CURRENT TENDENCIES 21 



arbiter of metaphysical truth. But in fact the opposition 

 of instinct and reason is mainly illusory. Instinct, 

 intuition, or insight is what first leads to the beliefs 

 which subsequent reason confirms or confutes ; but the 

 confirmation, where it is possible, consists, in the last 

 analysis, of agreement with other beliefs no less instinctive. 

 Reason is a harmonising, controlling force rather than a 

 creative one. Even in the most purely logical realms, it 

 is insight that first arrives at what is new. 



Where instinct and reason do sometimes conflict is in 

 regard to single beliefs, held instinctively, and held with 

 such determination that no degree of inconsistency with 

 other beliefs leads to their abandonment. Instinct, like 

 all human faculties, is liable to error. Those in whom 

 reason is weak are often unwilling to admit this as regards 

 themselves, though all admit it in regard to others. 

 Where instinct is least liable to error is in practical 

 matters as to which right judgment is a help to survival ; 

 friendship and hostility in others, for instance, are often 

 felt with extraordinary discrimination through very care- 

 ful disguises. But even in such matters a wrong 

 impression may be given by reserve or flattery ; and in 

 matters less directly practical, such as philosophy deals 

 with, very strong instinctive beliefs may be wholly 

 mistaken, as we may come to know through their 

 perceived inconsistency with other equally strong beliefs. 

 It is such considerations that necessitate the harmonising 

 mediation of reason, which tests our beliefs by their 

 mutual compatibility, and examines, in doubtful cases, 

 the possible sources of error on the one side and on 

 the other. In this there is no opposition to instinct as 

 a whole, but only to blind reliance upon some one in- 

 teresting aspect of instinct to the exclusion of other more 

 commonplace but not less trustworthy aspects. It is 



