Encyclopedia of sacred theology - pagina 88

;

G4

SUBJECT AND OBJECT

§ o8.

[Div. II

endowed mind can never know but a very small part Consequently you cannot attain unto a conception of "science" in the liigher sense, until you take humanity as

richly of

it.

an organic whole. as if the

Science does not operate atomistically,

grand aggregate

commissioned a few

of individuals

persons to satisfy this general thirst after knowledge, and as if

these commissioners

upon plan.

went

to

work

after a

mutually agreed-

No, science works organically,

i.e.

human

that the thirst for knowledge lies in

in the sense

nature; that

within certain bounds human nature can obtain knowledge that the impulse to devote oneself to this task, together with the gifts which enable one to of themselves

and that

;

work

at

it,

become ajDparent

in the realm of intellectual pursuits

these coryphsei of our race, without perceiving

it

and almost

unconsciously, go to work according to a plan by which hu-

manity

at large advances.

Hence

there is no working here of the will of an indiand it is equally improbable that chance should produce such an organically inter-related result. A higher factor must here be at play, which, for all time and among vidual,

all peoples,

maintains the unity of our race in the interests of

the life of our

human

consciousness

;

which impels people

to

obtain knowledge; which endows us with the faculties to

know; which superintends

work; and

as far as

the results of this labor lead to knowledge builds

them up

this entire

into one whole after a hidden plan.

If

impersonation were

in order, this higher factor, this animating

and illumining

power, itself might be called "Science." Or if this is called poetry which properly belongs to pagan practice only,

we may understand by "science"

that measure of light the

human

which has arisen

thus far acquired, in the darkness of

consciousness by reason of the inworking of this

higher power,

— this

light, of course,

being interpreted not

only as a result, but as possessed of the virtue of viz. to rule

and

to ignite

new

light.

With

all light,

this interpreta-

and individual falls away, and science as such obtains a necessary/ and universal charTaken in that sense, science makes the "mind of acter. tion only everything accidental

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