The Quest for Truth (Swarthmore Lecture)

Abstract

“THE Quest for Truth” is a lecture given to the Society of Friends, of which the late Prof. Silvanus Thompson was a member; but it will be helpful to all who, like genuine students of science, put truth in the first place. Of that community any distinctive opinions are mentioned only in the latter part, and here an orthodox Churchman, though he could not admit that the Council of Nicaea decided “person” and “substance” to be the same, for the terms there used were the more adequate “hypostasis,” and “ousia,” and may think Prof. Thompson failed to apprehend the full significance of the “Virgin Birth,” will welcome the catholicity of his creed. The earlier and larger part of the lecture deals with the methods and spirit demanded in all who undertake so toilsome a pilgrimage. Here is made clear the distinction between categorical and analogical truth, the moral obligation of truth-speaking, the evils consequent on neglecting it, and those which arise from the misuse or misunderstanding of words, from over-respect for authority, from carelessness and impatience in research, and other weaknesses of human nature-evils so patent at the present day in politics, in religion, sometimes even in science.