THE SURVEYS OF THE INTESTINAL PROTOZOA OF MAN IN HEALTH AND DISEASE. Dr. R. W. Hegner and Dr. George C. Payne_-_- Selections for an American Valhalla; The Thompson Medal for Geology and Palenotology; The Engineering Foundation; Scientific Items_. COPYRIGHT 1921 BY THE SCIENCE PRESS Application made for transfer of office of entry to Utica, N. Y., as second-class matter. A CTIVITY. Today, every walk in life has been divided and sub-divided. Oxford books reflect this progress both in their wide variety and ever increasing number. A selection of those recently issued. SPACE AND TIME IN CONTEMPORARY PHYSICS By MORITZ SCHLICK Net $2.50 An adequate, yet clear account of Einstein's epoch-making theories of relativity. ON GRAVITATION AND RELATIVITY By RALPH ALLEN SAMPSON The Halley lecture delivered by the Astronomer Royal for Scotland. By G. H. HARDY Inaugural lecture by the Savilian Professor of Geometry at Oxford. By ALFRED E. GARVIE An interesting introduction to the study of religions. 90c $1.15 Net $2.25 FUNGAL DISEASES OF THE COMMON LARCH By W. E. HILEY $5.65 An elaborate investigation into larch canker with descriptions of all other known diseases of the larch and numerous fine illustrations. By M. E. HARDY THE GEOGRAPHY OF PLANTS $3.00 More advanced than the author's earlier work discussing fully the conditions in which plants flourish and their distribution throughout the earth. $5.65 DOM MINA SCHOOLS OF GAUL By THEODORE HAARHOFF An important study of Pagan and Christian education in the last century of the THE ELEMENTS OF DESCRIPTIVE ASTRONOMY $1.35 A simple and attractive description of the heavens calculated to arouse the interest Net $3.00 Twelve essays by noted scholars summarizing the work of the leading European thinkers in the last fifty years. DEVELOPMENT OF THE ATOMIC THEORY By A. N. MELDRUM 70c A brief historical sketch attributing to William Higgins, not John Dalton as generally supposed, priority in the discovery of the theory. At all booksellers or from the publishers. OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS American Branch OXFORD BOOKS "The standard of textual excellence." THE SCIENTIFIC MONTHLY JANUARY, 1921 EARTH SCIENCES AS THE BACKGROUND By JOHN C. MERRIAM CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON THE LARGER VIEW OF HISTORY HE concept of history as generally accepted has undergone extraordinary changes in recent years. History as read and taught has frequently expressed only in part the broader relations of events with a view to indicating their true bearing on the present. In its origin as a constructive science much of history was concerned with the emotional side of national propaganda, and in varying measure it has been an instrument used to promote a nationalistic spirit. Fortunately, we find many interpretations which have clearly stated the continuity of events, their real relations and significance in the world sense, and their proper trend. Not less insufficient than the use to which history has often been put is in many instances the structure of the account presented. Continuity has not always been the fundamental factor. Descriptions of events in series, but unrelated, have at times formed the basis for discussion, and fundamental laws or scientific principles have not always played an important part. Reaction against the incomplete view of historical study is in some measure due to application in human affairs of the hypothesis of evolution or development growing out of the fundamental historical sequence of geology as presented by Lyell and applied in the broad biological concept of Darwin. Assuming that man remains on a constant level, representing the type as created, human history might show indefinite fluctuations of movement; or it might be cyclic, each cycle representing approximately the same plane of development. According to the evolution hypothesis, the trend of the living world would be toward the more specialized, or more complicated, or more advanced. Although it might be cyclic, each cycle would rise to a 1Delivered as the Presidential Address before the Geological Society of America, December 29, 1919. higher stage, and the path would be helicoid. According to the developmental or evolution interpretation, every part of a historic sequence is related to every other part, and each feature of past series contributes somewhat to the interpretation of the present. This concept gives us for every portion of historic succession a formula, through which, with a certain degree of accuracy, the line may be projected forward. Viewed in this light, history becomes not merely a teacher by comparison or by analogy, but interprets the development of present conditions, and also furnishes a key to the future. Rarely has the range of historical account included all major influences actually involved. Largely by reason of the fact that the world is so complicated, there is no connected statement which shows the happenings as a whole with their interlocking connections. The records are mainly pieces, or pieces of pieces, limited to one phase of the subject, restricted to one portion of the world, and covering only a small section of time. True world history scarcely exists. Analysis of the elements composing the fabric of history, considered in its enormous complication and as a world problem, shows that we cannot doubt the need for every item of knowledge which may be brought to bear for interpretation of our present situation and requirements. We must have these materials also for guidance of mankind in decisions on those greater problems demanding for their proper settlement a vision reaching over long periods and extending beyond the present generation. We should have light with increasing brilliance thrown into many dark corners. Present world questions will be solved in part by men who trade and those who study commerce, in part by men who rule and those who study ruler and politician. But the only view that can show us where we are and whither we go is one that, with other items, includes at least the outlines of the path over which we have come. The point of my story in this paper is that the farther back we see the path clearly, and the better we know our progress over it, the more certain we are to eliminate the minor curves and determine the true direction and the rate of speed to expect. I am suggesting that the deepest view of history is desirable for the purposes of fundamental decisions; that, no matter how far back this vision leads us, if it continues to add to knowledge of what we are by showing us how we came to be, it is needed and should be secured. CONTRIBUTION OF THE SCIENCES TO HISTORY The sciences especially concerned with historic sequence are astronomy, geology, geography, paleontology, biology and anthropology. Astronomy, with its broad conceptions of stellar evolution, concerns us because it discusses the origin and early history of our planet. Geology |