Reflections on the Decline of Science in England, and on Some of Its CausesBabbage, Charles
History
Reflections on the Decline of Science in England, and on Some of Its Causes
Babbage, Charles
Royal Society (Great Britain); Science -- Great Britain -- History
The true value of this minute chemistry arises from its cheapness and
the extreme rapidity with which it can be accomplished: it may, in hands
like those of Wollaston, be used for discovery, but not for measure. I
have thought it more necessary to place this subject on what I consider
its true grounds, for two reasons. In the first place, I feel that
injustice has been done to a distinguished philosopher in attributing
to some of his bodily senses that excellence which I think is proved to
have depended on the admirable training of his intellectual faculties.
And, in the next place, if I have established the fact, whilst it
affords us better means of judging of such observations as lay claim to
an accuracy "MORE THAN HUMAN," it also opens, to the patient inquirer
into truth, a path by which he may acquire powers that he would
otherwise have thought were only the gift of nature to a favoured few.
APPENDIX, No. 1.
In presenting to my readers the account of the meeting of men of science
at Berlin, in the autumn of 1828, I am happy to be able to state, that
its influence has been most beneficial, and that the annual meeting
to be held in 1831, will take place at Vienna, the Emperor of Austria
having expressed a wish that every facility which his capital affords
should be given to promote its objects.
It is gratifying to find that a country, which has hitherto been
considered adverse to the progress of knowledge, should become convinced
of its value; and it is sincerely to be hoped, that every one of the
numerous members of the Society will show, by his conduct, that the
paths of science are less likely than any others to interfere with those
of politics.
ACCOUNT OF THE GREAT CONGRESS OF PHILOSOPHERS AT BERLIN, ON THE 18TH OF
SEPTEMBER 1828. FROM THE EDINBURGH JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, APRIL, 1829.
The existence of a large society of cultivators of the natural sciences
meeting annually at some great capital, or some central town of Europe,
is a circumstance almost unknown to us, and deserving of our attention,
from the important advantages which may arise from it.
About eight years ago, Dr. Okens, of Munich, suggested a plan for an
annual meeting of all Germans who cultivated the sciences of medicine
and botany. The first meeting, of about forty members, took place at
Leipsic, in 1822, and it was successively held at Halle, Wurtzburg,
Frankfort on the Maine, Dresden, Munich, and Berlin. All those who had
printed a certain number of sheets of their inquiries on these subjects
were considered members of this academy.
The great advantages which resulted to these sciences from the
communication of observations from all quarters of Germany, soon induced
an extension of the plan, and other departments of natural knowledge
were admitted, until, at the last meeting, the cultivators even of pure
mathematics were found amongst the ranks of this academy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account