Evening star., 1936-12-11
Co-Ordinated Activities Urged
To Assure Progress of Man
Carnegie Institution Heads Report
Proposes UnifcdtiOn of Science,
Sociology, Engineering.

In the past, DR.. Merriam stressed,
the different scientists have gone their
own way with the work Of the astron-
onler, for example, entirely distinct
from that of the biologist and with dis
coveries in one field applied ruthlessly,
regardless of the warnings that might
have come from some other field. The
result has been much tearing to pieces
of nature with little idea of conse-
quences or Of how to put it together
again
"The study of man himself as a con-
structive and creative agent seems only
to have begun" DR.. Merriam said. so
far as this involved understanding of
mans place in relation to the world
about him. in relation to his own in
terests and desires, and in relation to
the environment of human beings. we
have barely entered the field and have
hardly begun to master it."
selves" DR.. Merriam said, sis the prod
uct Of what seem to us practically in
finite ages of creative activity, build
ing the earth, shaping it to the present
conf1guration, and peopling it with
vast range of life In this world the
elements have been adjusted to each
other through cons of give and take
and evolution until a tremendous COM
plex faces us, with its parts well fitted
together. Man grew up in this environ
ment, a part of it and growth out of
it. His whole being has been attuned
to it physically, Intellectually and spir-
itually.
Man Produced New World. ,
MAN with his creative mind pro-
ceeded to develop that type of Or
ganized effort which made beginnings
Of common culture possible and also.
In the social sense, hereditable.
Groups Of men, extending their activi-
ties through society. began here
battle with their surroundings. Sus-
picion of the shadowy forest and fear
Of the torrent gave place to contempt
as man saw himself becoming master.
And soon he was not merely a con-
queror but a destroyer. Forests fell
In his march. Living creatures became
vassal, or fugitive, or they vanished.
In Joy Of use, mans creative work
produced new world, in which much
of what remained was ordered to
suit his needs or please his fancy.
The values of adjustment and inter-
play in nature, established through
a- 49, y,
longer in balance, for in part mans
will had been substituted for this
balance. Much from the original ele-
ments Of Nature remained. but the
unity and synthetic factors were
changed. The organization was dis
rupted and many Of the values were
lost.
What Has Been Lost?
"In recent decades mankind has
raised the question as to what it is
that has been lost, but the answer can
be given only in terms Of original
materials and of conditions now
largely destroyed. Only in part has
science mastered the problem Of the
organized natural world as resulting
from the creative process. To a still
less. extent did the agencies con-
cerned in destructive processes learn
to know what it was they destroyed.
1--WE have come now to learn that
Q forest is not just board feet per
acre, but consists Of all the elements
Of life, from the most insignificant to
the greatest, and If it Is to be re-
placed it must be on the basis of all
values concerned. So 1t is with the
whole natural world. The physico-
biological environment is not Just
atoms, rocks, chromosomes, plants and
animals. It Is also the picture Of these
things composed by nature in the
millions of years during which the
perspective of space, time, color and
movement and growth was being de-
fined. Perhaps what we call the
beauty seen in it is partly an ex-
preston of intellectual inheritance in
mind 80 long accustomed to these
values that they now seem inherent in
thought"
During the meeting Of the trustees
the annual exhibit Of the scientific
progress Of the various departments
Of the institution was conducted for
members Of the stan. It wiz be opened
tomoCrow for ths general publia