Evening star., 1932-05-07
THE LIBRARY TABLE
BY SARAH C. BOWERM4N.

Physical science has nearly wrecked
the world; 1t is the task of the neg
lected social sciences to save it. Such
is the thesis of the little book, World
Chaos: The Responsibility of Science, "
by William McDougall, F. r. S., British
psychologist. In his preface Mr.. Nc
Dougall says: Few will deny that the
world is in a state to provoke the
laughter Of the gods" The physical
sciences have changed our civilization
from simple to complex affair, with
some undoubted benefits and perhaps
more difficulties. Even the benefits
have come too rapidly for human pow
ers of digestion. Our civilization is
"topheavy' because our science is Top
sided" Physical science has placed
at the disposal of human beings vast
stores Of physical energy which has
been used "as a substitute for the
muscular energy Of men and domestic
animals in the production OF the
fundamental necessities of human life
food. shelter and clothing-with the
Immediate consequence that the pop
ulation of the world has multiplied as
never before" This sentence recalls a
news item of recent date to the effect
that on some farms in this country
there is in progress a return to animal
power from machine power, because
with the former little cash investment
is necessary. A second result of the
energy released by physical science is
the production of "a multitude Of COM
forts and convenienceS which have be-
come so intimately woven into the tex
ture of our civilization that they are
now essentials; the deprivation OF them
would cause not only much discomfort
and suffering, but also the break
down of the whole complex structure
of our civilization" We can all rec
ognize the truth Of this statement.
T'.-2 SavageS of the Malaysian jungleS
might learn to do without their lucifer
matches, cotton cloth, pottery, rifles
and spectacles. supplied by Japan,
Manchester, Staffordshire, Hartford,
Conn, and Birmingham; but how
should We endure life without our
vacuum cleaners, electric refrigerators
radio outfits and motor cars, not to
mention our telephones and electric
lights?
Mass production has followed the
inventions of physical science, and tech
LlOlOBAOdA hAANLllJIOy anu OhCA
duction have come close after. When
we discover that the world is in a good
deal of a mess through the benefits OF
physical science and turn to that same
science for help it metaphorically
shrugs its shoulders and says: Really,
that is not my job" or as Mr.. Dougall
less colloquially puts it: The physical
science which has produced this new
compleXity can give us no guidance
whatsoever in our difficult task OF
coping with it" AS it is in the United
States that the triumph of physical
science is most complete, so there may
its results be best studied. Mr.. Nc
Dougall does not find these results
encouraging. They include the decay of
the family. the breakdown of moral
ideas, the detachment of the popula-
ton from all local ties and traditional
loyalties," the process Of substitution
of one stock by another" and the dis
regard for law and order, which is evi-
denced by the prevalence Of corruption
and crime. The picture is not a cheer
full one.
Mr.. McDougall does not end his book
with picture of gloom and a prophecy
of destruction. Perhaps his remedies,
like most economic remedies today. fail
to be as specific as practical reaLists
would like, but he does offer remedies.
He says: we live, then, in an age OF
grave social disorder and threatening
chaos, and 1t Is in the main due to sci
ence. What, then, is the remedy? The
remedy for science is more science, more
knowledge systematically organized. But
what sort of science? Physical science
has been the main agent in producing
our chaos, and physical science can
bring no remedy" The remedy is to be
found in the biological and especially
the social sciences founded on biology.
Perhaps Mr.. McDougall's working out
of this proposition may be best and
most briefly indicated by series of
questions which he asks. Are the dlf-
ferences of constitution between races
and individuals slight or very impor-
tant? Are some human stocks more
capable than others of producing and
maintaining a high civilization? Are
existing races likely to advance in civ1ll-
zation or to deteriorate? What meas
ures can be taken to effect the result?
Is there at present subtle degeneratlve
process affecting mankind, which Is be-
ing partly concealed by social service
work? What effects come from cross
breeding of human stocks? What Is the
most desirable form of political-eco-
nomic organization - democratic, au-
thoritarian individualistic, Sociallstlc or
communiStic?
When Philip II of Spain, then prince,
went to England to court and marry
Mary Tudor, Queen of England ne TOOK
with him more than thousand
grandees, gentlemen and guards. A
L., -I,f fch
conveyed him and all were manned oy
sailors brave in red silk caps with
yellow plumes." Philip looked upon his
journey not primarily as a wedding
Journey, but as a crusade ito make
England Catholic-and imperial IN
his biography Philip II OF Spain
David 10th devotes much attention 70
the personal affairs Of Philip, including
his four marriages, of which his mar
riage with Mary was the second. Phlilp
and Mary met at Winchester, IN the
bishops palace. Philip was arrayeo III
white and gold Mary wore "a hlgn-
neck black velvet gown with wlmpie
of black and gold, and collar ana glIole
of gems" She was IL years olqer than
Philip and was short, thin ana aNk-
ward She had the remains OF IIhs
complexion; thin, sandy. redolsh halr,
no eyebrows; almost colorleSs eyes, d
wide. flattish nose and a big mouth
" She impressed one OF the Span
iards as not at all handsome. a perfect
saint. but dresses badly" Phlllp was
not enthusiastic over his BRIDE ana
measured out the time grudglngly thaI
he must for policy remain in England
before allowing himself to be recaIlso 70
Spain by the urgency Of state a1alrS
there His courtierS were no more en-
thusiastic over the English court tnan
their master. They did not like 1t that
in all the ceremonies Mary took pre-
cedence over Philip, "a monstrous per
version of the laws Of God ana man
which they found in this instance mosC
repulsive" Philip sat on MARY 5 Lsll,
her seat was higher than his. his dishes
were silver, but hers were gold. Ihe
Spaniards also noticed ruefully tnat
the ladies' in waiting were no petSel
looking than the Queen and II was also