VIII 



What, now, are the chief obstacles to a rational appli- 

 cation of science to world problems? It appears to me 

 that they are as follows: (a) Nationalism; (b) Communism; 

 (c) Socialism; (d) Religions; (e) Prejudices; (f) Govern- 

 mental short-term policies; and (g) The arms race. If we 

 take these in order (not necessarily of importance), then 

 I think that we can make the following remarks on them. 



Nationalism, although a good thing so far as it en- 

 courages a people to work towards common goals for the 

 prosperity of their country, is a hindrance to any nation 

 that sees in it justification to permit attempts to acquire 

 territory of other nations by force. History has shown that 

 severely nationalistic countries, such as pre-war Germany 

 and Japan, have not gained additional territory despite 

 their efforts to do so — indeed if a nation subjects another 

 unwillingly to its rule, the subjected people are bound to 

 hold grudges against the aggressors so long as they are thus 

 ruled. The only valid way in which a people living in an 

 overcrowded land can increase the territory available for 

 their settlement, is by agreement with other nations to 

 arrange large-scale population transfer to previously un- 

 inhabited land in sparsely populated countries. Under- 

 populated countries should appreciate the advantages of 

 acquiring additional population, provided that the immi- 

 grants are free of serious disease and are hard working. 

 There is, in the present-day world, no real justification for 



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