Of the reality or unreality of the mystic's world I know nothing. I have no wish to deny it, nor even to declare that the in-sight which reveals it is not a genuine insight. What I do wish to maintain—and it is here that the scientific attitude becomes imperative—is that insight, untested and unsupported, is an in-sufficient guarantee of truth, in spite of the fact that much of the most important truth is first suggested by its means. It is common to speak of an opposition between instinct and reason; in the eighteenth century, the opposition was drawn in favor of reason, but under the influence of Rousseau and the romantic movement instinct was given the preference, first by those who rebelled against artificial forms of government and thought, and then, as the purely rationalistic defense of traditional theology became increasingly difficult, by all who felt in science a menace to creeds which they associated with a spiritual outlook on life and the world. Bergson, under the name of "intuition," has raised instinct to the position of sole arbiter of metaphysical truth. But in fact, the opposition of instinct and reason is mainly illusory. Instinct, intuition, or insight is what first leads to the beliefs which subsequent reason confirms or confutes; but the confirmation, where it is possible, consists, in the last analysis, of agreement with other beliefs no less instinctive. Reason is a harmonizing, controlling force rather than a creative one. Even in the most purely logical realm, it is insight that first arrives at what is new.
Passage 1
GRADE:11
Word Lists:
Thin : having opposite surfaces or sides close together; of little thickness or depthGain : obtain or secure (something desired, favorable, or profitable)
Reality : the world or the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them
Control : the power to influence or direct people's behavior or the course of events
Fact : a thing that is known or proved to be true
Mean : intend to convey, indicate, or refer to (a particular thing or notion); signify
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