Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-06-02
A GAME OF GUESSING WHO IS THE
GREATEST AMERICAN PROPHET
Edward E. Slosson Names His Man in Book in
Which He Also Interprets the Teachings Of
Four Englishmen and German

I to find out what a child was interested in
Then he started with that and led the
child's mind along the path Of least resist.
ance through the channels Of absorbed
| interest until he had broadened the range
Of curiosity and trained the mental facul-
ties so that they worked with some degree
Of precision. They tell me that his the
ories have colored all educational prac-
| tice for the last twenty years"
There certainly was room for reform. "
Doctor McFabre reflected
His work in philosophy has been as
original as his work in education. Some
one has called him pragmatist"
What is a pragmatist?" Dorothy want
ed to know.
Epistemologically. it is nomnalism:
psychologically, voluntarism; cosmolog.
ically, energism metaphysically, agnostic-
ism; ethically, melorsm on the basis Of
the Bentham- Mill ll-utilitarianism."
Ames tried to look as if he knew what
this meant Doctor McFabre shifted
Dorothy was not afraid to confess ignor.
ance
This is only a German definition Of it,"
said I. 1T is safer to go to the diction-
airy. You will find there that pragmatism
is the doctrine that the purpose Of think
ing is to develop beliefs which shall serve
as general principles of conduct"
"a pretty good doctrine" said the cler-
gyman. But who are this man Slosson's
other prophets?
He includes Rudolph Euken, a Ger
man philosopher; f. c. S. Schiller, an
English philosopher, and Bernard Shaw.
H. G. Wells and Gilbert Chesterton, also
Englishmen if Shaw will permit himself
to be thus classified"
"Euken might be classified as a prophet
and so might Schiller Doctor McFabre
conceded but l am not willing at the
present moment TO concede as much to
any Of these other Britlshers. They are
entertaining and they provoke thought,
but just now | would prefer to have the
Mohammedans regard me as a pagan
rather than recognize them as the great
interpreters Of my generation"
but Shaw is a great man." Ames said
with an air of fnality
Perhaps" his uncle conceded; but I
have never been able to regard a man
great who had his tongue in his cheek
whenever he said anything"
MY experiment has succeeded" said l
with considerable satisfaction. 81 was
curious whether Mr.. Slossons attempt TO
arouse an interest in notable contempo-
raries was worth while. I am morally
certain that as soon as Ames leaves Dor
othy at her house tonight ne will hasten
to his American encyclopedia to find out
what it says about Dewey. Then he will
go to the library for How We Think
that is a good book to begin with-and
prepare to pass judgment on the great
ness Of this distinguished American And
he will read the Englishmen with a new
And / should not be surprised
II Dorothy saw more in Wells hereafter
than a mere story. If she should read |
Mr.. Slosson's book first she might know |
better what to look for. 1t is an excellent |
guide to the social and moral philosophy |
IF the six men,"
GEORGE w. DOUGLAS
SIX MAJOR PROPHETS. BY Edward E. slos- |
son, n. s, Ph.D. Bcstoni Little, Brown & |
Co $3.50.