SCIENCE AND ETHICS*

Abstract

THE problem of the relation between science and ethics has been very much to the fore in recent years. Let me say at once that I am not among those who regard ethics as a department, or even a possible department, of science. It seems to me to stand right outside the scope of scientific investigation. I will explain why presently, but I may say here that it is not because I have some other kind of solution of the ethical problem to offer. I have none ; and all that I can hope to do is to state a question and not to give an answer. I will try to isolate the problem and show why in my view it fails to qualify as a science.