SOCIETY AND SCIENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 144, 14 December 1940, Page 19

SOCIETY AND SCIENCE

The development of science is the most striking characteristic of modern society. It has enorrriously increased productive power and the command over disease. But in spite of this, the modern world is convulsed with war and social disorder, instead of living in peace, plenty, and happiness. It is natural to ask whether science is responsible for this situation. The question cannot be answered without ah understanding of the relation of science to society. Mr. J. G. Crowther's "The Social Relations of Science," published by Macmillan, contains a sustained analysis of the social causes that have brought science into existence. He has discussed how men's minds were directed towards the study of the material world, and how this led to the invention of tools, agriculture, and medicine. Then he analyses the origin and place of science in Greek, Roman, and Moslem civilisation, and discusses why the complete scientific method was not perfected by these peoples. He attributes this chiefly to the disrepute of manual work in their societies. The growth of experimental research occurred after the social emancipation of the handicraftsmen in medieval times, and it seems probable that this social event, brought about by the development of medieval society,- is the Chief cause, of- the rise of modern science, which is characterised by an equal combination of theory and prac« tice. Mr. Crowther then reviews the influence of society on science since the Renaissance, so that the reader may approach the problems of today with a firm conception of science as a social j product. Finally, he discusses the organisation of science today, what may be expected from science in the future, and how science may be used to make the world a better place, not by Utopian suggestions, but by following intelligently scientific tendencies that are already in existence.