The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-10-28
BOOKS
THE Anarchist Ideal"

generation ago as necessary part
of good education With the clos
ing of the last century, however.
more self-reliant educational spirit
gained ground. Mohammed grew too
independent TO make the pilgrimage
10 the mountain. so 10 speak. Then,
American-likc. the regents OF the
University OF Michigan voted TO bring
at least a symbol OF the mountain 70
Mohammed.
More exactly, they imported Scot
fish professor -ef- philosophy in the
person OF Robert NJ. Wenley, who
ever since then has been one of the
prominent figures in the university
faculty intellectually and spiritually.
he is kind OF deyout iconoclast who
provokes respect and stimulates
thought on the part OF all who come
in touch with his teaching or writing.
The present volume is made up OF
five essays which we will consider in
reverse order, with some sacrifice OF
logic. perhaps. because the ones or
most general interest come last.
The fifth essay on The University
in the United States" is keen analy
sis OF the educational situation in
this country at the present time. and
is especially interesting in view OF
the authors European training. The
university over here, he asserts, has
been born since 1870. Before that.
higher education was in the hands OF
UNCONVENTIONAL institutions whose
chief function was to turn out minis
,ters. he speaks good word for
these schools, which still make up
the bulk OF those granting an AGA
demic degree in spite OF their lack Of
thoroughness.
Speaking of our classical university
training. he decries its comparative
superfciality. the way in which So
called student activities" come TO
play so large a part in IL. the unlimit
ed freedom OF election OF studies by
undergraduates, the prevalent credit
hour system of estimating work done,
and finally the alleged fact that often
the success and advancement both OF
members of the student body and the
faculty depend on other things than
scholarship. He condemns the indis-
criminate A. r. degree. saying il has
cate OF competence, but rather as a
diploma of respectable undergraduate
hood"
In the fourth essay. on "Heredity
and education. he raises the Ques-
ton incidentally why there are not
schools FOR genuses as well as for
detectives. Education. he says. tends
TO place all on the plane of the medi-
OGRE. It's general propagation mus:
be TO foster stereotyped society.
Like all conventions ii squeezes ont
vitality for the sake of form. Educa-
ton in any ultimate sense is impos-
sible because we have no basis or
final truth upon which TO build 1t.
1t is then 10 heredity that we must
look for the advancement OF the race.
But what Is heredity? The author
plays continual tag with the question
of what parts psychological and phys
ical elements play in 1t, never. how
ever, advancing even a theory for the
reduction of the two to harmonious
continuity.
The third paper. on The Move
ment toward ply Biological psychol-
ogy," is condensed history OF the
development Of psychological theory
or science. II is filed with refer
enGSs that snow exhaustive knowl-
edge OF the literature on the subject,
but which do not add to its interest
for the general reader
The second essay, on "Plutarch, is
not a character sketch. but treatise
upon the age in which he lived. The
assertion is made that the Neroniar
debauchery of the period was not the
cause but an indication OF social de-
generation; that what was undermin-
ing social stability was general
spiritual dullness and apathy, LACK
of religious or intellectual curiosity.
BY leaving the chief essay, for
which the book is named. till last, we
have avoided the necessity Of saying
much about IL. 1t Is very philosoph-
ical, bristling at times with phraseol-
ogy familiar to metaphysicians but
not to John Doe. 1t is a study in
Greek philosophy, not modern propa-
ganda. dealing with developments or
the idea OF a sort of natural law not
specifically named which Is higher
than the law Of the state. The doc
trines OF the Cynics and how they de-
veloped In a measure out OF the
teachings Of Socrates come in for
chief consideration.
In the end he points out that the
anarchist ideal is self-destructive:
that the condemnation of law because
il deals with outward forms rather
than inner or spiritual truth cannot
hold for the reason that the formal
regulation is necessary to the very
existence of the inner truth Just as
fans Ia
the human spirit Insofar as the al
fairs of this world are concerned.
II is stimulating book for those
who are willing TO exert the neces'
sary mental energy to read IT prop
erly. Richard G.. Badger, boston
Price. Sl.25 net.