devoted themselves to research'inthe department concerned are notagreed in attributing to them any higher significance.On the other hand, conclusions areaccepted as true, however much they may beat variance with previously existing convictioa,when the great majority of scientific inquirershave admitted the observations to beundoubted or the reasonings conclusive. This