THE INTENTIONAL SHAPING OF HUMAN OPINION 603 



significance. To many persons it has seemed an astounding 

 fact that while fairly rich provision has been made for the 

 training of juvenile minds, no systematic provision has ever 

 made for the training of the adult mind. And yet it is obvious 

 that in the juvenile years most of the matters that are of 

 importance in the social, political and economic conduct of 

 Hfe are still beyond the level of immature intelligence since 

 they require experience of things as they are. To an increasing 

 number of persons throughout the world, then, it seems of 

 primary importance that a new idea of education be con- 

 ceived and put into effect, the idea, namely, that adulthood 

 is the period, not when education ends, but when the deeper 

 and far more essential education in inteUigent judgment 

 really begins. No doubt this is an idea which will be of most 

 constructive value for the future. It may take another three 

 hundred years to get it thoroughly domesticated. Neverthe- 

 less, since it is most fundamental of all to the progress of 

 human thinking, it would seem to be a major idea worth 

 pushing into effective reahzation. 



INFLUENCE OF INVENTION ON GOVERNING HABITS 



In the foregoing, we have considered only the intentional 

 shaping of human opinion. There is, of course, one powerful 

 factor which is constantly, but unintentionally shaping ideas 

 and attitudes. This factor is invention. The invention of 

 electric Hghts has unquestionably developed reading habits 

 and amusement habits never before possible. The invention 

 of the automobile has developed travel habits, not to speak 

 of financial habits, which were not found in the older days of 

 slow-moving vehicles. The invention of the moving picture 

 helped to break the saloon-habit of mind. It has hkewise 

 broken into the ignorances and provinciahsms and has 

 served to bring the most distant and colorful experiences 

 within the compass of the average life. Also, it has developed 

 a new and perhaps questionable habit of erotic interest. 



But the inventor, as we know, does not deliberately set 

 himself to bring about these things. They happen along with 

 the new device. Nevertheless, it is significant to note that 

 inventions do change the ideas and attitudes of individuals 

 and groups. It is even possible to beheve that, knowing this, 



