Encyclopedia of sacred theology - pagina 162

; :

138

§ 46.

FAITH

[Uiv. II

shows you a certain constant action this constant action makes you surmise that this action will always be constant you hear of others who have built like conclusions upon like you apply a special test, and it appears that observations in this way you are able to call the same action into life no case is known to you in which this action has not shown itself no one contradicts your surmise and every one who devotes his attention to what has attracted yours, arrives at the same conclusion and, upon this ground, it is scientifically determined that in this group of phenomena such and such Very well But have you now a law operates thus and so. demonstrated this law? Is the certainty which you have of ;

;

;

;

:

!

Your

the existence of this law, the result of demonstration?

demonstration cannot extend farther than 3'our observation, and your observation covered certainl}^ not one billionth part of the cases

which are concerned. Whether the is at the same time a propter

the cases observed

2^ost

hoc in

can by

hoe.

no means always be empirically proved. This proof is only given when the genetic operation of the cause can be traced But no one hesitates to adopt a in its entire development. general conclusion, even where this genetic knowledge

is

That quinine counteracts intermittent fever is a generally accepted conclusion, even though no one has ever wanting.

been able to explain genetically the action of quinine on the blood. In this case, however, no harm is done. But without

knowing the genetic action of vaccine, the general conclusion was considered equally justifiable, that inoculation wdth this virus is a harmless preventive

against smallpox, and,

on the ground of this so-called scientifically discovered law while vaccination has been enforced by public authority now, alas, in the end it appears how carelessly this conclusion was drawn. Hence extreme care is necessarj-, lest we proclaim as a general law what afterward aj^pears to rest on defective observation. But even though we pass these cases by, and confine ourselves to those general laws which are no longer contradicted, the question ever returns, What foundation have you for your confidence that your concluYou say: "I can show this at once and sion is correct? ;

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