A FIFTEEN-YEARS QUEST

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2453, 18 March 1909, Page 2

A FIFTEEN-YEARS QUEST

DR. EDWARD WESTER MAR Civ ’S. REMARKABLE RESEARCH INTO THE NATURAL HISTORY OF RIGHT AND WRONG. Dr Edward Westermarck, Lecturer on Sociology at the University of Finland and Teacher of Sociology in the University of London, was once discussing.with some friends the point—How far a had man ought to be treated with kindness? “The opinions/'’ he says, 4 ‘'were divided, and, in spite of much deliberation, unanimity could not be attained. It seemed stingo that the disagreement should be so radical, and the question arose, ‘Whence this diversity of opinion?’ Is it due to defective knowledge, or has it a merely sentimental origin? And the problem gradually expanded. Why do the moral ideas in general differ so greatly ? And, on the other hand, why is there in many cases such a wide agreement? Nay, why are there any moral ideas at all?” "T DISCUSSION AND WHAT IT LED TO. Did ever a friendly discussion issue in so prolonged and devoted a quest for an answer as that which Professor Westermarck gave to this? To answer these questions he has made researches into the origin and development of the moral ideas, researches which have covered fifteen years and caused their author to probe" into the pbyschology, religion, and life of the whole human race. The results of this amazing quest are now before the world. The first volume was published in 1906; the second has now been issued. (“The Origin and Development of the. Moral Ideas,” two vols.. 14s each: Macmillan.) They comprise 1568 pages. The authorities quoted take seventy-nine pages to mention, arid their total is over 2700. Chapter and verse are given for practically every statement, and a dozen references to a" page are by no means uncommon. Who shall withstand as an adversary one equipped in this fashion from head to foot? To fit himself for his task—“to make myself familiar with the native way of thinking” — Professor Westermarck spent four years in Morocco, largely amono- its countrv population. He ventures ”0 believe that this helped him; to understand various c into ms occurring at a sta ff o of civilisation different from our own? And the book is evidence of that. For the writer has sought to find a formula, for the facts he found m Ins prolonged studies, did not- take a formula or a philosophy to his facts. His task is—once he lias obtained the facts —to find out what they mean in their totality. What do they teach us? Some things are done more or less in the same way everywhere, other things are done with the greatest diveisity , some believe this, others believe the contrary : some think one thing right, others'think it wrong. Who shall tell us the truth? The fifteen years occupied in investigation entitle Professor W estermarek to the most profound -respect for whatever he says. THE MORAL CONCEPTS.

Here is his own account of what he has sought to do: —“The first part-will comprise a study of the moral concepts: right, wrong, duty, justice, virtue, merit, etc. Such a study will be found to require an examination into the moral emotions, their nature and origin, as also into the -relations between these emotions and the various moral concepts. There will then be a discussion of the phenomena to which such concepts, are applied — the subjects of moral judgments. The general character of these phenomena will be scrutinised, and an answer sought to the question why facts of a certain type are matters of moral concern while other facts are not. Finally, the most important of these phenomena, will bo classified, and the moral ideas relating to each class will be stated and, so far as possible, explained.” All this involved the “survey of an unusually rich and varied field -of research—psychological, ethnographical, historical, juridical, theological.”The Professor thinks that- “one of the most important objects of human speculation cannot he left in its present state of obscurity; that at least a glimpse of light must be thrown upon it by researches which have extended over some fifteen years.” What, then, are the conclusions drawn from the wealth of fascinating facts gathered in these romantic pages ? OPINIONS AND FACTS. “Though rooted in the emotional side of our nature, our moral opinions are in a large measure amenable to reason,” he says. “Now in every society the traditional notions "as to what is good or bad, obligatory or indifferent, are coipmonly accepted by the majority of people without further reflection. By tracing them to their source it will be found that not a few of these notions have their origin in sentimental likings and antipathies to which a scrutinising and enlightened judge can attach little importance. “On the other hand, he must account blamable many an act and omission which Public Opinion, out of thoughtlessness, treats with indifference. It will, moreover, appear that a moral estimate often survives the cause from which it sprang. And no unprejudiced person can help changing his views if he be persuaded that they have no foundation in existing facts.” We do not pretend to do more than to indicate the task Professor Westermarck Set hi in self and the amazing interest of his documents. But we give one or two of his conclusions.. INCREASING IDEA OF BROTHERHOOD. When he writes of the origin and development- of the altruistic sentiment he says:—* “People of different nationalities feel that, in spite of all dissimilarities between them, there is much that they have fn common, and frequent intercourse makes the difference less -marked, or obliterates many of them altogether. There can be no doubt that this process will go on in the future. And equally certain it is that similar causes will produce similar effects—that altruism will continue to expand, and that the notion of a -human brotherhood will receive more support from the actual feelings of mankind than it does at present.” SOCIETY CREATES MORAL CONSCIOUSNESS. “Society,” he points out, “is the birthplace -of. the moral consciousness. ;■ The first moral judgments expressed, not the private emotions of isolated individuals, hut emotions which were felt by the community at large. Public indignation is the prototype of moral disapproval, and public approval the prototype of moral approbation..” Professor Westermarck agrees with

Professor Hobhouse that the chief strength of Christianity “lies not in its abstract doctrines, but- in the simple personal following of Christ. In moral education example plays a more important part than precept. But- even in this respect Christianity lias unfortunately little reason to boast of its achievements.”

His final words are that “we have reason to believe that the altruistic sentiment will continue to expand, that those moral commandments which are based on it will undergo a corresponding expansion . . . and that in its relation to morality religion will he increasingly restricted to emphasising ordinary moral rules and. less preoccupied with inculcating special duties to the Deity.”