Adventures in Philosophy The Radical Academy Main Menu Online Newsletter Academy Updates The M.J. Adler Archive The Dolhenty Archive Adventures in Philosophy Classic Philosophers Philosophical Critiques Philosophy Glossary Philosophy Quotations Philosophy Mini-Courses Thomas Aquinas Introductory Essays Philosophy Resources Politics Resources Religion Resources Education Resources Science Resources The Media Center Better Living Resource Center Business & Finance Resources Search Central Academy Bookstore Academy NewsStand Academy Emporium About the Academy Academy FAQs Ask the Academy Guestbook Academy Forum Calendar of Events Subscribe to Ezine Give Us Feedback Tell A Friend About Us Votecaster Cartoons & Comics Academy Chatroom
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Academy Resources Glossary of Philosophical Terms Timeline of Philosophy A Timeline of American Philosophy Diagram: Development of Philosophic Thought Diagram: Divisions of Philosophy The Philosophy Resource Center The Religion Resource Center Books about Philosophy in The Radical Academy Bookstore Books about Religion in The Radical Academy Bookstore Click Here for New & Used College Textbooks at Discount Prices Click Here for College Education Information & Study Resources Shop Amazon Stores in the Radical Academy Bookstore Magazine Outlet Music Store Classical Music Store Video Store DVD Store Computer Store Camera & Photo Store Computer/Video Games Software Store Musical Instruments Outlet Store Cellular Phones Toys & Games Tools & Hardware Automotive Store Outdoor Living Consumer Electronics Home & Garden Kitchen & Housewares Baby Superstore Apparel & Accessories Gourmet Food Grocery Store Sporting Goods Jewelry & Watches Health & Personal Care Beauty Store		Undeveloped Knowledge by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck   Only a vast and inconceivable man of genius could brace himself to the contemplation of the principal facts of the universe, and comprehend the extents, densities, distances and motions of the stars which seem to be it large and principal parts. Only a man of genius could embrace at one stretch the vast totality of all existing things. It seems to me, however, than man has to meet with no lesser difficulties when he tries to reduce the particular facts, witnessed daily by him, to their real causes. This is especially the case when he observes his immediate environment. Our knowledge of the qualities of matter, of the nature of elements and their real properties, of their mutual relations, of the modifications of which several of them are susceptible, and of the real states of the compounds we observe in nature, is still, I think, mostly uncertain. But of all the knowledge man tries to acquire, the possession of physical and chemical knowledge is more important because of the necessary connection of man's physical existence with all things that surround him or are needed by him. Now it seems that the great discoveries which are apparently outside the range of human mind, are just those by which human science distinguishes itself most, since we have made inconceivable progress in celestial physics, while there are still confused and poorly systematized ideas on the nature and properties of fire, air, etc., prevalent. Most of these ideas are incompatible with the facts which are to be explained. Just as man has surpassed himself by obtaining knowledge of sublime things, just so he seems to be inferior to himself in as far as mostly obscure and disparate hypotheses have been advanced to explain the particular phenomena which Man's environment constantly presents to his eyes.   Excerpted from Recherches sur les Causes des Principaux Faits Physiques, Jean-Baptiste Lamarck Lamarck's Open Mind, by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck Enrich Your Life With a Philosophy Book... Enrich Your Life With a Philosophy Magazine... Academy Showcase Specials   Introduction & Directory
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