The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1955-01-14
just Among Ourselves
Passing Comment Considered or lneonsidarsts


the members of the American Association for
the Advancement of Science at their recent meet
ing, and told them that too many of todayS Phi.
D.'s are "uneducated." He said that who work
in narrowly specialized fields are "monumentally
naive when they get out of their grooves"
This is something and startling; it is also
refreshing. If champion of the old classical cul-
ture were to make such comment on the special
lists, his words would be scorned the vaporings
of fogy and fuddyduddy. But here we have
modern scientist doing kind of public examin-
alton of conscience and making structures on his
own kind.
The American public loves anyone who can
claim the limelight and generously accords the
attribute of omniscience to every prominent per-
SON A few years ago when Helen Wills Moody
the queen of the tennis-court, enthusiastic re-
porters eagerly presented her views on theology.
When Thomas Edison was acclaimed the Master
Inventor and the Wizard (eIectronically speaking)
of Menlo Park, il considered proper to ask
him to give his opinion about the soul
When Gilbert K Chesterton visited America for
the first time he was requested by ardent news
to say something cracular about the currently
fashionable short skirts by American women.
II was considered reasonable to suppose that re-
nowned literary would have something val
liable to suggest to dress designers.
And similarly il was thought proper TO require
of any one who knew all about service and back
hand returns and net play, some illuminating OBJ
servaons the Trinity. No man of the world
thought il absurd to ask famous electrician to
do an offhand treatise on rational psychology.
Let man make the headlines for any strictly
specialized reason, and he is instantly regarded
expert, not only in his special field but in
every field If he is great for any reason, he is
in 4uaV Drau pupa
may be owing to skill with golf club billiard
cue but ii lends vast weight and Importance TO all
that he can be induced to utter on any topic what
ever,-poics stateeraft, social relations, religion,
morality, philosophy, literature, fashions and what
you will.
Now for many years the scientists have held
extremely high and prominent place in the ..allery
of our public oracles. The American ayman has
been sehoOled to pay almost religious reverence
TO science even when he cannGt (as usually he
noD define the term science The newspapers and
reviews tell him that science says this and science
teaches that This is not enough for him. What
science dixie the New York Sln named in Vrgna's
letter. says, is true. Whether science or an un-
fledged scientist newspaper reporter has said
the thing does not matter; the fact that science is
said to have said it, makes it unquestionable truth
No educated can doubt or deny it,
-
Thus the man of science chemist physicist
psychologist methematican,-has been Sir Oracle
for generations When he speaks no dog barks
no benighted philistine dares raise much
questioning eyebrow No matter what the scientist
talks about whether ii be in his own special field
of learning miles out of that field, the talk is
regarded as penetrating profound, and faetual The
EinSeins and Conants and Osbornes of genera
tion speak urbi ct orb in tones of nfalbility on
every conceivable subject And their pronounce
ments are quite generally accepted as infallble.
=
There have always been doubers, of course
but they have usually been wise enough to keep
quiet They have known that TO express doubt
or TO ask questions that might embarrass the
loquacious scientists would merely mark themse
YES. in public opinion, as charlaans, dimwits,
even "reactionsries" es"-whatever that absurd word
may mean
But now the lay critic may take heart From the
very citadel of modern science comes the declars
ton that scientist is not, by his degree and his
employment a knowitall The ancient axiom of
ne Sutor ultra crepiddm,--let the shoemaker stick
to his LASTS cited in ringing tones for the scien
lists, and by scientist
The occasion of DR. zirkle's remarks to
be the fact that good many scientists.all PhD.s
10 be sure-have been. in recent years unfavor
ably noticed in the governmental business Of seek
inc out subversipeS Dr. thinks that sheer guilt
hiliy rather than real suhversive tendencies, led
lot Of miXed-up boys who don't know enough to
keep out of the Red Outside their special fields,
they are uneducated
Therefore Dr. Zirke suggests, with humor suf-
fcienty wry, that when scientist receives his
doctoral degree, there should be notation affixed
to his diploma, certifying that, outside his own field
the scientist docs not anything" To this
notation Dr. Zirkle would add the appeal: please
pay no attention to any pronouncement he may
make any other subject dhan his own speciality,
particularly when he joins with others Of his kind
to save the world However. he worked hard
for his degree, and is potentially most valuable
citizen Please treat him kindly"
Donbtlessly there are quarters IN which DIR.
Zirke's comment will cause lot Of huffing and
putting But the comment though sweeping and a
little unkind was we'll made ii will hardly improve
the scientists lessen their pronouncements in
number scope but if may help disperse the sacred
fog which American lay opinion has caused to en-
yelop the temple Of contemporary science.
We have all heard the I'D joke about the special
iSt man who learns and more
about less and less until he knows practically every
thing about nothing Let us cease to take seriously
The ioke lndraipd bv Dr ) Thai the Snecialixi