The notion that thought, apart from action, can warrant complete certitude as to the status of supreme good, makes no contribu- tion to the central problem of development of intelligent methods of regulation. It rather depresses and deadens effort in that direction. That is the chief indictment to be brought against the classic philosophic tradition. Its import raises the question of the relation which action sustains to knowledge in fact, and whether the quest for certainty by other means than those of intelligent action does not mark abaneful diversion of thought from its proper office.