Franklin High School - Post Yearbook (Portland, OR)

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David Foster, assistant Professor of Art at the University of Oregon., was the speaker at the second Franklin Forum on November 22. Mr., Foster's topic was: Contemporary art, a reflection of philosophy? In answering this question, Mr. Foster pointed out that the largest gain from a Work of art is received by the artist who created it, and not by the viewers. I-Ie also wanted to emphasize the process. It is not that the product isn't important, but we sometimes examine the result to check the process. Art differs from literature because a painting, for in- stnce, prou-ays life in a simultaneous manner, whereas, a novel portrays it in asequential form. ln this respect, ideas can be transferred quicker through art. Again placing emphasis on the process, Mr. Foster said to remember, The way to something probably is as important as, or more important than, the place.

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s -l -' t 'N at WHAT IS SCIENCE DOING TO REALITY? The first in a series of five lectures sponsored by the Franklin Forum was given by Marvin Levich, Professor of Philosophy at Reed College, on No- vember l, 1963. Dr. Levich's topic was: Willarapidly increasing scien- tific world reduce all reality to meas- urable quantities thus rejecting evi- dence furnished by intellectual per- ception--philosophical perception? Dr. Levich said that what frequently happens when we ask this question is that we have in mind certain kinds of things or realities which we consider to be very important. By reality then, we mean certain things in the world that we consider of ultimate impor- tance. People sometimes use reality in this moral sense. The real things are the things that are worthwhile, the thingsthat we want. So the ques- tion, What is science doing to re- alty? becomes the question, ls sci- ence going to establish that the things I think are ultimately worthwhile are really worthless? or, Is science going to establish that all the things Ire- gard to be important in the universe are either unimportant or, in fact, meaningless? Dr. Levich went on to say that there was no fear of this ever happening. The reason for this is that science and philosophy approach the subjects of reality and the universe in two dif- ferent methods, and the ideas in one area cannotbe used to disprove things in the other. Dr. Levich said this in effect when he said: There is nothing which science can ever establish which would show that any of our claims are incorrect, but I want to say the opposite, too. . . l'm only saying that science is not the in- strument in terms of which these are to be affirmed or denied. ll 7 Dr. Marvin Levich The Franklin Forum was fortunate to obtain as its first speaker Dr. Marvin Levich, Professor of Philosophy at Reed College. Dr. Levich, outstanding in field of philosophy, adequately chal- lenged the intellectual capabilties of the members of the Forum. He has been at Reed for eleven years. Before this he attended Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, and completed his graduate work at Columbia Uni- versity. He has written a book, due to be released by Random House, titled Studies in the Philosophy of Criticism.

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SCIENCE VS. PHILOSOPHY K. Ellsworth Payne, a science teacher at Portland State College, was the speaker at the third Franklin Forum. His topic was: The scientist in the world of philosophy. Dr. Payne noted that at the time ofAristotle, there was no difference between a scientist and a philosopher. Gradually they have moved apart, and today there is a large contrast. With Francis Bacon came the cleavage, he taught that science couldbe put to a practical use and thus transform society. Dr. Payne expressed the feeling that science pro- duces practical results, while philos- ophy is merely aesthetic in nature. He said that scientists apply their ideas and theories, while philosophers sit on their rocks with their chin on their hands. Dr. K. Ellsworth Payne Dr. Payne studied and did his under- graduate work at Brigham Young Uni- versity, and did his graduate Work at Oregon State. Presently he holds the position of assistant to the chairman of the Division of Science and is an Associate Professor of General Science at Portland State College.,