Johns Hopkins University - Hullabaloo Yearbook (Baltimore, MD)

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agreed that absolute ethical rules for the guidance of men cannot be laid down. In other words, the binding force of all ethical imperatives is dependent upon the facts and circumstances to which they are to apply. The consequence of this is that he who would seek to give practical ethical advice must base his directions upon a thorough comprehension of the social conditions under which, and of the social forces by which, the desired ends are to be obtained. This knowledge the special social sciences afford. We now begin to see the manner in which history, ethics, and the other social sciences supplement the work of one another, and jointly afford the foundations for what may properly be termed a social philosophy. A social philosopher, as we conceive him, is one who is able to survey social life as a whole, to understand its mechanics and dynamics, to evaluate the intrinsic merits of its special features, and to point out with clear vision .the lines OF development which will most surely lead to the highest possible civilization. The task of the social philosopher is thus teleological, the framing of social ideals. Social philosophy and philosophy of ,history thus complement one another. While the historical philosopher searches out the rationality of the past, the social philosopher discovers the ttue ethical significance of present social conditions and forces, and points out the ideals which should be real- ized. i This conception of the aim of social philosophy takes us back to the old Greek ideal which gave to speculative thought the task of interpreting the concrete facts of life, of filling them with an inherent meaning and of vivifying them with a purpose. Such a work may well claim to be the highest effort of the human mind. Found- ed as it must be upon all the facts made known by the several sciences, and interpreted by the principles revealed by the speculative process, a true social philosophy becomes the focal point at which all knowledge meets to issue forth as aclear light in which all men may be able to see the highest social ideals, and perceive the means for their attainment. Thus, and thus only, in truth, does philosophy, by becoming social, completely justify itsright to existence. WESTEL WOODBURY WILLOUGHBY, AB. '88, Ph. D. '9:. I5

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City Government in the Twentieth Century . . BY . . HON. ELGIN R. L. GOULD. Ph. D., '86, Chamberlain of New York City. ITY Government is of the highest importance, and yet it is that one element in our governmental sys- tem with which we have not succeeded in dealing satisfactorily. In fact, American city government has been pronounced by no less an authority than James Bryce, the English publicist, who spent years in investigating American institutions, as our weak spot. He is undoubtedly correct. While we have learned how to manage national affairs, and while we have had measurable success with our state governments, American City government has been, relatively speaking, a singular failure. This is a matter of great public concern. The importance of city government lies in the fact that it deals with interests vital and direct to every individual. Whether streets are kept clean in front of our houses, whether our public schools are successfully managed, whether our water supply is adequate and in proper condition, are matters of much keener public interest than whether the Panama Canal Bill Shall pass at Wash- ington, or whether some measure affecting the state as a whole shall be passed or defeated at the state capitol. Some of the dangers involved in ill-administered city government are of supreme social moment. For example, an incompetent health department means not merely sickness, misery and death, but it involves a great loss of productive power. Herding in slums, if unchecked, promotes immorality and pauperism. The rum traffic utilized for purposes of political exploitation overleaps 2111 bounds of ordinary social harm. Blackmail and non- enforcement of law generate disregard for law, while disregard for law speedily generates anarchy. The political control of public education pillages Children of opportunities they can never regain, while neglect of facilities for recreation and social improvement, such as smallparks,pub1ic baths, libraries and museums, distinguishes the crude from the well-ordered civilized city. Another fact which makes city government of great import is the phenomenal growth of urban population, which in a century has increased from one-twentieth to one-third of. all the people in the country. There were six cities I7