Biology : $b A lecture delivered at Columbia University in the series on Science, Philosophy and Art November 20, 1907

A concise yet sweeping introduction, this lecture invites listeners to step back and consider what the word “biology” really encompasses. Rather than a catalogue of facts, it frames the discipline as a collective effort to observe, compare, and experiment with life’s myriad phenomena, highlighting how morphology and physiology have become inseparable in modern inquiry. The speaker also underscores the humility required of any scientist, noting that biology, like chemistry or physics, can only push the boundaries of knowledge without ever claiming final answers.

Building on that foundation, the talk turns to the historical dimension of living organisms, emphasizing evolution as the thread that weaves together structure and function. It explains how Darwin’s genetic perspective reshaped the field, urging biologists to view every creature as the product of a long, continuous process that began in the non‑living world. Listeners come away with a clear sense of biology’s dual mission: to dissect the present form of life while tracing its deep, ever‑unfolding story.