Science and Philosophy by Alfred North Whitehead

Author:Alfred North Whitehead
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
ISBN: 9781497675803
Publisher: Philosophical Library/Open Road

Education and Self-Education

An Address to Boys in England

There have been moments in history when new worlds were discovered. There was such a moment when Columbus discovered America. Creation widened to man’s view. There is such a moment now. We are all aware that the immediate future holds within it possibilities different from anything that has been known in the past. Our views are widened.

Mankind has entered upon a new phase. It is no good saying that you will go on in the future as you have done in the past. You can’t; and it is the reason for this impossibility which I want to talk about this afternoon, and to connect with the life of this institution, whose admirable work we are here to celebrate.

One great reason is the war, perhaps the greatest tragedy which mankind has ever passed through in so short a time. This is an obvious cause for immediate unsettlement, which no one can forget. But there have been wars and revolutions before; and, yet, often enough, human life has fallen back into the same old groove of habit. The great war has been the occasion for the suddenness of the change, but it only disclosed slow-working forces whose combined action was just reaching a new importance. For month after month you may shake a tree, and nothing much will happen. At length the fruit is ripe, and one storm will bring it down. The social systems of the European races were ripe for change, when war swept across them. The effective agents in this preparation for change are, the growth of science, the growth of invention, the growth of industrial organization, the extension of education, and the demand that opportunity for rational existence should be shared by the whole community. Evidently, these agencies depend on each other, and it is the resonance due to their joint action which makes the tidal wave which is sweeping us along. I see no cause for alarm, and much for rejoicing, provided that we understand and shape our actions with courage.

The rapid advance of scientific theory is a recent factor in human history, a matter of the last few centuries. Previously, the way to set about physical investigations had not been clearly realized. Also, so little was known that it was difficult to find out more; because the more you know, the easier it is to add to your knowledge. Thus, centuries ago mankind had to wait for the rare inspirations of genius. To-day we can organize first-rate talent for research, and scientific theory steadily grows at an increasingly rapid rate. A little genius doesn’t hurt; but we are not stationary between the flashes.

This knowledge of nature has opened a boundless field for inventions of practical utility in industry. Again, we have only recently found out that there is a method in invention, and that the foundation of this method is a thorough training in science. A hundred years ago no one could have anticipated how important this ceaseless search after new methods, new processes, and new machines would be.

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