ICARUS
OR
THE FUTURE OF SCIENCE
BY THE SAME AUTHOR
The A.B.C. OF ATOMS
12mo., cloth $2.00
In the last few years thestudy of Radioactivity hasbrought about amazing advancesin our knowledge ofthe properties and nature ofthe Atom; and into this fascinatingwonderland of theinfinitely small yet infinitelycomplex and infinitely full ofenergy, Mr. Russell introducesus.
E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY
681 Fifth Avenue, New York
ICARUS
OR
The Future of Science
BY
BERTRAND RUSSELL
New York
E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY
681 Fifth Avenue
Copyright, 1924
By E. P. Dutton & Company
All Rights Reserved
First printing, April, 1924
Second printing, June, 1924
Third printing, October, 1924
Fourth printing, December, 1924
Fifth Printing, December, 1924
Sixth Printing, June, 1925
Seventh Printing, June, 1925
Printed in the United States of America
CONTENTS
| PAGE | ||
| I. | Introductory | 5 |
| II. | Effects of the Physical Sciences | 15 |
| III. | The Increase of Organization | 23 |
| IV. | The Anthropological Sciences | 43 |
| Conclusion | 57 | |
5
ICARUS
OR
THE FUTURE OF SCIENCE
I. INTRODUCTORY
Mr. Haldane’s Daedalus has set forthan attractive picture of the future as itmay become through the use ofscientific discoveries to promote humanhappiness. Much as I should like toagree with his forecast, a long experienceof statesmen and governments hasmade me somewhat sceptical. I amcompelled to fear that science will beused to promote the power of dominantgroups, rather than to make men happy.Icarus, having been taught to fly by hisfather Daedalus, was destroyed by hisrashness. I fear that the same fate6may overtake the