you these facts: that, from the latter part of the
seventeenth century, the noblest heads and the noblest hearts of Europe
concentrated themselves more and more on the brave and patient
investigation of physical facts, as the source of priceless future
blessings to mankind; that the eighteenth century, which it has been the
fashion of late to depreciate, did more for the welfare of mankind, in
every conceivable direction, than the whole fifteen centuries before it;
that it did this good work by boldly observing and analysing facts; that
this boldness toward facts increased in proportion as Europe became
indoctrinated with the Jewish literature; and that, notably, such men as
Kepler, Newton, Berkeley, Spinoza, Leibnitz, Descartes, in whatsoever
else they differed, agreed in this, that their attitude towards Nature
was derived from the teaching of the Jewish sages. I believe that we are
not yet fully aware how much we owe to the Jewish mind, in the gradual
emancipation of the human intellect. The connection may not, of course,
be one of cause and effect; it may be a mere coincidence. I believe it
to be a cause; one of course of very many causes: but still an integral
cause. At least the coincidence is too remarkable a fact not to be
worthy of investigation.

I said, just now--The emancipation of the human intellect. I did not
say--Of science, or of the scientific intellect; and for this reason:

That the emancipation of science is the emancipation of the common mind
of all men. All men can partake of the gains of free scientific thought,
not merely by enjoying its physical results, but by becoming more
scientific men themselves.

Therefore it was, that though I began my first lecture by defining
superstition, I did not begin my second by defining its antagonist,
science. For the word science defines itself. It means simply
knowledge; that is, of course, right knowledge, or such an approximation
as can be obtained; knowledge of any natural object, its classification,
its causes, its effects; or in plain English, what it is, how it came
where it is, and what can be done with it.

And scientific method, likewise, needs no definition; for it is simply
the exercise of common sense. It is not a peculiar, unique,
professional, or mysterious process of the understanding: but the same
which all men employ, from the cradle to the grave, in forming correct
conclusions.

Every one who knows the philosophic writings of M