VOL.8, No. 7
ABSTRACTS
1411
Dr. Luckhardt Speaks before Gorgas Medical Societg, University of Alabama. See page 1451. South Dakota Academy of Science. See page 1451. New Director of Research for Central Scientific Company. See page 1451. Louisiana Section A. C. S. Devotes Meeting to Study of Chemical Education Problems. See page 1451. American Association of Physics Teachers. See page 1452. Chemical Exposition Meeting of the New York Professional Group of Alpha Chi Sigma. See page 1452.
California Scientist Defends Human Intelligence. Is man a rational animal? A negative answer to that question, which has become increasingly fashionable in certain schools of psychology, is vigorously combated by Prof. William E. Ritter of the University of California and first president of Science Seruice. Prof. Ritter's article answering the question in the affirmative appeared in a recent issue of ITuman Biology. To deny specific intelligence to man, Prof. Ritter says, is to deny t h a t the great development of the forebrain, unique possession of the human species, has any signscance whatever. I t even amounts to denying that man goes upright . . on his hind leas and can use his forelimbs in more versatile fashion than any other animal. After attempting - to find a definition of intelligence by experts on the subiect, and finding the experts all tangled up in differences of opinion with each other, Prof. Ritter undertook to make his own definition. He says: "Intelligence is that attribute of which some animal species have became possessed through the long, hard course of evolution, in virtue of which the individuals may avoid doing fool things if they really desire and really try to avoid them." Prof. Ritter opposes the old notion that animals depend entirely on "instinct" which is always "unerring." Animals, he says, do foal things just as human beings do them. To the extent that their mental makeup allows them choice, they sometimes make the wrong choice. He cites the case of California woodpeckers that had plenty of acorns stored up, yet raided orchards full of ripening a l m o n d s a n d got themselves shot as thieves by the outraged owners. Man, with a far better developed brain than any of hi lesser kinsfolk, has a mare flexible and powerful apparatus for the functioning of intelligence. He has a wider choice; he can do more "wise" things as well as more "fool" ones. His intelligence, his rationality, means that he has the ability to consciously guide his actions in accordance with the well being of himself and his own kind.-Sczence Servicz Chemistry Seen a s Aid to Business Revival. Chemical industries will make contributions to ourmodern industriallife which willhelp the revival of prosperity, Dr. A. D. Little, consulting .chemist of Cambridee. . Mass.. predicted in his address upon the occasion of receiving the Perkin Medal, one of chemistry's highest awards. "Advances in chemistry react on every industry," he said, "while conversely every progressive trend in other industries makes new demands on chemistry." "We may look with confidence to the chemical industries for contributions which KO far toward supolving should. .. . . the stimulus essential to the revival of our prosperity." Dr. Little predicted a phenomenal development in the plastics industry and in materials of construction adapted t o the mass production of dwelling houses. He pointed out that new chemical agents are beginning to replace water in heating and power equipment, new products from water gas and from the waste gases of oil refineries are in sight, and even new foods are in prospect. Meanwhile, he declared, sulfuric acid. chlorine, and soda remain commodities as basic as steel.-Science Serdce ~
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