Sir,-"‘Student" must be a very young scientist who has just had some of the idols of his market-place bowled over; and, since he has found that experimental science cannot give him metaphysical certitude, he has rushed to the triumphant conclusion that nothing can give certitude. Sate sanguine Descartes! Does "Student" really think that all our convictions are either scientific conclusions or mere superstitions? A little serious thought, I venture to predict, will convince him that there are certain things more fundamental than science or faith. Let him find them, and he will have found an absolutely certain foundation which no finding of science can shake, a foundation on which he can build a reasonable faith and which will furnish him with a criterion which will save his science from absurdity. But on his present premises he might as well join Cratylus in the market-place, or Schopenhauer in "one grand, universal suicide."
F.
D.
(Wellington),
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19451109.2.13.14
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
New Zealand Listener, Volume 13, Issue 333, 9 November 1945, Page 25
Word count
Tapeke kupu
154Untitled New Zealand Listener, Volume 13, Issue 333, 9 November 1945, Page 25
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Material in this publication is protected by copyright.
Are Media Limited has granted permission to the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa to develop and maintain this content online. You can search, browse, print and download for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Are Media Limited for any other use.
Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
Copyright in the Denis Glover serial Hot Water Sailor published in 1959 is owned by Pia Glover. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this serial and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the Listener. You can search, browse, and print this serial for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Pia Glover for any other use.
Log in