They were a remarkable company, each one of them a unique person, yet characterized to some extent by his particular national type. And all were distinctively “scientists” of the period. Formerly this would have implied a rather uncritical leaning towards materialism, and an affectation of cynicism; but by now it was fashionable to profess an equally uncritical belief that all natural phenomena were manifestations of the cosmic mind. In both periods, when a man passed beyond the sphere of his own serious scientific work he chose his beliefs irresponsibly, according to his taste, much as he chose his recreation or his food. . Olaf Stapledon
About This Quote

It is important to remember that science is merely a tool. It is not a religion. Scientists are not the only people who believe in God, or who believe in life after death, or who believe in reincarnation. They are merely people who use the scientific method to study the world around them.

People have used religious tools for centuries to study the world around them - people of all faiths, of all creeds, of all classes, of all cultures. Todayís scientists are just as likely to be studying subjects that have no language language longer than they are using the scientific method to discover things that have no language.

Source: Last And First Men

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