10 JUNE 1865, Page 22

Modern Scepticism Viewed in Relation to Modern gcience. By J.

R. Young. (Saunders, Otley, and Co.)—The first half of this book is devoted to refuting Dr. Colenso, the last to examining the scope and limitations of the authority of physical science. So far as it points out that scientific theories have no value in themselves except as temporary summaries of certain observed phenomena, that they have no finality, and that a fact 'which contradicts such a theory is by no means neces- sarily at variance with truth, he calls attention to an error to which men of science are very prone. But Mr. Young is not himself a fair reasoner. He actually argues that if a man believes in Mr. Darwin's evolution theory, he ought not to shoot a gorilla.