SCIENCE AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 255, 24 July 1937, Page 7 (Supplement)

SCIENCE AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Thought-Provoking Book “Wliat Science Stands for,” by various authors (London: Allen and Unwin ). This hook records the outstanding contributions to the Blackpool meeting of the British Association, and is significant of the dawning point of view that science and social responsibility may no longer remain divorced or in watertight compartments, as in the past. There is a broadcast on “The Humanity of Science” by Professor A. V. Hill, secretary of the Royal Society, and addresses on “Nutritional Science and State Planning” (Sir John Boyd Orr F.R.S.), “The Chemist in the Service of the Community” (Professor J. C. Philip, 0.8. E., F.R.S.), “Cultural and Social Values of Science” (Sir Richard Gregory, Bt., F.R.S.), “Knowledge and Power” (Sir A. Daniel Hall, 0.8. E., F.R.S.), and “Naturalistic Studies in the Education of the Citizen” (Professor Lancelot Hogben, F.R.S.). In spite of differing angles of view these addresses have in common the emphasising of the point that all science is ceasing to be a thing for the interest and edification of the scientist alone. The old picture of the absentminded professor with the long white beard must definitely be scrapped now that the results of his labours play a practical part for good or evil in the everyday life of the average citizen who can no longer think of “science” as a’ subject for half-contemptuous criticism. The man of science to-day bears a remarkable resemblance to other men. He may be more alert, more contemplative than most, but he can no longer “tinker” away unmolested with impractical and theoretical experiments. The far-reaching results of such experiments in the national and international life of. the community have become overwhelmingly evident in the last, say, 30 years, that it is now a matter of life and death for the ordinary man to understand the general meaning of invention and experiment, and to co-operate as intelligently as may be. In all these addresses, though of varying expression, this point is stressed and a new era hailed. Not necessarily an era of happiness, but rather of more wide-awake responsibility in all sections. This is a thoughtprovoking little volume which should be read by any who have the social welfare of the community and of the world at large at heart.