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EXAMINATION OF THE DOCTRINE OF SELF-SUFFICIENT VALIDITY' 1335
TEXT (2975).
OUR ANSWER TO THE ABOVE IS AS FOLLOWS:IT IS THROUGH THE DOUBT. FUL COGNITION ITSELF THAT THE CLEVER MAN HAS RECOURSE TO ACTIVITY ; AND THIS DOES NOT DETRACT FROM HIS
CLEVERNESS.--(2975)
COMMENTARY.
Activity is of two kinds-(a) tending to fruitful activity, and (b) tending to the ascertainment of validity.-As regards the former, it has been already explained how that activity is possible, even when there is Doubt ; and the reason for this lies in the fact that Sense-perception prompts man to activity by the mere Cognition of the thing envisaged by it; and such activity does not detract from the cleverness of the man; because in the case of agriculturists, activity is found, even though the issue in the matter is doubtful. This is what is meant by the Text.-It will not be right to assert that--"agriculturists are regarded as intelligent agents only because they have recourse to activity only when they are sure regarding the efficacy of the measures adopted by them".-Because the Measures are always dependent upon the nature of what is meant to be obtained through them; and hence, if there is no certainty regarding the End, there can be none regarding the Means (or Measures).—(2975)
The following Text proceods to point out that the second kind of activity (that tending to the ascertainment of validity) is all the more proper,whore there is Doubt regarding validity :
TEXT (2976).
IT IS BECAUSE OF THE MAN HAVING ACTED ON THE BASIS OF A DOUBT, IN REGARD TO THE ASCERTAINMENT OF VALIDITY, THAT ITS BEING THE PROPER MEANS CAN BE ASCERTAINED; SO THAT THERE IS THIS
EVEN WHEN THERE IS DOUBT. -(2976)
COMMENTARY.
Because, in regard to the ascertainment of validity, the man acts through a doubtful idea, and thereby he ascertains the fact of the thing being the proper Means, therefore it is only right that there should be activity in regard to that Means, even when there is Doubt.-(2976)
Question: "How is the fact of its being the Means ascertained ?" Answer -