48 TWO THEORIES OF KNOWLEDGE 



and observation of natural processes themselves. 

 The result has been the establishment of modern 

 science the greatest triumph which the human 

 mind has yet achieved. 



In a criticism of the writer's essay on The Dynamic 

 Foundation of Knowledge in the Revue neo-scolastique 

 of Louvain, the critic wrote as follows : "Remarquons 

 qu'il n'a pas compris la synthese scolastique du 

 moyen age, elle qui cependant a concilie d'une 

 faQon admirable Yactuel et le potentiel dans 1'explica- 

 tion de la nature des choses. II s'est mepris aussi 

 sur les caracteres de la methode scolastique de 

 connaitre la constitution intime du monde experi- 

 mental ; il croit cette methode exclusivement 

 deductive." 



We have felt that candour demanded that we 

 should quote the foregoing passage coming as 

 it does from a source exceptionally well qualified 

 to express an opinion. If we have nevertheless 

 allowed ourselves in the precedent paragraphs of 

 this essay to express again the view which this critic 

 seeks to qualify, but which we still think in the 

 main sound, we are at the same time very glad to be 

 able in this way to invite attention to the undoubted 

 fact that the distinction between the actual and 

 the potential was recognised by the schoolmen as 

 of a very deep significance. We believe further 

 that the real secret of the failure of medievalism 

 to extend its Knowledge of Nature was riot so much 



