SOCIAL SCIENCE.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13375, 17 March 1909, Page 2

SOCIAL SCIENCE.

♦ LECTURE BY DR. HIGHT. The first of a series of lectures relating to tlie study of social t-cienco arranged for by the Chrlstohurch Girls' Club, was given by Dr. Hight, at Canterbury College yesterday afternoon.

Dr. Might pointed out that thero wore several social sciences, ail being concerned with man grouped in organised communities, known as States. The fir-st and most obvious result of tho study of social science was to make the studenti social-minded, and to realiso that all his thoughts and actions must be based on the knowledge that on him would depend, to a certain extent, tho character of •society. The. second outcome of tihe study *was the feeling that society depended on the man no less than man depended on society. It was chiefly by tho study of social sciencethat we wei-e led to a right ohoice of th© means for the improving of social conditions. A knowledge of economics was necessary for every member of a democracy such as ours, \vhen every three yeans or so we submitted questions primarily economic in character to the judgment and votes of everyone over the age of twenty-one. AA T e did not yet realise that the New Zealand voter needed something more than honesty and good intentions. Those were essentials, but so, too, were social intelligence and some degree of constructive ability, and such could only be obtained by a certain amount of education and the study of social fellowship. The systematic study of social relations was of great assistance, especially in regard to an enquiry into the ethical character of the organisation of industrial society. Dr. Hight touched on the moral value of the study of social science, and then went on to outline tlie lectures to be given during the series. In conclusion, he dealt with the qualities necessary for successful study, pointing cut that in addition to diligence and application, a close use of a man's intellectual faculties was required. Sympathy was .also a necessity, for contempt was the greatest obstacle to tho successful pursuit of knowledge. The imagination must be called into play at every stage, for we could not, argue correctly as to the probable lines of conduct pursued by individuals unless by force of imagination we realised those conditions. The most important essential of all was regard for truth, and a desire to ascertain the actual conditions of economic life apart from any pre-eonccived notions. One must be prepared at every turn of the subject to accept disagreeable facts, to accept conclusions which mi_ht be opposed to our private or class interests, to believe in things that one might not desire to believe in. One must possess, also, the historical spirit, and recognise that the progress of tihe human race was a slow process, and one of evolution rather than revolution. If we were repealed by the evils of society, we must not ignore the great amount of good that was often silently at work which kept those evils in check. AYe must anquiro whether the summary removal of thoso evils would not entail the appearance of evils far more formidable. Most social reformers were far too denunciatory in their methods, and they saw no hope for society except in some violent change, or upheaval, or revolution. The desire for rt form was a necessary condition for healthy life, but it ought to be accompanied by a realisation of the _ood already in the world. Any good that could be done in future must be firmly based on the good already in the world. To reform society wo must make much more of the beneficial forces already working, and must measure up their possibilities, and devise means of increasing their influence, as well as creating entirely new agencies.