Thames Star TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1934. SCIENCE AND MANKIND.

Thames Star, Volume LXV, Issue 19246, 30 October 1934, Page 2

Thames Star

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1934. SCIENCE AND MANKIND.

M WMh malls* towarda nomi v»ith charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God flivea urn to in the right."—Lincoln.

In the course of a recent address, the famous scientist, j3ir James Jeans, made an eloquent plea for the justification of science in regard to what it was doing for mankind. He said: "We meet in a year which has to some extent seen science arraigned before the bar of public opinion; there are many .who attribute most of present national woes —including unemployment in industry and the danger of war —to the recent rapid advance in . scientific knowledge." Sir James pointed out that it was impossible for one country to call.a halt in scientific progress because that would mean falling behind others in, industry, economic position, in its naval and military defences, and, not least important, in culture. It should be remembered that science is impartial, and is as ready, as has been proved through the ages, to provide a means of defence as well as of attack. There is no reason to suppose that the discoveries of science will make wars'" more frequent or more prolonged. The trouble is that, while man's control of nature has vastly increased, his control over himself has not advanced at the same rate. Human nature changes very slowly, but the accumulation of knowledge advances rapidly. Where we can be thrilled by the plays of the Greek tragedians, we view the writings of their scientific men moro or less as historical curiosities. Scientific knowledge is transmitted from one generation to another, while acquired characteristics are not. So far as knowledge is concerned, each generation stands on the shoulders of the last, whereas in respect of human nature they stand on the same ground. These are facts which we cannot hope to alter, but it is possible that further knowledge of such a science as psychology may enable us to carry out the precept, "know thyself," and assist in the raising of our moral nature, while eugenics and birthcontrol may improve the race. Many wars are caused by the urge for expansion due to the pressure of population, and the application of scientific knowledge may provide the means of maintaining the greater populations on smaller areas. The great argument against research is that it may lead to inventions* which will cause the displacement of labour, thus producing unemployment. The plea seems a strong one at the present, though it was "not so considered 10 years ago, and may have lost force 10 years hence. It must be admitted on a wider survey that the work of scientific men has provided profitable employment for many more in new industries than it has displaced in old ones. For instance, the economic value of Edison's work has been put at three thousand million pounds. The investigator in search of knowledge cannot tell whether his discoveries will lead to a labour-saving device, which will put men out of employment or to a new industry that will provide work for thousands. In the words, then, of Sir James Jeans, is it not better to press on in our efforts to secure more wealth and leisure and dignity of life for our own and future generations, even though we risk a glorious failure, rather than accept inglorious failure by perpetuating our present conditions, in which these advantages are the exception rather than the rule?"