skepticism, that there is no contradiction in our basic theories. (Note that this does not mean that such skepticism is rational; it only means that it cannot be refuted with absolute rigour.) Other responses The sociologist Wolf Lepenies discussed the with the opinion that du Bois-Reymond was not really pessimistic about science: This was in regards to Friedrich Wolters, one of the members of the literary group "George-Kreis". Lepenies thought that Wolters misunderstood the degree of pessimism being expressed about science, but understood the implication that scientists themselves could be trusted with self-criticism. Lepenies was repeating the criticism, first leveled in 1874 by du Bois-Reymond's rival Ernst Haeckel, that the "seemingly humble but actually presumptuous is the of the infallible Vatican and of the 'Black International' which it heads." Haeckel overstated his charge: du Bois-Reymond had never supported the Catholic Church, and far from professing humility he reminded his audience that while our knowledge was indeed bounded by mysteries of matter and mind, within these limits "the man of science is lord and master; he can analyze and synthesize, and no one can fathom the extent of his knowledge and power". In response to his critics du Bois-Reymond modified his watchword in The Seven World Riddles (1880) to that of ("We doubt it.") The issue of whether science has limits continues to attract scholarly attention. William James has referred to this maxim in his lecture "Reflex action and theism" in relating it to agnosticism, which gives man no practical tools for his volitions. The Quarterly Review also regarded the maxim as the ensign of agnosticism:To the average citizen who reads as he runs, and who is unacquainted with any tongue save his native British, it may well appear that the Gospel of Unbelief, preached among us during the last half-century, has had its four Evangelists–the Quadrilateral, as they have been called, whose works and outworks, demilunes and frowning bastions, take the public eye, while above them floats the agnostic banner with its strange device, ‘Ignoramus et Ignorabimus.’ See also Acatalepsy Hubris I know that I know nothing Ignorance management Ignotum per ignotius List of Latin phrases Strong agnosticism Unknown unknown Notes Epistemology of science Philosophical phrases Latin words and phrases Concepts in epistemology Ignorance Skepticism 1870s neologisms Quotations from literature Quotations from philosophy