PRACTICAL PSYCHOLOGY CLUB

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21430, 3 September 1931, Page 11

PRACTICAL PSYCHOLOGY CLUB

Miss Mercer presided over the last open night of the Dunedin Practical Psychology Club, when Mr H. C. M'Queen addressed members and friends on the “Ethics of Aristotle." Mr M'Queen said that the present-day political, social, and industrial systems were permeated and entwined with this famous Grecian philosopher’s theories. Aristotle was born in 384 8.c., and, it should be remembered, his logic, formed before the Christian Era, had grown into our daily conception, although when conceived it was intended for the small State of Athens. It was claimed that the first efforts to observe, classify and attempt to define natural phenomena were made by Aristotle. Science consisted of four processes: (a) Collection of data; (b) arrangement of data; (c) formulation of a theory (framing of a law) which fitted the facts; and (d) checking the theory by further facts and modifying if necessary, It could not be said he evolved the ideal method, being handicapped by limited opportunities of observation and lack of instruments of precision. He had no microscope, but the value of his work was obvious when it was realised there was no information more modern than his regarding the breeding habits of a catfish known as Parasilueus Aristotelis. Aristotle founded the science of logic; i.e., that study which formulated methods of thought, set up rules by which faults of thinking could be criticised. The intellectual characteristics of Aristotle as shown by his works presented a groat contrast with those of his master Plato. Plato in his “Republic” described an ideal commonwealth. His pupil Aristotle in his “Politics” wrote of definite knowledge. The purpose of Aristotle’s ethics was to determine what was the good, and the subject of the book he called his politics was—“ What can law do to promote this good in the community? All were agreed that the highest good was happiness, and held that to “ live well ” or “ do well ” was the same as to be happy. Modern theory in education had come back to this; the child was born neither good nor bad, but a “ moral.” We found it hard to be consistent in applying this theory since our fathers were brought up in the notion of original sin. Aristotle’s views on slavery were found to be limited by his time and class. The slave was regarded as a piece of property which was animate. Slavery was natural, ns in every department of the natural universe we found the relation of ruler and subject. There were human beings who without possessing reason understood it. These were natural slaves. At the conclusion of his lecture, Mr M'Queen was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.