Letters, Jun. 26, 1950

(2 of 3)

In the Philosopher Quinton-Father Cor-bishley controversy on the existence of God [TIME, June 5], it is interesting to note that Roman Catholic Corbishley ultimately defends God's existence on what is essentially a Protestant and not a Roman Catholic position, i.e., justification by faith.

He defends his right to believe in God on the same grounds as Atheist Quinton defends his right to believe in the truth of empirical truth—both are ultimately unprovable assumptions accepted on faith. In this Father Corbishley is right, but according to the Roman Catholic 1949 revised Baltimore Catechism, "Reason unaided by revelation can prove that God exists."

W. BURNET EASTON JR. Appleton, Wis.

Sir:

Philosopher Quinton certainly blundered when he asserted, in reply to Father Corbishley, that the statement "No statement is true unless it is verifiable" is true.

According to logical positivism, the statement is neither true nor false, because it is not the kind of a statement to which "true" or "false" applies. Quinton's reply is therefore, in terms of his own philosophy, (empirically) meaningless, and Father Corbishley scored only an emotional victory.

Buffalo, N.Y. JOHN LOGA

Sir:

. . . Philosopher Quinton's "boop" logic reminds me of the men who saw a windmill near a canal in a windy meadow.

Asked by his companion the principle on which the mill operated, one man replied that water from the house nearby was pumped through pipes to the top of the mill. This water, flowing down to the canal, turned the mill arms, and the revolving arms created the delightful breeze. Raleigh, N.C. MAHALAH DEVINEY

Sir:

. . . How is it that the most pragmatic of men, researchers of the stamp of [Dr. Arthur] Compton and [Dr. Robert] Millikan . . . have come to an abiding, deep-set belief in the existence of a Supreme Being?

Let the logical positivists remember the 350-year-old but still valid words of Francis Bacon: "Small learning inclineth a man to atheism; deeper study turneth him again toward God."

New York City HOWARD L. MORRIS

Spin Call Techniques

Sir:

Re your article on Harvard freshmen and telephones [TIME, June 5]: We would like to say that the residents of Matthews [Hall] North have mastered the technique of spinning pennies in telephones to a greater extent than have our classmates in Stoughton Hall.

To spin the penny through the nickel slot, we employ a small key instead of a screwdriver. And never have we had to resort to a baseball bat or brick! We are proud, moreover, of the cordial relations which we have maintained with New England Telephone & Telegraph Co. The phone in Matthews North is still standing on the wall.

CARLFRED BRODERICK '53

ALAN LEFKOWITZ '53

HAROLD SILBERMAN '53

DAVID STEWART '53

Harvard University Cambridge, Mass.

Sir:

It was with great surprise that I read of our brothers at Harvard having a "new" method of cheating the telephone company.

. . . The intellects of Vincent House here have practiced this noble art for many years . . . and the skill which some of our fellows possess is legendary to the Illinois Bell Telephone Co. ...