Aldous Huxley is no friend of Protestantism. But this quote is a very limpid statement of a fact that it is sometimes hard to get populist "evidence-based" types to acknowledge. After saying that if Behaviorism is true it is probable that Behaviorism is untrue he goes on to add:

-Aldous Huxley, Complete Essays, Volume IV: 1936-1938, "Beliefs" (originally printed in Ends and Means)

And of course, since all science is based upon faith in the validity of the mind's logical processes and the ultimate explicability of the world, it can never demonstrate any conclusion that undercuts that faith.

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Ruben
Moderator
F.P.C.I.
Indiana

Vanities and disguises have covered us, and thereby we are naked; licenciousness hath inflam'd us, and thereby we are frozen; voluptuousness hath fed us, and thereby we are sterved, the fancies and traditions of men have taught and instructed us, and thereby we are ignorant.
John Donne

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Calvinistas Conversando
Teología en Mexico
The Howling Wilderness

I heard a commencement speech recently at a liberal arts college which was one of the best lectures I have heard. He addressed the importance of a liberal education as the necessary foundation for further scientific study; and though his emphasis was on the philosophical field of ethics (If Aristotle's axiom is accepted that, man being by nature political, political science is the most fundamental study, then scientific progress must stem from the principles of the societal good and the ethical ties and obligations to one another and to the society as a whole) and not metaphysics, many of the same principles apply. If one does not understand from a philosophical (or theological?) point of view the framework in which empirical science can function, then it ceases to be useful. Whenever a system is used to attempt to overthrow its foundational assumptions, trouble's a-brewin'.

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Paul Korte
OPC
Flint, MI

They who perceive in themselves discoveries of the divine goodness, so full and absolutely perfect, and who make them the subject of earnest meditation, will never embrace new doctrines, by which the very grace they feel so powerfully in themselves is thrown into the shade. --John Calvin

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I assume by the use of 'it' in the phrase "it ceases to be useful" you are referring to empirical science. If so, then I think your statement above is mistaken. It seems to me that the utility of science is independent of any understanding of the philosophical foundation for science. For instance, the utility of my car seems to be independent of my understanding of the theory of combustion engines.

Brian

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Brian Bosse
Faith Community Church
Tucson, Arizona

Wholly agreed. I spoke inaccurately. I intended to state that it ceases to be useful once the foundations are forgotten and therefore it attempts to go beyond its capabilities. Either way, I learned long ago never to express disagreement with anyone whose name is, in fact, "The Brain," so I willingly yield the palm to you on on anything.

Hello Paul,

When I was first learning how to spell, I would frequently misspell my name 'Brain.' As a result, my parents started calling me 'Brain' and it stuck. A little inauspicious, huh?

Brian

Don't feel bad, Brian. Mine was often misspelled 'Brat'. We both seem to have conformed to the connotations attached to our errant spellings, but mine to a much less desirable result. Just ask anybody on PB.

-----Added 7/4/2009 at 08:29:32 EST-----

BTW Ruben, I first heard part of that quote of Huxley in a sermon by Barnhouse, making the same point; that even a rank unbeliever with any intellect could see that a form of faith was necessary to swallow the assertions of atheistic scientific theories.

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Brad
Member- Eagle Heights PCA
Winchester, VA

Pro 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.

Isa 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

It's remarkable, but Huxley makes many of the same points as Lewis: of course, some other points he makes are soundly refuted in a proleptic manner by Chesterton.

Mine was most often misspelled, 'Hey you!' and others that can't be posted here.

Theognome

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Bill Cunningham
Covenant Reformed Church, URC
Kansas City
There are three kinds of people- those who can count, and those who can't.