Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-06
DR.. EDGAR A. SINGER
On the Progress We Have Made


TN TIE midst of two thousand or NOR"
l. years Of civilization and untold years of
existence. the world war. tn" greatest cnta-
clTSm in history. has set many t" asking
tho question, "What progress hav" We
made DR.. Edgar \. Singer. professor of
philosophy at the University. asked the
question, reminds MS hat in all phiIosophirnl
discussion we must. as Plato says. seem to
ramhlc." even though our thought be definite.
However, fol the guidance Of the nm
initiated II" develops several philosophical
findings. which he says for basic purposes W"
might use as conclusions.
He holds that in order to determine
whether or not we have progressed "" must
first define progress. Having done that, we
must seek the direction in which it lies and
then move toward it. no matter how great
the distance to the goal.
''Thc measure of progress" finds DIR.
Singer 'iS the measure of man S opera
tion with man in the conquest of nature.
Essentially having one common aim, happ-
ness and C0ut"ntmcnt, we find two elements
within ourselves, or, to put it NOR" gen
orally. there are two particS--thOSc who
would achieve their ends by war and those
who would find the same result in peace.
Probably We must recognize both aS n"crN-
Sary, but we should seek a rival worthy Of
our steel. why should Individuals and ma
tionS quarrel with each other for slight ma
tcrial advantages. when thcr" is so much
greater an adversary from whom there l. 50
much moro to b" gained? Why, like the two
children, fight for the penny on tn" ground
at the mouth of the cave. when there are
such infinite treasures to b" found within:'
But let us follow Dr. Singers advice and
ramblc whimSically with him.
1--WE little rraliZP.' he said. "until We
have met them socially, how engaging the
manners of cnnnibals can be. 1t is unfor
tunatc that 50 many uhStarlrs Ii" in the way
of our making their better acquaintance ~.
| they live 50 far out Of town for ON" thing,
| and for another are SO clanniSh Sct that
| only occasionally is one of our sort welcomed
| to their inner circles.
"Hcrman Melville. who safely returned
some years ago from their welcoming arms.
| finds something very winning about the lives
! of thCS" people.
"Thc lives of the Typcrs are cast in pleas
ant places. Dwelling on an enchanted island
| in the Pacific, tn" aSprririrS which Ciyiiza
! ton seems rather to have aggravated than
| sOftcnCd do not rOughCu their way. Thry
| toll not to cover what nature has conceived
! in innocence, and spin but lightly to adorlI
what nature has fashioned fair. Little
! thought do they TAX" on their housing Vet
| the morals of these prUpI" do not seem tc
have been 50 far below our standards II.
their bcnight"d condition might lead us ia
expect.
No Rogucs in Typrr
'ThCrr seemed said Melville .tn h,
no rogucS Of any sort in Tlprr IN th,
darkest nights the natives slept securely
with all their worldly wealth aruInd them
The diSQrIi"ting thought Of theft and n>,as.
| sinatiOn never disturbed them. There vn,
not Il paddock in the valley
81 had gone 50 far in my rr,,Iirr. nj
| Melville, and was beginning to woudrr II
the back Of my head what Il Typ.r urrn.
duced into our civilization could find in 81,
of us half rs pleasant ns tn" things tIrfI
guest had noted Of them, when | rom,IIr'
that another had hong ago put the lhn our,
lion to himself when the New Word ,ro,