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man's fitness for university work。 Such a step； however； is not
to be taken unless the case is urgent； if there is danger of
estranging the affections of potential donors； or if it involves
anything like overt disloyalty to the executive head。
This is one of the points at which it is necessary to recall
the fact that no settled code of business ethics has yet been
worked out for the guidance of competitive university management；
nor is it easy to see how such a code can be worked out； so long
as the university remains ostensibly a seat of learning； unable
to avow any other ground of action than a single…minded pursuit
of knowledge。 It has been alleged indeed it is fast becoming a
tradition that the executives of the great competitive
universities habitually allow some peculiar latitude as touches
the canons of truth and fair dealing。 If this describes the
facts； it should not be counted against these discreet men who so
have to tax their ingenuity； but against the situation in which
they are placed； which makes it impracticable to observe a nice
discrimination in matters of veracity。 Statements of fact； under
such conditions； will in great part be controlled by the end to
be accomplished； rather than by antecedent circumstances； such
statements are necessarily of a teleological order。 As in other
competitive business； facts have in this connection only a
strategic value； but the exigencies of strategy here are
peculiarly exacting； and often rigorous。
Academic tradition and current common sense unite in imposing
on the universities the employment of prominent scholars and
scientists； in that men of note in this class have a high
prestige value for purposes of publicity； and it was suggested
above that a reservation of some breadth must be made on this
head。 Common notoriety is the due test of eminence which the
competitive university must apply in the selection of its
notables。 But in the sciences that deal with the less tangible
and measureable data； the so…called moral or social sciences；
common notoriety is not even an approximately accurate index of
scientific capacity or attainments； and still it is； of course；
the standing of the incumbents in point of common notoriety that
must chiefly be had in view in any strict valuation of them for
purposes of academic prestige。 They are needed for the
advertising value which they bring； and for this purpose they are
valuable somewhat in proportion to the rank awarded them by
common report among that unlearned element； whose good opinion
the competitive university must conciliate。 But in the nature of
the case； within the range of sciences named； the estimate of the
unlearned is necessarily in the wrong。
With the exception of archaeological inquiries and the study
of law； as commonly pursued； these moral or social sciences are
occupied with inquiry into the nature of the conventions under
which men live； the institutions of society customs； usages；
traditions； conventions； canons of conduct； standards of life； of
taste； of morality and religion； law and order。 No faithful
inquiry into these matters can avoid an air of scepticism as to
the stability or finality of some one or other among the received
articles of institutional furniture。 An inquiry into the nature
and causes； the working and the outcome； of this institutional
apparatus； will disturb the habitual convictions and
preconceptions on which they rest； even if the outcome of the
inquiry should bear no colour of iconoclasm； unless； indeed； the
inquirer were so fortunate as to start with an inalienable
presumption that the received convictions on these matters need
no inquiry and are eternally right and good； in which case he
does best to rest content at his point of departure。 Scepticism
is the beginning of science。 Herein lies the difference between
homiletical exposition and scientific inquiry。
Now； on these matters of habit and convention； morality and
religion； law and order matters which intimately touch the
community's accepted scheme of life all men have convictions；
sentimental convictions to which they adhere with an instinctive
tenacity； and any disturbance of which they resent as a violation
of fundamental truth。 These institutions of society are made up
of the habits of thought of the people who live under them。 The
consensus of the unlearned； or unscientific； as regards the
scientific validity of inquiries which touch these matters means
little else than the collective expressions of a jealous
orthodoxy with respect to the articles of the current social
creed。 One who purports to be a scientist in this field can gain
popular approval of his scientific capacity； particularly the
businessmen's approval； only by accepting and confirming current
convictions regarding those elements of the accepted scheme of
life with which his science is occupied。 Any inquiry which does
not lead to corroboration of the opinions in vogue among the
unlearned is condemned as being spurious and dangerously
wrong…headed； whereas an unbiassed inquiry into these things； of
course； neither confirms nor disputes the scheme of things into
which it inquires。 And so； at the best； it falls into the same
class with the fabled Alexandrine books that either agreed with
the Koran or disagreed with it； and were therefore either idle or
sacrilegious。
Within this field； vulgar sentiment will tolerate a sceptical
or non…committal attitude toward vulgar convictions only as
regards the decorative furnishings； not as regards the substance
of the views arrived at。 Some slight play of hazardous phrases
about the fringe of the institutional fabric may be tolerated by
the popular taste； as an element of spice； and as indicating a
generous and unbiassed mind； but in such cases the conclusive
test of scientific competency and leadership； in the popular
apprehension； is a serene and magniloquent return to the orthodox
commonplaces； after all such playful excursions。 In fact；
substantially nothing but homiletics and woolgathering will pass
popular muster as science in this connection。
So it comes about that the men who are by common notoriety
held to be the leaders in this field of learning； and who
therefore are likely to be thrown up by official preferment； are
such as enlarge on the commonplace and aphoristic wisdom of the
laity。 Not that the official sanction falls unfailingly on the
paragons of mediocrity； there are many and illustrious
exceptions； a fair proportion of whom would be illustrious even