The Spike or Victoria College Review Capping programme 1919
Our Philosophy.— — A Preface for Metaphysicians
"Try to be Shakspeare, leave the rest to fate."
— Browning.
"Now-a-days that which is not worth saying is sung."
— Beaumarchais.
Our Philosophy.—
A Preface for Metaphysicians.
Our extravaganza conceals a "philosophic idea." It is this. The play is (as, indeed, all philosophies are) an attempt to "harmonise our prejudices with our experience." Our prejudices are deep. In the first place we are optimists—and so think it worth while to attack a popular error. There is a growing opinion that the use of Force is immoral. Our second prejudice being found in the Idealist Doctrine, Satan—the spirit of Force—has been misunderstood. In Sparta, muscle has the freest play: The Spartans had a healthy interest in this world changed to another world and Satan is repudiated. According to our analysis, in the Present the average man is indifferent to both this world and the next: the healthy human interest of the old world is gone, and the Hereafter (or Hereunder) robbed of its old stage properties, has lost its terrors. He puts in the time making money. As to the future, we see a reconciliation, a "higher synthesis" of the opposing elements. Force, controlled by Reason, achieves a spiritual significance: Satan, under the guidance of Japhetrow, stands at the foot of the ladder to take his part in the elevation of the race. Amen.
"in spite of professorial strictures,
Never believe what can't be taught
To you in coloured pictures."
— G. K. Chesterton.