244 Thomas Henry Huxley 



he wrote that ' ' the greatest and perhaps sole use of all 

 philosophy of pure reason, is, after all, merely nega- 

 tive, since it serves, not as an organ on (for the en- 

 largement of knowledge), but as a discipline for its 

 delimitation : and instead of discovering truth has 

 only the modest merit of preventing error." It is pre- 

 cisel)^ because it is addressed against error that agnos- 

 ticism brings not peace but a sword ; precisely because, 

 instead of adding to the beliefs of the world, it seeks 

 to examine them and perhaps by the examination to 

 diminish them, that it aroused passionate resentment. 

 In this respect it stands entirely separate and apart from 

 any other similar term, as all these implied a definite 

 acceptance or rejection of some definite propositions. 

 Agnosticism means none of these things. Huxley 

 said of it : 



" Agnosticism, in fact, is not a creed but a method, the essence 

 of which lies in a rigorous application of a single principle. That 

 principle is of great antiquity ; it is as old as Socrates; as old as 

 the writer who said, ' Try all things, hold fast by that which is 

 good'; it is the foundation of the Reformation, which simply illus- 

 trated the axiom that every man should be able to give reason for 

 the faith that is in him ; it is the great principle of Descartes ; it 

 is the fundamental axiom of modern science. Positively the 

 principle may be expressed : In matters of the intellect, follow 

 your reason as far as it will take 5'ou, without regard to any 

 other consideration. And negatively : In matters of the intel- 

 lect, do not pretend that conclusions are certain which are not 

 demonstrated or demonstrable. That I take to be the agnostic 

 faith, which, if a man keep whole and undefiled, he shall not 

 be ashamed to look the universe in the face, whatever the future 

 may have in store for him," 



