I have thus sought to make it clear that the language of science
corresponds to that of ordinary life, and especially of business
life, in confining its meaning to phenomena. An analogous
statement may be made of the method and objects of scientific
investigation. I think Professor Clifford was very happy in
defining science as organized common-sense. The foundation of its
widest general creations is laid, not in any artificial theories,
but in the natural beliefs and tendencies of the human mind. Its
position against those who deny these generalizations is quite
analogous to that taken by the Scottish school of philosophy
against the scepticism of Hume.
It may be asked, if the methods and language of science correspond
to those of practical life, why is not the every-day discipline of
that life as good as the discipline of science? The answer is,
that the power of transferring the modes of thought of common life
to subjects of a higher order of generality is a rare faculty
which can be acquired only by scientific discipline. What we want
is that in public affairs men shall reason about questions of
finance, trade, national wealth, legislation, and administration,
with the same consciousness of the practical side that they reason
about their own interests.
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