Leap of Faith
To understand Truth, you must first believe Truth. Understanding comes only through faith. I believe so that I may understand. You must first take a leap of faith, then you will discover that your leap was correct. The scientific method works in the same way. You first make a hypothesis, an educated guess. Then, working under this hypothesis, you set about observing and experimenting to see if your assumption was correct.
St. Anselm argued that by first accepting the idea of God, that than which nothing greater can be conceived, and accepting that God exists, at least in the mind, and then operating under that assumption, one would come to the conclusion that God must exist, not only in the mind, but also in reality. If He did not He wouldn't be God.
Can the theory still work if the assumption is wrong? Let's try this: assume 2+2=5. Working under this assumption, we discover that 2+2+1=5. Then we discover that something is wrong. Two different equations cannot have the same solution. We also discover that 2+2+1=5 and 4+1=5. Now we have discovered the solution, 2+2=4, not 5. So, if your assumption is wrong, then this method will discover the error, and even discover the solution.
This all begins with making a leap of faith: God exists, or 2+2=5. So only by making a leap of faith can one discover Truth.
Credo ut Intellegam – I believe so that I may understand
Per Fidem Inlustror – By faith I am enlightened
© Copyright 2004, Jason E. Heath
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