More Light

One of the scholarly scientists of our day writes: “We are learning more and more the high cost of discovering the truth about anything. Our subject matter is so complex that we never reach more than half-truths, and first approximations.”⁷² This wholesome admission offers a viewpoint which scholarship in all its fields would do well to remember in mind. New discovery is constantly unseating those things which were scientifically thought to be fundamental until today or yesterday. A college textbook from a generation ago is today, in some measure, a collection of odd and out-dated misinformation. What some of our instructors once readily assured us was the final word in many fields and in many instances, it now seems was not the final word at all—but merely the best guess someone could make at the time from the evidence then available. Much as we know, we know so little compared to the great unknown. It is doubtful if a man by his own unaided senses can positively know the truth about anything, without first having placed himself in touch with the spirit of all truth. If we do this, and if we reserve dogmatic declarations until such time as we have more light, many foolish and time-consuming controversies will dissolve themselves and we shall have a good deal more energy to devote to constructive thought and purpose. Blessed is the man who has the courage to say “I do not know,” when in reality he doesn’t know but only supposes. In searching with humility and open minds we are more likely to come closer to truth–and in the meantime we do not stand so much in danger of having to reverse ourselves by reason of our dogmatism.