Rochester Institute of Technology - Techmila / Ramikin Yearbook (Rochester, NY)

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“There are two kinds of arguments, the true and the false. The young should be instructed in both—but the false first.” Plato: The Republic FOREWORD “There is, everywhere in the under- developed world, a tremendous hunger for learning ’ Paul G. Hoffman Director of the U.N. Special Fund Does an argument have to present complete truth in order to have value? Can the individual learn through an understanding of irrational arguments? To understand an argument, what must the individual know? Is education a panacea for underdevel- oped countries ? What objectives are underdeveloped countries seeking? Can a semi-literate populace support democracy?

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65 TECHMILA ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY ROCHESTER, NEW YORK

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In The Republic Plato presents the idea that the complete truth is not always the best means for establishing desired beliefs within youth. lie suggests that the child is not capable of understanding the complete truth in an unmodified form. We must be cognizant of the fact that the child is just formulating his character; what he learns and can understand will have a marked influence on his development. We are confronted daily by weak and unsupported arguments; it is our responsibility to recognize these situations. To do this, the individual must have an understanding of how this form of argument is presented. The investigation and study of known methods provide an opportunity to condition patterns of thought and action for handling diverse problems. We must realize that an argument involves two sides of a central issue. John Stuart Mill in On Liberty expresses the thought that the great orator is one that has “studied his adversary’s case with as great, if not with still greater, intensity than even his own.” Truth depends on a balance achieved between two sets of conflicting reasons. If one is to refute an opposite opinion, he must know the basis of the opposition’s reasonings. Education will not provide the immediate solution to the problems confronting underdeveloped countries in the world. This process will, however, provide a foundation for understanding and coping with the basic problems: intellectual, political and economical. The utilization of human resources is a precondition for achieving desired objectives. The developing countries are attempting to secure political inde- pendence and economic stability. They need to develop and utilize the factors of production: land, labor, and capital. Under the guidance of the United Nation’s Economic and Social Council, the underdeveloped nations have set out to achieve a minimum annual growth of five per cent in their national incomes. The above concepts were incorporated in an article by James A. Joyce, “Priorities in African Education,” appearing in August 15, 1964 issue of Saturday Review. Political freedom under a form of democracy is also one of the objectives of some underdeveloped countries. Carl Becker states that modern democracy rests on the assumption that men have sufficient ability to govern themselves better than any one or any few can do it for them. Man’s superiority is based on an accumulated and transmitted store of learning.