190 Science Religion and Reality 



it is probable that for this occasion he put out of mind scientific 

 truths about astronomical motions, the constitution of planks and 

 the laws of probability, and was content to follow the same crude 

 conception of his task that presented itself to the mind of his 

 unscientific colleague. 



What is the purpose and status of the strange conception of 

 our environment here alluded to, which we docket as scientific 

 truth — to be kept, as it were, pigeon-holed and not employed 

 indiscriminately in practical aflPairs ? The question is not to be 

 dismissed by a dogmatic classification of scientific truth as superior 

 and commonplace truth as inferior, or of commonplace truth as 

 practical and scientific truth as pedantic. Each has its legitimate 

 sphere distinguished not by hard and fast boundaries but by that 

 more elusive criterion " a sense of proportion." Usually the limits 

 are reasonably well observed in matters of daily life ; perhaps they 

 have not been so well recognised (by either side) in regard to 

 religion, which is after all a very commonplace matter of daily life. 

 At least it should be realised that just as there is one conception of 

 our physical environment appropriate to scientific inquiry and 

 another conception appropriate to the ordinary daily contact, so 

 there will be one conception of our spiritual environment appro- 

 priate to philosophical theology and another conception appropriate 

 to daily needs In applying scientific conceptions to religion we 

 must guard not only against errors but against pedantry. It is said 

 that a steam-hammer can be adjusted to crack a nut, but notwith- 

 standing this triumph it is still expedient to employ nut-crackers. 



It would not be fair to conclude from a special illustration that 

 scientific truth has no concern with the practical affairs of hfe. 

 If instead of stepping into a room our two friends were, for the 

 first time in their lives, about to step off an escalator, the physicist 

 (if he did not in the excitement of the occasion forget the principles 

 of mechanics) would presumably be the more successful. Every- 

 one knows that science has profound application in practical affairs, 

 and there is great need for wider dissemination of scientific truth. 

 But the point of the illustration is that we shall not advance the 

 cause of science in practical affairs by insisting on scientific con- 

 ceptions for all occasions, with no sense of proportion. Perhaps 

 the stern moralist will say reprovingly, " How can you be content 

 with less than the highest truth as known to you ? Whatever 

 practical expediency may suggest, do not continue to surround 



