1879.] 1&> LChase. 



Logical, or Empirical Reason is the faculty which is commonly regarded 

 as the crowning glory of man, by those who look upon reason and faith as 

 mutually antagonistic. It is, however, rather an evidence of intellectual 

 weakness than of intellectual strength ; because its sole office is to unfold what 

 is given us by pure and practical reason, and because it is exposed to all the 

 mistakes which may arise from undue assumption of premises as well as 

 from fallacious inferences. Kant calls it JJrt?ieilskraft, the power or faculty 

 of Judgment. It works largely in the field of science, for the classifica- 

 tion of phenomena ; examining especially the information which comes to 

 us through the avenues of bodily sensation ; confining itself, therefore, 

 mainly to the interpretation of the material universe ; and attaining, by its 

 unaided efforts, only to problematical knowledge. Problematical knowl- 

 edge covers everything which we believe to be true, but the truth of which 

 depends on circumstances which it is impossible for us to determine with 

 certainty. The vacillations and inconsistencies of scientific theories and 

 systems are due, at least partly, to the attempts to disregard or discredit 

 the testimony of the only faculties which can give us positive knowledge. 



Fortunately for the interests of truth, and fortunately for science it- 

 self, such attempts are always vain. Whether we are aware of it or not, 

 the inspirations of understanding compel us to act under the instinctive 

 promptings of our highest faculties. We may scoff at metaphysics if we 

 will ; yet, if we stud}' at all, we speedily find ourselves trying to explain and 

 coordinate the physical facts which we accumulate by observation and ex- 

 periment. The question, loliat, is necessarily followed by the question, 7iow; 

 fact points and leads irresistibly to theory and law. For the completion 

 of possible knowledge the question, Tioio, is naturally followed by the ques- 

 tion, why; theory and law indicate such accordances of thought and will, 

 as may be readily understood if we believe that they represent the activity 

 of a Thinker and Wilier, and such as cannot be satisfactorily explained on 

 any other hypothesis. In order that any physical phenomena may be 

 brought within the domain of scientific thought, we must have faith in the 

 validity of the simple presentation, enough curious desire to keep up a 

 proper representation, enough understanding to distinguish the general 

 from the special and the essential from the accidental. 



Religion, entrenched in the citadel of faith, has always been helped by 

 antagonism, gaining new strength from every new struggle. Skepticism, 

 assuming protean forms and continually shifting its ground, tries in vain 

 to dislodge its antagonist, and at every assault furnishes new weapons to 

 be turned against itself. The old truths, the primitive beliefs of our race, 

 are still as precious as ever ; beyond the reach of death and decay, they 

 continue to hold forth the promise of participation in their own eternal 

 youth and vigor, to those who will accept and rightly use them. Such 

 acceptance and use always bring a full assurance of knowledge, which 

 shrinks from no controversy that is worthy of notice. But skepticism is 

 too apt to forget the two fundamental rules of controversy : that for every 

 individual, self-evidence outweighs all other evidence ; and that, whenever 



