THE purpose of this paper is to investigate the meaning of practical success as a criterion of truth – when practical success is interpreted in terms of voluntary achievement.
To our argument one proposition is fundamental: the success of conduct is measured by the degree to which it attains its end. The truth of this statement will scarcely be disputed; it is so obvious as to seem self-evident. Yet its neglect has led to de- plorable errors-among them the attempt to biologize episte- mology. Hence it is worth-while at the outset to recite certain elementary principles. Human conduct has its source in intelligent volition. Voluntary action is action in pursuit of a con- sciously chosen end. It succeeds in so far as it realizes this end. Thus if definite meaning is to