Method and Results

Method and Results is a collection of 9 essays which span just over four hundred pages. The first few are scientific, dealing with the motives for advancing science, the advantages and methods of doing so, and a summary of historical findings. He then writes about the physical basis of life, Descartes, and animal automatism. After this he goes onto more political stuff, discussing the inequality of man, his rights, education, political philosophy, and the collection ends with a nice critique of socialism.
Huxley is very knowledgeable, and rational and clear in his writings. He leaves alone subjects which cannot be fathomed, and deals with the theoretical in a practical manner. For this reason, he accepts that religion is something show more science should not deal with, in so far as its precepts are metaphysical and do not claim to intrude on the physical domain of science, and coined the term agnostic to describe his position. This is perhaps something which certain contemporary scientists should consider, instead of floundering around out of their depth.
The political opinions, though formed in a time different to our own, are still quite relevant. The principals on which they are built benefit from the distinctions made between nature and civilisation, distinctions made by someone with both good biological and ethical insight. show less