Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1884-02-16
Science and Faith.

Extracts From an Address Delivered by
Professor A. Jay Du BO1s Last NtGht
Before the Yale Alumni Association OF
New York.
Prot. A. Jay Du Bots, of the Sheffield Sci
entific school, delivered an address on Sci
enes and Faith" before the Yale alumni as
ISOLATION at their banquet last night at Del
monico's. The speaker held that, contrary
to common error, science herself stands
firmly only on the foundation of faith. De-
prived of thSt the mighty structure she has
erected, and of which she is justly so proud
must fall in ruins. He maintained that ''the
basis of all scientific knowledge is faith" To
Illustrate make clear and support this thesis,
is the task which propose to myself to un-
dsrtaks tonight; aad the line of argument
which have laid out is briefly thus:
First, shall ask your attention to tine
demons tration," as distinguished from
Speculation, hypothesis" and 'thsory;'
and shall show that when an hypothesis in
tervenes between the observed facts and the
conclusion, that that conclusion is a ''specu-
lstion'' aud not demonstrated truth. Then
I shall try to SHOW you that all scientific
proof is really based upon single hypothe-
sis, viz, that of the uniformity Of netsre;
and therefore, that there is no such thing in
science, properly speaking, as rigid demon
stra.ion' I shall enforce this conclusion,
by showing that the highest and most con-
vincing kind of proof that SCIENCE can ever
attain to is merely cumulative 10 its nature,
and therefore, even if no assumption we're
made at ali, tbs conclusion would not be logi-
eally s'rigidIy" dedoesd Finally, shall call
attention to the fact that ear experience is
necessarily limited. and upon such Harfted
experience only can we justify cur belief
But since limited experience does not Justify
absolute conviction in the truth of anything,
if, nevertheless, we claim sach a degree of
verify for onr scientific conclusion.
our only Justification and ground for
such belief is Jaith. Having thus
shown that cumulative proof, based
upon limited experience and resting ultimate
" upon q pure assumption, forms the basis
of our most certain beliefs, shall hold my
thesis rs proved. But shall go farther
shall point ont that the Imagination il very
largely used in science es an EnetFument of
discovery. That the argument by analogy
Is daily made use of in scientific iuvestiga-
tions no Less than IN theologic debate, and
that this implies new assumptions, viz the
identity Of plan in strpetnrs in nature FL
nalIy, this identity OF plan justifes
the further assumption of conpmqnity
of origin; and thus science based
upon faith, is forced TO find In the eontem-
STATION of one supreme and guiding InteIH- /!
penoe as the common source of all the soIu-
ton Of that agreement between the mind of
man and the works Of nature which alone
car Justify is methods and RiFe to it's cen
illusions the force Of absolute truth Thus
science, upon its own ground, and judged by |
its own logic aad methods, must admit this !
CONCLUSION as at least as certain, and resting /
mon precisely the same grounds for belief, |
g any Of those other conclusions for which |
L 60 strenuouely claims the universal belief |
Of mankind.
In regard TO the important part plsyad by /
mere analogy or the trained scientific dnA@
nation, IN tkssi discovery Of edspsac truth, !