V.U.C. DEBATING SOCIETY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 93, 21 April 1931, Page 13

V.U.C. DEBATING SOCIETY

The subject debated last week by the V.U.C. Debating Society. Club before a largo and appreciative audience was "That the optimist is .a greater menace, to society than the pessimist." The motion was moved by Mr. Powles, seconded by Mr. ChorUon, and was opposed by Mr. O'Shca, who was seconded by Mr. Watson. Mr. Mountjoy was in the chair. Mr. Powles, in opening the debate, said that while some people were at one time optimists and at another time pessimists, for this debate they must be the one or the other. He added that an optimist is not- necessarily a happy man, while a pessimist is, since he can never be disappointed and may be plcasurably surprised by 'affairs taking a turn for the better. In opposing the motion, Mr. O'Shca stated that although a pessimist is a menace to society an optimist is a necessary evil. In his mind the optimist expressed the positive side of life, while the pessimist expressed the negative. Mr. Cliorltou staled that optimists Mere of the borrow and boom type, but they did not remember that there was a burst somewhere. Mr. Watson then calmly informed the audience that Mr. Powles had greatly insulted them iv saying that they must be cither optimists or pessimists, for if they were either they were menaces to society. He then stated that there would be no human race if there were no optimists, since perfectly logical pessimism following the teachings of Schopenhauer would allow the human race to die out. The motion was supported by Mr. Bannister,, who said that an optimist was a pessimist gone wrong. Mr. Kiske, in treating the subject from the point of view of the scientist, said it was pessimism and doubt by their fellow men and not optimism that spurred on scientists. Misses Davidson, Mac Donald, and Forde, with Messrs. Scott, Bannister, and Oosscly spoko for the motion. Miss Hursthouse, in. opposing the motion, stated that true pewiknism leads to suicide. Miss Spencc-Sales, together with Messrs. iScottcr, Hurley, Stewart, lloltingi), Charters, Harrack, and Kirkcaldie. iilsu spoke against the motion. Mr. O'Shoa briolly replied, and the debate was closed by Mr. Hurley. The judge, Professor von.-Soidlitz, placed the speakers in the following order: Mr. Rollings.-Mr. Ppwlos, Mr. Bannister, Miss rurde, Mr. Kiake, and Mr, Scottci'.