Evening star., 1933-05-26
CULTURE future
! PUZZLES SAVANTS
: Nine. curie and Other Scien-
fists Discuss PeriIs
of Development.

MADRID R.-"The Future Of Gull
ture" was the subject of a symposium
here to which many Of . the worlds
most distinguished writers, scholars
and scientists contributed their
thoughts.
The meeting was summoned by the
Committee OF Arts and Letters OF the
League Of Nations, and the questions
laid before the group included these:
Does the development Of civilization
interfere with the development of
spirituality Can a standardized plan
of cultural values be applied to all
nations? Is there a crisis threatening
culture?
Mime. Curie, French scientist and
Nobel Prize winner, voiced the opinion
that science should develop hand in
hand with doctrines that would foster
peace and friendship as well as mutual
help between nations. She deplored
anguish caused throughout the world
by the present economic depression,
and asserted the countries needed
unified moral doctrine.
Finds Destructive Germ"
Human intelligence, which has ac-
comphshed such miracles in the con-
quest of man over matter, contains
within itself germs of destruction which
may be called isolation" she said. 1T
is necessary that scientific and artistic
development progress under theories of
harmony between men and nations"
Senior Garcia Morente, dean of phil
osophy at the University of Madrid,
said he believed culture is now facing
crisis, and he expressed concern
whether the trouble would be transit
tory or permanent.
I'VE are threatened by the barbar-
ism OF an age of specialization, he
said. There is plenty of general knowl-
edge in the world, but sad dearth of
individual intelligence. The general
knowledge Is carried on the shoulders
Of comparative few.
''The world at large has little in
terest IN some of the ubost important
mental conQuests of our time, such as
the telephone and radio, so far as
curiosity regarding the principles OF
operation are concerned. There is too
much Standardization and this Is en-
dangering art and originality"
Frenchman Disagrees.
Jules Roman, playwright philosopher
Of France, disagreed with Senor Mo-
rente..
Art does not face danger of
standardization" he said. There are
always DaQ ana goOo WrlterS IN every
era There are more of both kinds
now, and that means there are more
good ones"
Miguel Unamuno, one of SPANS
most noted philosophers and politicians,
told the assembly the world is tired,
and has, lost its equilibrium. Science
viii have to solve the uneven balance
of production and consumption. No
body thinks any more. WEAKNESS is
prenatal, and people are born fatigued,
which augurs i'll for developments.
Faith and energy alone can save cul-
ture and science"
Mexican Ambassador Genaro Estrada
advocated organization of cultural
forces to solve the situation, saying:
More than intelligence is needed for
real scientific labors. Research must
be organized Systematic marshalling
Of abilities is the basis of cultural prog
ress AL men working in these fields
should get together and work by mu-
tual agreement toward the betterment
of humanity and its component parts.
This would accomplish great uni
yersal benefit" 49,
Other prominent scholars who oon-
tributed to the forum were Paul Valery,
French poet; Edwin M. Gay, American
economist; j. B. Haldane, British phil
osopher, and Francesca Orestano,
italian scholar.