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Problems of the Future: And Essays
Excerpt from Problems of the Future: And Essays
So it is with modern science. For centuries it had to grope its purblind way through dense jungles of superstitious ignorance, where misty shapes of theologi cal and metaphysical speculation obscured the real facts of the universe, or were mistaken for them. At length, and comparatively quite recently, the human intellect emerged into the light of day, and gaining the first heights, began to acquire accurate ideas of the true laws and constitution of the universe. The progress, once begun, went on at an accelerated rate, until in the last half century it has carried with it in an impetuous torrent old creeds and cherished convictions, like so much drift-wood floating on the surface of Lake Erie, when caught by the current which hurries it down the Falls of Niagara.
So irresistible and so wide-spread has been the advance of science, that at first sight we are perhaps disposed to overrate it, and to fancy, like Alexander, that no more worlds remain to conquer, or that, at most, a few unimportant territories are still unannexed. But the true man of science knows differently. He sees ridge still rising behind ridge, and at every step wider horizons opening, with distant peaks that still baffle the boldest climber.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
So it is with modern science. For centuries it had to grope its purblind way through dense jungles of superstitious ignorance, where misty shapes of theologi cal and metaphysical speculation obscured the real facts of the universe, or were mistaken for them. At length, and comparatively quite recently, the human intellect emerged into the light of day, and gaining the first heights, began to acquire accurate ideas of the true laws and constitution of the universe. The progress, once begun, went on at an accelerated rate, until in the last half century it has carried with it in an impetuous torrent old creeds and cherished convictions, like so much drift-wood floating on the surface of Lake Erie, when caught by the current which hurries it down the Falls of Niagara.
So irresistible and so wide-spread has been the advance of science, that at first sight we are perhaps disposed to overrate it, and to fancy, like Alexander, that no more worlds remain to conquer, or that, at most, a few unimportant territories are still unannexed. But the true man of science knows differently. He sees ridge still rising behind ridge, and at every step wider horizons opening, with distant peaks that still baffle the boldest climber.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
474 pages, Hardcover
Published January 3, 2019
About the author
Samuel Laing
172 books2 followersSamuel Laing (1780 - 1868) was a Scottish travel writer. He travelled in Scandinavia and northern Germany and published descriptions of these countries. Laing was the first translator of Heimskringla by Snorri Sturluson.
He unsuccessfully contested the Orkney and Shetland parliamentary constituency in 1832 against incumbent MP George Traill. Held after the passage of the Great Reform Act, this was the first election in which Shetlanders had the right to vote. Laing had won an early majority of votes counted in Orkney and was initially celebrated as the victor, however the delayed arrival of votes from Shetland produced a majority of 11 for Traill. The loss of Laing's majority provoked a riot in Kirkwall, leading to one fatality. Laing's subsequent attempt to lodge a legal challenge to his defeat was also unsuccessful.
Laing's son, also named Samuel Laing, was a railway administrator and important writer on religion and science, and a Liberal member of parliament. Laing's older brother, Malcolm Laing, was a notable historian. The merchant Gilbert Laing Meason was his older brother as well.
He unsuccessfully contested the Orkney and Shetland parliamentary constituency in 1832 against incumbent MP George Traill. Held after the passage of the Great Reform Act, this was the first election in which Shetlanders had the right to vote. Laing had won an early majority of votes counted in Orkney and was initially celebrated as the victor, however the delayed arrival of votes from Shetland produced a majority of 11 for Traill. The loss of Laing's majority provoked a riot in Kirkwall, leading to one fatality. Laing's subsequent attempt to lodge a legal challenge to his defeat was also unsuccessful.
Laing's son, also named Samuel Laing, was a railway administrator and important writer on religion and science, and a Liberal member of parliament. Laing's older brother, Malcolm Laing, was a notable historian. The merchant Gilbert Laing Meason was his older brother as well.
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