FUTURE OF MAN — ^MATHER 229 



tions pertaining to the cooperative way of life. Whereas the scien- 

 tific use of things may be achieved through the efforts of a very small 

 minority of the citizens, provided with adequate facilities for research, 

 the scientific organization of society in a democracy can be achieved 

 only when the majority of its citizens have the scientific attitude 

 toward social problems and act in accordance with that attitude of 

 mind. In other words, only a few physicists, chemists, and technolo- 

 gists are required for the mastery of our physical environment, but 

 for victory in the struggle with ourselves every man must be his 

 own sociologist. 



Although this places upon the forces of education a Herculean 

 task, it is not nearly so impossible an assignment as at a first glance 

 it might appear to be. In the first place, the responsibility upon 

 the individual citizen is rarely that of designing a new social struc- 

 ture or charting a new program for society. Almost invariably it 

 is his duty merely to select from many plans, programs, or proposals 

 the one that seems to him most likely to produce the most desirable 

 results for all concerned. In the second place, scientific habits of 

 mind have already been developed to a greater extent than is ordi- 

 narily recognized. The garage mechanic attacks the problem of a 

 balky automobile in a truly scientific manner. The salesman uses 

 psychology in planning his approach to a difficult prospect. The 

 housewife thinks scientifically when about to concoct a new dessert 

 or redecorate the living room. In most cases, it is only necessary 

 to apply in the area of social relationships the same habits of mind 

 that have been followed in the area of individual behavior. 



VI 



In conclusion, the outlook for the future of man as an inhabitant of 

 the earth is far from pessimistic. If certain tendencies already 

 developing are encouraged and certain resources already available are 

 capitalized to the full, there is good reason to expect that mankind 

 will maintain existence and even live happily for an indefinitely long 

 period of time. The opportunity is his to demonstrate the intrinsic 

 worth of biologic phenomena and thus to justify the vast expendi- 

 ture of time and energy involved in organic evolution. With greater 

 emphasis upon the development of intelligence and good will, he may 

 achieve that which the temporarily triumphant dynasties of the past 

 have failed to achieve. Thus the geologist may turn from the long 

 perspective of geologic history to the enticing vista of the geologic 

 future of earth and man with high hope and even with confident 

 assurance. 



