270 HUMANISM xv 



and the freedom of thought and the duty of toleration on 

 the other. This it is that evokes so much feeling on both 

 sides, when it is (more or less clearly) perceived ; and 

 rightly, for the question is plainly one of universal import 

 and worth fighting over. It should, however, have been 

 explained that the decision of this question does not 

 rest with popes and theologians, but with philosophers 

 and scientists : for it depends ultimately on the view that 

 is taken of Truth. 



Very few have understood the claim to infallibility. 

 Nearly all would scout the idea that we may all be 

 infallible, even the silliest of us, if we will only equip 

 ourselves with a suitable view of Truth. In non-Catholic 

 countries it is commonly supposed that the infallibility of 

 the Pope is the acme of theological extravagance, and 

 that the Vatican Council of 1870 irretrievably stultified 

 Romanism for ever in the eyes of reason by its enunciation 

 of this monstrous dogma. In point of fact, infallibility is 

 an essential postulate implicit in all rationalistic philosophy, 

 and the dogma of the Roman Church is merely the 

 religious formulation of a belief which it shares with 

 nearly all its critics. The infallibility of the Pope differs 

 from that of the philosopher and the common man only 

 in being limited, relatively reasonable and couched in 

 singularly guarded and moderate terms. For the Pope, 

 when he claims to be infallible, does not believe himself 

 to be infallible on all and sundry subjects, but only when 

 speaking on matters of religious faith, and that solemnly 

 and in his capacity as head of an infallible Church. And 

 he takes great care not to say when he is speaking in this 

 capacity, so that practically the dogma is comparatively 

 innocuous. Whereas the common man claims infallibility 

 for every thought that may chance to come into his head 

 at any time, whether or not it agrees with what he said 

 a moment ago. He attributes, moreover, to every one 

 else a similar endowment with infallibility, regardless of 

 the consequences. 



It is true, no doubt, that the man in the street is 

 unaware of the monstrous claim he makes. But this 



