298 THE PROBLEM OF KNOWLEDGE 



into frank, healthy, and direct expressions of the 

 simple act of free living? On the other hand, how 

 can civilization preserve its own integral value and 

 import when subordinated to the agency of the 

 individual instead of exercising supreme sway over 

 him? 



The question of knowledge, of the discovery and 

 statement of truth, gives the answer to this ques 

 tion; and it alone gives the answer. Admitting 

 that the practical problem of modern life is the 

 maintenance of the moral values of civilization 

 through the medium of the insight and decision of 

 the individual, the problem is foredoomed to futile 

 failure save as the individual in performing his 

 task can work with a definite and controllable tool. 

 This tool is science. But this very fact, constitut 

 ing the dignity of science and measuring the im 

 portance of the philosophic theory of knowledge, 

 conferring upon them the religious value once at 

 taching to dogma and the disciplinary significance 

 once belonging to political rules, also sets their 

 limit. The servant is not above his master. 



When a theory of knowledge forgets that its 

 value rests in solving the problem out of which it 

 has arisen, viz., that of securing a method of action ; 

 when it forgets that it has to work out the condi 

 tions under which the individual may freely direct 

 himself without loss to the historic values of civili 

 zation when it forgets these things it begins to 



