THE AFFIRMATIVE SIDE OF AGNOSTICISM. 223 



thing higher/ and that ' the Ultimate Power is no more repre- 

 sentable in terms of human consciousness than human conscious- 

 ness is representable in terms of a plant's functions/ " And again 

 (p. 6Q, id.) : "Whereas, in common with his teacher Sir William 

 Hamilton, Dean Mansel alleged that our consciousness of the Ab- 

 solute is merely ' a negation of conceivability ' ; I have, over a 

 space of ten pages, contended that our consciousness of the Abso- 

 lute is not negative but positive, and is the one indestructible ele- 

 ment of consciousness ' which persists at all times, under all cir- 

 cumstances, and can not cease until consciousness ceases ' — have 

 argued that while the Power which transcends phenomena can not 

 be brought within the forms of our finite thought, yet that, as be- 

 ing a necessary datum of every thought, belief in its existence 

 has, among our beliefs, the highest validity of any : is not, as Sir 

 W. Hamilton alleges, a belief with which we are supernaturally 

 ' inspired/ but is a normal deliverance of consciousness." 



These quotations are sufficient to show that, as he holds it, 

 there is a positive and affirmative side to the doctrine of the 

 Unknowable, or to agnosticism, as taught by Mr. Spencer ; and 

 also that there is occasion for a word or words to express it. 



In his article Agnosticism, published in The Popular Science 

 Monthly for April, 1889, Prof. Huxley says : 



" Agnosticism, in fact, is not a creed, but a method, the essence 

 of which lies in the rigorous application of a single principle. 

 That principle is of great antiquity ; it is as old as Socrates ; as 

 old as the writer who said, 'Try all things, hold fast by that 

 which is good ' ; it is the foundation of the Reformation, which 

 simply illustrated the axiom that every man should be able to 

 give a reason for the faith that is in him ; it is the great principle 

 of Descartes ; it is the fundamental axiom of modern science. 

 Positively, the principle may be expressed : In matters of the in- 

 tellect, follow your reason as far as it will take you, without 

 regard to any other consideration. And negatively : In matters 

 of the intellect, do not pretend that conclusions are certain which 

 are not demonstrated or demonstrable. That I take to be the 

 agnostic faith, which, if a man keep whole and undefiled, he shall 

 not be ashamed to look the universe in the face, whatever the 

 future may have in store for him. 



" The results of the working out of the agnostic principle will 

 vary according to individual knowledge and capacity, and accord- 

 ing to the general condition of science. That which is unproved 

 to-day may be proved, by the help of new discoveries, to-morrow. 

 The only negative fixed points will be those negations which flow 

 from the demonstrable limitation of our faculties. And the only 

 obligation accepted is to have the mind always open to con- 

 viction." 



