Science and Reason

Extract

Faced with the great human crisis of our times, it is only natural that the scientist should fee! that he has his contribution to make towards a solution of our one great problem—to secure the survival of the things that are good. The scientist has, moreover, a certain confidence that his contribution is important, perhaps even decisive, and certainly indispensable. He is confirmed in this view by the reflection that a large proportion of the world’s troubles may be traced to a desertion of scientific ideals, a neglect of scientific principles and the substitution of comfortable and muddle-headed illusions for the facts which are the scientist’s stock-in-trade.

Scientists are now beginning to feel that they have something to give beyond their material contribution, something in the realm of values, of ideals, of human harmony and ordered social progress. This contribution has reference both to the war effort and to reconstruction—to the armed struggle in which we are now engaged, and to the prolonged and fateful struggle to which we are committed when the clash of arms has ceased.

How has it come about that the somewhat aloof soul of science has awakened to this new warmth of spiritual and social apostolicity? Much may no doubt be explained by a realisation of the social implications of recent advances in the so-called biological sciences. Ecology, biochemistry, nutritional science, economics, sociology, anthropology, psychology, educational science have all presented us with discoveries which clamour to be integrated into the social fabric as speedily as possible. Or again, it may be the contrast which the modern scientist finds between his work and his environment.