Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1919-05-08
TH0IIcHT NJ NAN
EVER CHANGING
Professor Nj. c. Otto Discusses
Creative IdeaIism Before the
Fortnightly Literary Club

"Creative Idealism" was the sub |
ject discussed by Professor M. c.
Otto of the philosophical department
of the University of Wisconsin on
Friday evening at the home of the
Misses Gattiker, 107 Seventh street. |
Professor Otto is ready speaker and
viewed his subject from many angles.
The effort was the result of much
thought in the philosophical field and
left with his audience much over
which to ponder He said in part
Men do not live in the same world !
throughout life. AS children they in-
habit a world in which fancy rules
jointly with fact. In this world fairies
and giants and witches are as real as
people and animals. But soon a revi-
sion of beliefs becomes necessary, with
the result that a new world comes into
existence. In this new world fairies,
witches, ETC., are regarded as make
believe; and with the reconstruction
of the new world comes a transforma
ton of the self. The self always re-
fleets the world we live in.
This reconstruction of the world
into real and make-believe is followed
by a second revision. In the young
child's world right and wrong are in
tegral parts of reality. They are not,
as for the adult, the substance of
things hoped for. Again, however, adj
justment of beliefs becomes neces-
sary The developing child must de-
eide how seriously he is to take the
be.
The period of childhood and youth
is fieeting Disillusion comes and the
world is recognized to be different
from what it had been thought to be.
All people overcome d'sillusiOn, but
not in the same way. Some people
adopt the program of accommodating
possessions and some the program of
adding to the means of human enjoy
ment. This is not to say that any
person is completed and solely devot-
ed to one or the other, but that his
chief interests are centered on one
or the other. Possessions are neces-
sary, but society based on the prin-
ciple of possessions is self-destruct-
We. We see this at present as we
have never seen it before. We must
discover and inaugurate a new ideal
ISM or face the ruin of what we call
civilization.
What shall be done? 1t is clear
hat we can hope for success only if
we base reform upon human nature.
Does human nature permit OF differ
ont organization of life? To this ques-
ion we may answer in the affirma-
i've We may, il we will, organize
ife around TIE deep human impulse
o create as ii is now organized about
he impulse to possess. Through the
ecognition of industry and busine'
as social enterprises, and through a
borough reform of public education
the direction Of the new ideal, we
nay hope to give the life Of the mass
IF men a different centrality. We
may thus make of life cooperative
adventure in it's achievement of So
ciety which will mean the richest type
Of satisfaction for all.
Musical Numbers
The address Of Professor Otto was
preceded by vocal numbers by Mrs.
G. W. Snyder, Miss Luise Gattiker
playing the accompaniment. A large
nu3..ber of visitors were present to
hoax the address and enjoy the clos
ing meeting of the club for the year.
The speaker was accompanied to-
Baraboo by Malcolm P. Sharp. The
Professor and Mrs. F. G. Sharp. The
young man was in the military service
at camp at Miami, Fla.