then the birds and the insects and the grass of this forest, which
re-act upon each other, and do not destroy each other, may also be
regarded as one organism, in company with the trees." And to this
also they will agree. Every collection of living individuals, which
re-act upon each other, and do not destroy each other, may be
regarded as organisms, according to their theory. You may affirm a
connection and interaction between whatever you choose, and,
according to evolution, you may affirm, that, out of whatever you
please, any other thing that you please may proceed, in a very long
period of time.

And the most remarkable thing of all is, that this same identical
positive science recognizes the scientific method as the sign of
true knowledge, and has itself defined what it designates as the
scientific method.

By the scientific method it means common-sense.

And common-sense convicts it at every step. As soon as the Popes
felt that nothing holy remained in them, they called themselves most
holy.

As soon as science felt that no common-sense was left in her she
called herself sensible, that is to say, scientific science.



CHAPTER III.