tailieunhanh - A Journey in Other Worlds

The protracted struggle between science and the classics appears to be drawing to a close, with victory about to perch on the banner of science, as a perusal of almost any university or college catalogue shows. While a limited knowledge of both Greek and Latin is important for the correct use of our own language, the amount till recently required, in my judgment, has been absurdly out of proportion to the intrinsic value of these branches, or perhaps more correctly roots, of study. The classics have been thoroughly and painfully threshed out, and it seems impossible that anything new can be unearthed. We may equal the performances of the. | feedboo is A Journey in Other Worlds Astor John Jacob Published 1894 Categorie s Fiction Science Fiction Source http 1 Note This book is brought to you by Feedbooks http Strictly for personal use do not use this file for commercial purposes. 2 Preface The protracted struggle between science and the classics appears to be drawing to a close with victory about to perch on the banner of science as a perusal of almost any university or college catalogue shows. While a limited knowledge of both Greek and Latin is important for the correct use of our own language the amount till recently required in my judgment has been absurdly out of proportion to the intrinsic value of these branches or perhaps more correctly roots of study. The classics have been thoroughly and painfully threshed out and it seems impossible that anything new can be unearthed. We may equal the performances of the past but there is no opportunity to surpass them or produce anything original. Even the much-vaunted mental training argument is beginning to pall for would not anything equally difficult give as good developing results while by learning a live matter we kill two birds with one stone There can be no question that there are many forces and influences in Nature whose existence we as yet little more than suspect. How much more interesting it would be if instead of reiterating our past achievements the magazines and literature of the period should devote their consideration to what we do NOT know It is only through investigation and research that inventions come we may not find what we are in search of but may discover something of perhaps greater moment. It is probable that the principal glories of the future will be found in as yet but little trodden paths and as Prof. Cortlandt justly says at the close of his history Next to religion we have most to hope from science.