Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 10, No. 10. July 16, 1947
[Letter from R.J. Watt to Salient Vol. 10, No. 10. July 16, 1947]
Dear Sir,—The University is the only institution in the community which provides for intensive study in any particular field. The cost of such study must inevitably be for the immediate period, a limitation in the comprehension of other subjects.
"Provided the standard of specialisation is to be maintained the innovation of Mr. Sutton-Smith's scheme would mean lengthening all degree courses, which would be undesirable. And isn't a degree course expensive enough already? If the courses were not lengthened then we would have development of culture at the expense of specialist knowledge, which is also undesirable. It is obvious that any philosophy worthy of consideration must at best incorporate, but at least not contradict, the findings of modern science. But the development of a philosophy is not an easy matter and historically appears to be most suitably the province of one person, not a group of people. It is a matter for a person with the requisite knowledge, the time and the inclination. Although our deapartments have the knowledge they most certainly haven't the time and may not have the inclination.
With reference to the other aspect—to attempt to place psychology within the sphere of bodies of knowledge requiring their own techniques and with their own laws is to deny psychology the right to possess its own laws and follow its own methods. This will prohibit any further development of psychology and any systematic application of it.
If psychology and sociology are to be taken seriously they must be granted the right to develop in their own way. It not, all that would remain would be economists, lawyers, etc., attempting to ply their trade with the addition of a little applied common sense, which if perhaps a refreshing change, would not be sufficient to solve contemporary social problems.
Establishing a separate psychology department with more practical training would solve the problem of relevance but for the problem of orientation there can, I think, be no solution.
R. J. Watt.