PAPERS ON PSYCHOLOGY AND EDUCATION 471 



ency of pragmatism is to discard all theorizing that can- 

 not be turned in for its cash value., apparently forget- 

 ting that science is generally called upon to work out 

 consistent theory before it attempts to make practical 

 application of it. I am not underestimating the method 

 of the pragmatist. I interpret the meaning of "satis- 

 faetoriness" as used by Professor Dewey to mean the 

 successful vindication of an hypothesis by the careful 

 consideration of all pertinent facts. In the history of 

 science the theoretical stage always has preceded its 

 practical application. 



I certainly am not opposed to the application of psy- 

 chology to the practical affairs of life. For twenty years 

 I have been offering courses in General Psychology to 

 which I have added courses in Genetic, Experimental, 

 Educational, Social, Abnormal, Religious and Applied 

 Psychology. I am not born a prophet, but I can foresee 

 with considerable clearness how the results of the psy- 

 chological laboratory will greatly augment the efficiency 

 of the people who will accept its offer. That applied psy- 

 chology needs objective standards is beyond dispute. It 

 certainly is fascinating to study the behavior of people, 

 to ascertain individual differences, to watch modifica- 

 tions resulting from a learning process, and to observe 

 to what extent changes depend upon environmental con- 

 ditions. The changes which have occurred in industry 

 due to the application of psychological discoveries to the 

 task of the worker fully justify the enthusiasm which 

 the practical psychologist has for his limited specialty. 



This great achievement in applied psychology, how- 

 ever, should not blind us to other psychical facts which 

 are no less obvious. For forty years I have made a study 

 of the psychological basis of ethics and religion. I am 

 thoroughly convinced, as every student of the subject 

 knows, that religion and ethics are not objective sys- 

 tems formulated and turned over to man for his pledge 

 of allegiance. And yet the phenomena of religion must 

 be reckoned with. I do not find religion to be primarily 

 fidelity to an institution but loyalty to personal ideals 

 which have a psychical basis. I am fully aware of the 

 contention that these problems must be turned over to 



