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truth it was the function of the " Ages of Faith " 

 to root in the conscience of mankind. "Abeunt 

 studia in mores." As contrasted with Pyrrhonism, 

 scepticism in its normal sense, while it declares 

 that the conformity of notions with things in 

 themselves cannot be postulated, for lack of an 

 external standpoint of comparison, and while it- 

 declines to be confuted by the "regressus ad in- 

 finitum," for, having repudiated first principles it 

 is prepared to be pushed backwards to remoter 

 and remoter causes, is ready nevertheless to yield to 

 assurance as facts are intercalated into inferences, 

 and as inferences thus stiffened by verification are 

 found to consist with each other and with the 

 general context of experience. 



If in the Middle Ages these various attitudes of 

 mind were not fully distinguished, yet scepticism 

 was moving variably towards the demand for verifi- 

 cation on which all natural science is based; and 

 the reaction was not long delayed. In the thirteenth 

 century the culture of Omeyad and Abasid caliphs 

 failed ; by the end of the century philosophy was 

 denounced and its books were burned ; the generous 

 and learned Frederick dashed himself in vain 

 against the Papacy ; Clement, the protector of 



