SCIENCE AND LIFE

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1539, 7 September 1912, Page 5

SCIENCE AND LIFE

PROFESSOR SCHAEFER'S ADDRESS. DIVIDED OPINIONS. OUR BROTHER THE GORILLABy Telecraph—Press Association— Copyricht (Rec. September G, 10 p.m.) Melbourne, September G. Professor Osbonio, of Melbourne University, conimenting on Professor Schacfer's address at thq meeting of tho British Association, states that as regards the origin of life, he thought the majority of scientists would be in accord with Professor Sclmefer, but eoino others, such as the biologists, would be much divided, and there would be violent opposition from that point of viow.'as well as from that, of the theologian. Professor Schaefer's' statements may be taken as a reaction from the conclusions of men like M. Henri ■Bergson, who entered tho physiological field without' adequate equipment and training, and had been laying down the law of the superiority of epii'it to matter. [31. Henri Bergson is ono of tho most distinguished of present-day French philosophers. •Ho lectured at Oxford and London recently, and his great work entitled "Creative Evolution" (which has been translated into English) has been the subject of much criticism. He attacks most relentlessly what is known as tho mechanical theory of the Universe.]

THE EVOLUTION OF MAN. ■"UNENTERPRISING MEMBERS OF x - THE FAMILY." (Rec. September 6, 10 p.m.) London, September 6. Professor Elliott Smith, Professor of Anatomy in tho University of Manchester, .in a paper read before the Anthropological ■Section of the British ■ Association on Hie Evolution of Man, regards the orang-outang, tho chimpanzee, find the gorilla not as ancestral forms of man, but as unenterprising members of man's family. They are simply men whose ancestors chose physical strength rather than intelligence as a means of getting a livelihood. (

' FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THE UNITY OF THE EMPIRE. (Rec. September 6, 10 p.m.) London, September 6. Mr. Herbert Samuel' (Postmaster-Gen-eral), in a paper read before the British Association on Federal Government, declared that the conclusion often drawn that the natural evolution of States was towards centralisation was wrong and harmful. It was really through decentralisation that the unity of the British Empire would be preserved. Federalism, must play a.leading part in dealing with Empire problems, but the creation of federal executives was Eurroiinded ljy most formidable difficulties. Could statesmen drawn from the Dominions as members of an Empire executive, conduct at tho centre current business, and keep such close touch with, their countries as ,to # remain authoritative exponents of their views P