2

Logic 2

A manufacture of Theories.

knows just what he wants, and to regard the achieving act as
his final purpose. It may be not until old age reduces his
energies that he begins to ask what all this doing has been
for, and to see a value on knowing as knowing.

A theory directly aims at nothing but knowing. Maybe,
if it be sound, it is likely, some day, to prove useful. Still,
fairness forbids our making utility the criterion of utility the
excellence of the theory. One must acknowledge that such
a way of thinking would not abase logic, as it does the generality
of the sciences; for to judge of logic by its applications would
only be to judge of it by how far it does, or does not , in a certain
manner, help us to understand things. Now clearly, it is the
proper aim of any theory to do that. But this very consideration
tends to show that the touch-stone of utility is superfluous
and impertinent for logic. For suppose the science supports
the test; what then? That would merely show that it aids the

Logic 2

A manufacture of Theories.

knows just what he wants, and to regard the achieving act as
his final purpose. It may be not until old age reduces his
energies that he begins to ask what all this doing has been
for, and to see a value on knowing as knowing.

A theory directly aims at nothing but knowing. Maybe,
if it be sound, it is likely, some day, to prove useful. Still,
fairness forbids our making utility the criterion of utility the
excellence of the theory. One must acknowledge that such
a way of thinking would not abase logic, as it does the generality
of the sciences; for to judge of logic by its applications would
only be to judge of it by how far it does, or does not , in a certain
manner, help up to understand things. Now clearly, it is the
proper aim of any theory to do that. But this very consideration
tends to show that the touch-stone of utility is superfluous
and impertinent for logic. For suppose the science supports
the test; what then? That would merely show that it aids the