348 



Atwood commented that "As a consequence, peaceful cooperation 

 among people of all nations is a little closer to realization," and ex- 

 pressed the hope that "the United Nations and its specialized 

 agencies . . . will call upon organizations such as ICSU for advice 

 and assistance." 197 Similarly, Kistiakowsky remarked on the potential 

 role of science in international affairs : 



The significance of international scientific activities to the relations between 

 nations is perhaps the most important of the roles science and scientists can play 

 in today's embittered and divided world — not a new role in the sense that inter- 

 national activities of science are part of the lifeblood of science; but new in its 

 potential impact on political relations. 188 



Perhaps not surprisingly, the optimism of the scientific community 

 spread to nonscientists as well. On the eve of the IGY, Prince Philip, 

 the Duke of Edinburgh, in a television interview remarked: 



The IGY is the world studying itself. It is seldom that this world of ours acts 

 together. . . . Yet, for the next 18 months, east and west, north and south, will 

 unite in the greatest assault in history on the secrets of the earth. ... At the 

 same time, it may well help to solve the real problem — the conflict of ideas. m 



Representative Albert Thomas, while chairing a subcommittee of 

 the House Appropriations Committee, commented: 



I think you gentlemen of the International Geophysical Year have set a pat- 

 tern of worldwide cooperation that nations and governments, and particularly 

 our good State Department, can take a leaf out of your book. 200 



And Walter Sullivan, having served as a full-time observer of the 

 IGY for the New York Times, expressed the hope that the efforts 

 of scientists, as exemplified by the IGY, might "provide a meeting 

 ground where East and West can find mutually acceptable techniques 

 for disarmament." 201 



These comments represent a cross-section of the frequent direct or 

 indirect exhortations to politicians to employ in their political affairs 

 the techniques of science and scientists. Implicit in these exhortations 

 is the notion that political problems are amenable to scientific prin- 

 ciples, properly applied. Refreshing as the intent underlying such 

 beliefs may be, it nonetheless underestimates the formidable differences 

 existing between the scientific and political communities. 



Scientific vis-a-vis Political Good Will 



One of the difficulties in attempting to transfer scientific method- 

 ology into political reality is suggested by Sullivan's observation that 

 "science, in treating our planet as indivisible, is far ahead of politics, 

 which treats it as two worlds." 202 In view of today's multiple ideologies, 

 "multiple worlds" might be a more appropriate political designation. 

 During the IGY, as a result of their common participation in efforts 

 which opened up to man not only Antarctica but outer space, scientists 

 were said to have experienced unusually strong feelings of humility and 

 brotherhood. 203 These feelings served to reinforce the traditional atti- 

 tudes most natural scientists develop as a result of sharing with others 

 the common objective of unveiling nature's secrets. There is but one 

 universe for scientists to study, and its singularity unites all scientific 

 minds. 



'»» Atwood, "The IO Y in Retrospect," p. 689. 



188 Kistiakowsky, "Science and Foreign AfT:urs," p. lit. 



"'■•Illustrated Sens (London). Julv 27, 1957, pp. 2G-27. 



*» NSF-NAS Hearings: IGY Report, p. 20. 



soi Sullivan, "The 1UY," p. 260. 



SM Sullivan. "Scientific Alliance," p. 68. 



*» Wilson, New Moon*, p. 325. 



