The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-05

on THE Foundations of Belief, or the
Stability of Truth" After reviewing the
present trend of human thought consid-
cred IN relation to the doctrine of evolu-
ton as understood by modern scientists
the learned lecturer said:
Science sets UP this test of truth: Can it be
made to work. Can life be trusted to it? This
test the conclusions of philosophy cannot meet.
In so far as they do meet it they are the conclu-
sions OF science. As science advances in any
field philosophy is driven out of it. 1t is fact
often noted that the great conclusions of sci
ence have been anticipated by philosophy, but
likewise have the various theories which sci
ence has proven false. Every conceivable
guess as to the origin and meaning of familiar
phenomena has been exhausted by philosophy
Some OF its guesses contain elements of truth,
but philosophy cannot determine this, it must
be left to science. Science . ne gives the true
test OF human life. The essence of this test is
experiment.
Philosophy's test is: Is it plausible? Has
1t logical continuity? Does it suffice the human
heart? In other words, its tests are subjective
intellectual or emotional; its data alone are
drawn from the external world. Can we trust
philosophy to tell us what to believe while we
must look to science to tell us what we shall
know? II knowledge ana belief are of little
rank both must rest upon science: If -knowl-
edge implies stability and belief does not, the
latter becomes word of light meaning ex-
presSiYe of within or balance of opinion, and
belief becomes ineffective in human life.
Along its path life cannot march with courage
and success. One ought not TO believe where
he cannot trust.
In Professor Haeckelps recent address, 1.-THE
Confession OF Faith of Man of Science" he
makes an eloquent plea for the acceptance of
the philosophic doctrine OF monism as the
fundamental basis OF science. According to
him the primal conception of monism is that
there lives one spirit IN all things, that the
whole cognlzable world is constituted and has
been developed in accordance with one funda-
mental law, this involving the essential oneness
of all things, matter and force object and
spirit, God and nature; there is involved in it
the spontaneous generation OF life from inor-
ganic matter; the resolution of the vital force
in all its appearances into properties shown by
certain compounds under certain conditions.
Let us turn for moment to the positive side
of scientific belief. Not long ago while walk
ing in the garden with my little girl told her
James Whltcomb Rileys story bout the "Gob-
Inns That Get You if You Don't Watch Out"
"But there isn't any suchsthing as a goblin"
said the little girl, land there isn't ever going
to be any such thing" Mindful of the argu-
ment Of philosophic doubt, said, perhaps
there isn't any such thing as anything, Bar
bara." sob, yes there is,' said she, looking
about for unquestioned reality, there Is such
thing as something there is such thing as
a squash"
In this conclusion of the little girl the real
ity of the objective world, the integrity of
science and the sanity of man are alike bound
up; and for its evidence we must look to the
facts OF organic evolution OF which man Is
part. Each living being is a link in contin-
uous chain OF lie into which death has so far
as we know never entered. Each individual Is
III Ii ScuSc the RuhrQldu ol Iuls lilc CHILL.
Each link is tested by environment. Those
creatures unadap pied or not adaptable to this
environment are destroyed. This environ
ment is the objective uniyerse-the world as
it is, not as the creature may imagine It, 1t is
the world OF science. Nature Is no respecter
of persons and does not pardon ignorance.
Her laws and penalties consider only what
actually is.
Our senses, our reason, our power OF action,
are all concessions to the external world.
Adaptation is in essence obedience. Sense per-
ceptions and intellect alike stand as advisers
to the power of choice. The power of choice
choice is punished by death. Death ends the
chain of which each creature is a link. The
life of the world has been continued by those
whose choice has not been fatal. When in
stinct fails reason rises TO insure safety. AT
last with man reason comes to be the chief
element in guiding the choice OF life.
With greater power to know and hence to
choose safely greater completely OF relations
become possible. To those who meet the COM
pick demands of civilization the stores of
human wisdom must be open. The mass of
new conditions is possible only through fol-
lowing the footsteps of others, are saved TO lie
by instinct OF conventionallty, helpful I'M
pulse. Authority is also an important source
of knowledge to the individual. its value being
proportioned by the power OF the individual to
test wisely the credentials OF authority
Superstition goes with stupidity and insan-
ity. The condition of mind which is favorable
TO mysticism, superstition and reverle is un-
favorable to life. If all men sought healing
from the handkerchief of the lunatic or from
contact with old bones, If all physicians used
revealed remedies and business was conducted
by faith, the folly OF these practices would