Encyclopedia of sacred theology - pagina 52

28 other, iind

SCIENTIFIC

§ 10.

CHARACTER

[Div.

I

with what right a succeeding generation disap-

proves in part of the interpretation of a bygone generation

upon

This compulsion springs in the first instance from the logical necessity which dominates in our But this is not all. For then the question arises thought. whether this logical necessity for our thinking has its ground in our thinking itself alone, or whether it proceeds from Or, if you like to apply this •data outside of our thinking. to Encyclopedia, we face the question whether the necessity 'Of bringing Encyclopedic order into this chaos of our knowledge in one way and not in another, is born solely from the fact that by our thinking itself we arrange this knowledge in this order and not in the other, or whether this Encyclopedic order is imposed upon that thinking by something that, iind improves

it.

lies in the object itself. Upon what assumed will be explained by the invesHere we merel}^ state the conception of science.

outside of the thinker,

ground the tigation of

latter is

Encyclopedic order in the we are governed in two respects by a compulsory order which is separable from our First, because the treasure of knowledge which thinking. we obtain by our thinking- does not originate first by our thinking, but exists before we think; and, on the other hand, that in our bringing about of

chaotic treasure of our knowledge,

because the knowledge to be arranged in order stands in relation to a world of phenomena which is independent of

our thought.

Since

now

that world of our

knowledge and

that world of phenomena are not chaotic but orgayiic, our thinking cannot rest till in the treasure of our knowledge it has exhibited such an Encyclopedic order as will harmonize with the organic relation both of that world of our knowledge and of that world of phenomena. Thus our human s})irit is not to invent a certain order for our knowledge, but to seek out

and

to indicate the order Avhich is already there.

§ 16.

Scientific

Character

This necessity alone imparts to Encyclopedic study its With every other interpretation it may scientific character. l)e a play of the imagination, it may be art, but no science.

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