76

Classification of the Sci.
76

gratification of curiosity. But it is not true that pure science is or can be successfully pursued for the sake of gratifying this instinct. Indeed, if it were so pursued, it would not be true that this instinct was the cause of it. Its motive would then be the Gust-Instinct, or love of pleasure. One wish may be that another wish should be gratified; but no wish can be that that very wish should be gratified. For in that case, the wish would not have any object at all, and having no object it would not be a wish. The case is precisely like that of an assertion which should have no other subject than itself. For a wish is a sort of proposition. To long for anything is to judge it to be good and urgently good. No doubt every assertion implies that it is itself true; but it cannot consist of that alone; and so every wish that is reflective wishes itself gratified; but it must wish something else, besides. Hence, the