In determining what ideas are true and what actions
are sound, Humanism depends upon human reason un-
aided, and unimpeded, by any alleged supernatural
sources. Reason at its best and most successful is essentially
synonymous with scientific method. We come nearest to
living the life of reason when we approximate most closely
to the methods of science in our treatment of difficulties
and in our solution or attempted solution of problems.
During a large proportion of our waking careers, how-
ever, when we are acting according to long-established
habit or are immersed in the immediate enjoyment of
things, we are not engaged in trying either to solve prob-
lems or to enlarge our knowledge. Hence it is only part
of the time that we need to use reason and scientific
method.

Historically there have been five chief ways of seeking
the truth: through revelation, through authority, through
intuition, through rationalism and through scientific
method. Traditional religion has relied heavily on super-
natural revelation in its quest for knowledge, as when some
revered prophet or religious leader receives the word of

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