Putnam patriot., 1922-08-11
..The Mind In the Making

} There is at the tutnam library a book that for many weeks has been listed as one of the largest selling nom fiction works at Brentano's book shop in New York. For over two months that book has been on the new-book table at the library. but not once. ex- cept when taken out fer the writing of this review. has 1t been issued to d reader. That is not as f should be- IL is too much to suppose that in a city of ten thousand inhabitants, there are not at least a dozen men and wo- men who are sufficiently interested ia modern thought to give at least cas. ual glance at James Harvey Robin son's "The Mind In the Making Pro- lessor Robinson is one of America's g greatest historians. and he writes from the standpoint of the newer tendencies in historical interpretation. For years the author was a member of the fac ulty at Columbia. and for the past three years he has been at the head of the New School for Social Research. New York. which school he was in- strumental in founding.
 The purpose of the book is clearly stated. It aims to demonstrate how society can think clearly about itself. Mind" the author says. is merely what we know, and our attitude to- ward that body of knowledge-and "our disposition to increase our in formation. classify it, and apply it.' The purpose of History then becomes the revelation of the origin of our current fundamental beliefs, and these. when revealed, Il is argued, will tend to SO free the mind that honest thinking will be possible. There will then be eliminated very con siderable proportion of the gross stu pidity and blindness which charae- terizes our present thought and con- duet in public affairs.
 We are living in nm age of un- nreeedented compleNity. Changes are necessary. for the world moves on; fl is dynamic w have q vast fund of knowledge and ingenuity available that might be applied in making the necessary adjustments But before changes can be made. We must rid ourselves of our fond prejudlees. the author insists. and open our minds.
 We have applied effectively me ehanical knowledge that has been ae- Heumulated through the ages. Our ad- .vances in pure science have carried us far in three centuries T But the Knowledge of Man. of the sprines af conduct, of his relation te hls fellow men. singly or in groups, and thu felieitiaus regulation of human inter course in the interest of harmony and fairness. have made no such ad- vance The study If man himself is sdll hamperel by prejudiees that ar' stronger than the prejudices that te. tarded the development of natural ? sciences back in the middle ages. Most of human progress, Prof. Robinson points out. has been mere "Muddlinl . through An arresting example of what this muddliug may mean we have seen during these recent years m the slavine Of maiming of fifteen million of our young men, resulting m Ineai Hruiablc loss. continued disorder. and - bcwildermcnt Yet men seem blindl, ] driven to defend and perpetuatc tht ? conditions which produced the las' ? disaster" The only hope of prevent l ing a similar calamity, he sees in 'a P thorough reconstruction of our mtnd with view Co understandings aetla auman conduct and organization - Prof. Robinson mites history and 20 eiolouE
 HWine established his thrsis t1u far. Prof Robinson begins a criticism |, af modern attempts at reform. how ing .u tufa weaknesses of remedy b. . legislation. by preaching the brother hood of man and by relying on .'Nha now uasses as education. Mo3er l. education. he -serts, is from the noin $ of individual success. It's purpose I moi primarily "to fit us to play a par | in social CT political bettermcuf N
 9o moi educate for citizenship becaus
 we do not permit controversial sub E iects Go be opened in our edueationa E institutions Intellectual aeneralizini has tn suffice. We are living ln er of social change and reconstruction yet we do not dare to be homes enough to tell boys and girls am youne men and young women wha would be most useful to them ia ai age of imperative social reconstrue tion
 The only hope for man Is to emplo $ his intelligence upon himself to ex anime himself as he examines the sola
 system, and the molecule a1d fh ;. atom Bat n this one runs iireetl against tEase .yho insist that Che pre- vailing notions of righteou. humm
 conduct. 8f human relation 4ip. Q
 morality. aae not to be questioned And these are many. Even thos who pretend 10 study society and 1t
 origin seem to believe that oar pres ent ideais aui standards of property the state. industrial organization. ih
 atati0n df the sexes. and education
 .....s..aff ff. final and istffst ha fh