EXAMINATION OF THE PRINCIPLES 143 



belief. In the long run, true belief is an indispensable and most 

 potent condition of happiness, and it would be a careless view 

 of the thought-function that would overlook this fact. But with 

 any particular belief the case may be very different. The effect 

 of a belief may easily be to plunge a man into despair; and it 

 then finds its confirmation as aptly in the catastrophe that fol 

 lows as the most ardent hope could find it in the most complete 

 success. In either case, the total satisfaction of the agent is 

 irrevelant, so far as the truth of his belief is concerned. The 

 fulfillment of expectation, which constitutes verification, owes 

 nothing of its logical significance to the happiness or misery of 

 the conscious agent. 



In the type of conduct by which human knowledge is most 

 efficiently furthered namely, the scientific experiment the only 

 interest felt to be at stake is the confirmation or rejection of a 

 theory. The collateral profits&quot; to be expected are often prac 

 tically nil. It is true, that the general result of successful scien 

 tific endeavor is an immense enlargement of the means of human 

 happiness. Bacon was surely not in the wrong when he de 

 clared that fruitfulness in useful inventions is a fair test of the 

 healthful condition of the sciences. But that does not alter the 

 character of the specific inquiry. Its outcome does not wait 

 for its truth upon the benefits derived from any particular appli 

 cation. 



We thus find that the relation between the love of truth and 

 the totality of our interests is quite similar to that between 

 happiness and survival. While very largely in mutual accord, 

 truth and happiness are nevertheless distinct ends, even where 

 they appear to coincide. From the point of view of utility, the 

 adequacy of a concept is on a par with the soundness of a limb. 

 From the point of view of truth, the success of one well-planned ef- 



is not a perfect negative criterion of truth. The repeated resurrection of theories 

 long thought dead and buried is striking proof of this. All our formulae, as applied 

 in action, contain an in so far as or an other things being equal. It is generally 

 possible to say, with the bungling professor of chemistry: &quot;Gentlemen, the experi 

 ment has failed; but the principle still holds true.&quot; The very imperfection of 

 cience gives it a certain independence of the individual datum. 



