100 BELIEFS AND EXISTENCES 



toric sciences are equally explicit in their evidence 

 that knowledge as a system of information and 

 instruction is a cooperative social achievement, 

 at all times socially toned, sustained, and directed ; 

 and that logical thinking is a reweaving through 

 individual activity of this social fabric at such 

 points as are indicated by prevailing needs and 

 aims. 



This bulky and coherent body of testimony is 

 not, of course, of itself philosophy. But it sup 

 plies, at all events, facts that have scientific back 

 ing, and that are as worthy of regard as the facts 

 pertinent to any science. At the present time these 

 facts seem to have some peculiar claim just be 

 cause they present traits largely ignored in prior 

 philosophic formulations, while those belonging to 

 mathematics and physics have so largely wrought 

 their sweet will on systems. Again, it would seem 

 as if in philosophies built deliberately upon the 

 knowledge principle, any body of known facts 

 should not have to clamor for sympathetic atten 

 tion. 



Such being the case, the reasons for ruling 

 psychology and sociology and allied sciences out of 

 competency to give philosophic testimony have 

 more significance than the bare denial of juris 

 diction. They are evidences of the deep-rooted 

 preconception that whatever concerns a particular 

 conscious agent, a wanting, struggling, satisfied 



