Economics Course.

Conscientious students will by this time have learnt from the best text-books that Economics is a science. It is essential that, to grasp this idea clearly, as its assists in the cramping of one's ideas on the subject into the circumscribed limits. The economist is very like the man seated beneath the banyan tree studying a book on longevity while a hungry tiger considers him with a pleased look in his eye. Economics consists of erudite commonplaces on a system rapidly becoming effete. It is not within its scope to contemplate any of the philosophical or political developments which every moment threaten to engulf it.

The scientific method of the economist is peculiar to himself. It should be called the "Economic Method." Rather than gather the facts from which to ascertain the truth, he asserts the truth (obtained from some other course) and sets about collecting such facts as will support it. If, as is sometimes the case, he changes his mind, this is due to Progress, which is also responsible when he changes his mind back again.

That a course in economics provides a valuable training in versatility is demonstrated clearly in the diversity of opinion it breeds on any question of importance. As a certain wise man has said, "If all the economists in the world were placed end-to-end they would never reach a conclusion.

I offer a Parliamentary apology if I have suggested that a course in Economics is of very little value.

R.S.O.

Philosophomania.

The scientist does not sit down to write a thesis on decaying fish or on the contents of garbage-tins, yet the psychologist dotes on the lunatic and his imbecilities. And this prying into putrescent humanity is hidden in a maze of technicalities, complexes, rationalisations and subnormal manifestations, just as the secret opium-smoker hides himself well away from the world before indulging his craving. The psychologist is the first to point out that the constant contact of a teacher with infant minds tends to make his own mind childish. How then does he escape from his own contact with the insane?

Your philosopher is a morbid introspective fellow destroying our hearty humanity and good-fellow-ship. Remember the wall of Johnson's friend, who "tried to be a philosopher but cheerfulness would keep on coming in."

Condemning civilisation as a mass of repressions, he craves to return to the natural or bestial state. He says I have sex and libido. Well, what of it; I do not ask whether he has corns on his right toe. He criticises the conventions in the present expressions of sex and favours fuller expression. On the same grounds, I suppose, I should murder a man I feel angry with, because it is the natural and primitive thing to do.

Not only would they destroy the beauty of our emotional life, but even thought they destroy. In the olden days one refuted another's argument with logic and reason. Today your long-haired and shaggy psychologist, when outwitted, derides the arguments of his adversary as defence—mechanisms or rationalisations.

The psychologist forms part of the tyranny of modern life. The pacifist won't let us fight, the economic system wont' work the Government won't let us be seditious, and the psychologist own't let us behave decently.

"If and enemy smite thee on the right cheek, let thy subsequent actions be governed largely by his size."

* * *

"Every man should know himself, but in doing so he is apt to waste a lot of time that might be spent on making more agreeable acquaintances."

* * *

Bob Hall is reliably reported to have said that the present Swimming Club Committee is one of the finest bodies of administrators he has met.