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Abstract

(1) THE two books under review have several things in common, although their scope is different. The dominating purpose of Profs. Piper and Ward is educational; while Dr. Dubs investigates the traditional methods of proof. The endeavour of Profs. Piper and Ward to lead their readers to a better acquaintance with the physical universe, society and man, is not an innovation in teaching. But in view of the extraordinary growth of human knowledge, it seems useful if not necessary that ‘ freshmen ’ be given a comprehensive panorama of the fields and methods of knowledge, with the view of helping their orientation and to enable them to think for themselves. In this, Profs. Piper and Ward have succeeded; and their practical classification of the sciences could be read with profit even by specialists on one subject or the other.

(1) The Fields and Methods of Knowledge: a Textbook in Orientation and Logic.

Prof. Raymond F. Piper Dr. Paul W. Ward. Pp. xxv + 398 + xl. (New York and London: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1929.) 16s.

(2) Rational Induction: an Analysis of the Method of Science, and Philosophy.

Dr. Homer H. Dubs. Pp. xv + 510. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press; London: Cambridge University Press, 1930.) 21s. net.