Passages with Solved Precis It came to Aristotle clearly enough that above all questions of the physical world there loomed the question of questions—what is the best life? — what is life’s supreme good?—what is virtue ?—How shall we find happiness and fulfillment? He is realistically simple in his ethics. His scientific training keeps him from the preachment of superhuman ideals and empty counsels of perfection. Aristotle begins by frankly recognizing...

Passages with Solved Precis A comparison between the American and the French Declarations on the subject of Equality will help to make clear the meaning of the word. The slave-holding authors of the American Constitution (Alexander Hamilton and his fellows) cheerfully declare that ‘all men are created equal.’ Taken literally that statement is nonsense. There is far greater difference in the intellectual abilities of men than there is in their physiques....

Passages with Solved Precis Effective rational propaganda becomes possible only when there is a clear understanding on the part of all concerned, of the nature of symbols and of their relations to the things and events symbolized. Irrational propaganda depends for its effectiveness on a general failure to understand the nature of symbols. Simple-minded people tend to equate the symbol with what it stands for, to attribute to things-and events some...

Passages with Solved Precis Wars and revolutions have thus, far determined the physiognomy of the twentieth century. And as distinguished from the nineteenth-century ideologies-such as nationalism and internationalism, capitalism and imperialism, socialism and communism, which, though still invoked by many as justifying causes, have lost contact with the major realities of our worldwar and revolution still constitute its two central political issues. They have outlived all their ideological justifications. In a...

Passages with Solved Precis The stigma cast on the people of India as a semi-barbarous people by foreign Christian Missionaries has well-nigh died out on the writings of Sir William Jones, Wilson, Max Muller and other Savants and the extensive cultivation of Sanskrit language and literature have dispelled the delusion and given Hindus a high place in the, scale of civilized nations. Several Indian institutions and practices which were reckoned as...

Passages with Solved Precis I come back to my cabin in the woods, and find the forest inexorably creeping in upon me. Young trees and bushes spring up in the open land. But for persistent clearing them out, the forest would soon be back at my door-step. The wild creatures explore every nook and corner for food. Almost every fruit tree and garden plant is appropriated by rabbit, ground hog, bird...

Passages with Solved Precis Two opposite and at first sight conflicting merits belong to science as against literature and art. The one, which is not inherently necessary, but is certainly true at the present day, is hopefulness as to the useful work that may be accomplished by any intelligent student. This merit and the cheerful outlook which it engenders prevent what might otherwise be the depressing effect of another aspect of...

Passages with Solved Precis One of our great needs is some general system of thought of map of the intellectual world by which we may be helped to judge which of several principles should prevail when it is impossible to give full expression to all. Incidentally, it may be worthwhile to observe that our duty in this field is seldom to adopt one principle and see it through, Controversialists often demand...