Encyclopedia of sacred theology - pagina 193

Chap. Ill]

§ 49.

Meanwhile,

it

TWO KINDS OF SCIENCE

1(39

must not be concluded from this that in the development must be uniform,

circle of palingenesis scientific

in the sense that science,

all,

who

must conform

nious results.

in this circle devote themselves to

to a given model

This representation

is

and arrive

at

harmo-

not infrequently

made

Naturalistic science decorates itself with by the other side. corn-flower and garden-rue, as symbols of the free character which it boasts, while the science of those who accept palingenesis is represented as festQoned with autumn-lea ves(feuillemorte), and as incapable of progress worthy of the name within the narrow limits to which it is confined. This entire representation, however, is but a play of the imagination, and in both circles a real scientific development takes place, which unfolds the beauty of truth only in the

A

fuller explanation

harmony of multiformity.

may

be considered important. the abstract every In one concedes that the subjective assimilation of the truth concerning the object cannot be

the same with

all,

because the investigating individuals are

not as alike as drops of water, but as unlike as blades of grass and leaves on a tree.

That a science should be free from the influence of the subjective factor is inconceivable, hence with the unlikeness of the individuals the influence

must appear. For this reason science in its absolute sense is the property The universal human consciousness of no single individual. in its richest unfoldings is and ever will be the subject of science, and individuals in their circle and age can never be anything but sharers of a small division of science in a given form and seen in a given light. The difference of this factor

among

these

individuals

degree and of kind.

A

is accordingly both a matter of matter of degree in so far as energy

and power of thought But a matter of temperament, personal inclination,

in investigation, critical perspicuity

are stronger in one than in the other.

kind

also,

in so far as

and the favorableness or unfavorableness of circumstances cause each individual investisfator to become position in life

one-sided,

and make him

find his strength in that one-sided-

ness which renders the supplementation and the criticism

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