REGIMENTING URGE

Waikato Independent, Volume XL, Issue 3669, 17 February 1940, Page 3

REGIMENTING URGE

THE FUTURE OF MANKIND FATEFUL CHOICE FACED Columbus (Ohio), Jan. 1. The future of mankind as an inhabitant of the earth is less a problem of overcoming: physical odds than it is a problem of choosing between the merits of regimentation or democracy, Dr. Kirtley F. Mather, Professor of /Geology at Harvard, 'told the American Association for the Advancement of Science here in the annual lecture of the Society of Sigma Xll, national academic fraternity for the promotion of research in natural science. 'lt is in the . yearning for freedom, the love of beauty, the . search for truth, the recognition of moral law, and the awareness of 'spiritual forces that human nature is distinguished from all other sorts of nature, Dr. Mather said. Because men are able to build their own living conditions by the applications of natural science and technology there is little danger that mankind will disappear from the earth because of changes in climate or environment, he observed. But in the solution of physical problems of existence come many bruising contacts with' moral and spiritual problems whose solutions are essential for continued existence. Critical Question. “The critical question now is: How can two or three billion human beings be satisfactorily organised for the wise use and equitable dis>ribu-

tion of resources which are abundant enough for all but which are unevenly scattered over the face of the earth?” he asked. “Clearly, the future of man depends upon finding and applying the correct answer to that particular problem. “Man’s golden age is still in the future. As a comfortable place in which to live the earth probably will last for scores of millions of years. The present period , is a time of unusually rugged and extensive lands with notably varied climate. The probability is strong that eventually, say in five or ten million years, the earth will display again the physical conditions of many past geologic periods which were characterised by broad lowlands, wide ’shallow seas, and uniform genial climate. “The prospect that the sun will “burn itself out” in a decrepit old age is so remote as to baffle all attempts to date such an event nor is there any likelihood that the spacerelations of earth and sun will change appreciably within scores of millions of years to put the earth either too close or to distant from the sun for comfort. Lurid pictures of a sudden catastrophic debacle resulting from collision with some other heavenly body, comet, planet or star are products jbfl Jvivid imagination wholly without foundation in astronomic fact or theory. Time is one of the most overwhelming resources of our universe. > I, > Unique Opportunity. “From the point of view of geologic development, man has to-day an unique opportunity to gain continuing security for himself and his progeny on the face of the earth, but whether or not he takes advantage of that opportunity is to be determined largely by himself. Transcending all that has gone before is the development of human society, obviously the most difficult, but at the same time the most glorious organisation yet attempted in the entire cosmic administration. “Two antagonistic alternatives present themselves as possible bases for this organisation. The social group, whether it be family, industrial or commercial company, or the political unit, may be organised on the principle of regimentation, or it may be developed according to democratic principles. Both methods have been tried under a variety of,conditions, and each has something to be said in its favour. But both cannot be equally conducive to the continuing existence of mankind, and one or the other must be selected as the basis for the future security of man. “If regimentation be the choice, then' the great mass of humankind must be trained for obedience, blind, unquestioning; but superbly skilful obedience. The r educator becomes the intellectual and spiritual-* counterpart of the drill sergeant in the army. No Menial Task. “This is no menial task, nor is its objective a mean one. Skill is a commodity of which there is never likely to be an oversupply. “On the other hand, if democracy be the choice, the great mass of humankind must be trained for wise, self-determined co-operation. Precisely those qualities of mind and heart which have long been extolled in Christian doctrine must be developed to the fullest possible extent. Not only skilfulnes’s, but also the ability to govern oneself, the eternal prerequisite for freedom, must be develop-

ed in ea?h member of the group.” (Insofar as physical existence is concerned, - Dr, Mather said . there seemed to be little or no choice between the. two alternatives, although he suggested that human nature being what it is perhaps regimentation might temporarily be the more efficient method. However, the full circle of human activities embraces; more than mere existence, he observed. “Through the evolutionary process,” he continued, “there has emerged : a . creature who is aware- .of the vivid values in life. Ideas and ideals are powerful factors' in the world to-day. “Regimentation may be good for mankind as an animal; through that type of social organisation his needs for earthly goods may be efficiently supplied. But if man attempts to live by bread alone he commits collective suicide. Apparently the best and perhaps the only chance for mankind to

succeed in the quest for security is through progress in the art of living on a high spiritual plane rather than through exclusive attention to the science of existence on a purely physical level. “It is sometimes suggested,” he concluded, ‘‘that because man has specialised in brains, brains may cause his, downfall, just as presumably the overspecialisation in external armament contributed to the downfall of herbivorous dinosaurs. That argument, however, is punctuated with fallacies. „ There is as yet no evidence that mankind is weighted down with a superabundance of intelligence.” 1