132 THE INTELLECTUALIST CRITERION 



ing is absolute (that is final) within thinking. 

 But what is thinking? The standard of black- 

 smithing must be absolute within blacksmithing, 

 but what is blacksmithing? No prejudice pre 

 vents acknowledging that blacksmithing is one 

 practical activity existing as a distinct and rele 

 vant member of a like system of activities : that it 

 is because men use horses to transport persons and 

 goods that horses need to be shod. The ultimate 

 criterion of blacksmithing is producing a good 

 shoe, but the nature of a good shoe is fixed, 

 not by blacksmithing, but by the activities in 

 which horses are used. The end is ultimate (abso 

 lute) for the operation, but this very finality is 

 evidence that the operation is not absolute and 

 self-inclosed, but is related and responsible. Why 

 must the fact that the end of thinking is ultimate 

 for thought stand on any different footing? 



Let us then, by way of experiment, follow this 

 suggestion. Let us assume that among real objects 

 in their values and significances, real oppositions 

 and incompatibilities exist; that these conflicts are 

 both troublesome in themselves, and the source of 

 all manner of further difficulties so much so that 

 they may be suspected of being the source of all 

 man s woe, of all encroachment upon and destruc 

 tion of value, of good. Suppose that thinking 

 is, not accidentally but essentially, a way, and the 

 only way that proves adequate, of dealing with 



