Why does the ideas of progress loom so large in the modern world? Surely because progress of a particular kind is actually taking place around us and is becoming more and more manifest. Although mankind has ungone no general improvement in intelligence or morality, it has made extrodinary progress in the accumulation of knowledge. Knowledge began to increasing as soon as the thoughs of one individual could be communicated by means of speech. With the invention of writing, a great advance was made, for knowledge could then be not only communicated, but also stored. Libraries made education possible, and education in its ture added to libraries: the growth of knowledge followed a compound-interest law, which was greatly enhanced by the invention of printing. All this was comparatively slow until, with the coming of science, the tempo was suddenly raised. The knowledge began to be accumulated according to a systematic plan. The tricle became a stream; the stream has now become a torrent. Moreover, As soon as new knowledge is acquired, it is now turned to practical account. What is called modern civilization is not the result of a balanced development of all man's nature, but of accumulated knowldege applied to practical life. The Problem now facing humanity is what is to be done with all this knowledge. As is so often pointed out, knowledge is a two-edged weapon, which can be used equally for good or evil. It is now being used indifferently for both. Could any spectacle, for instance, be more grimly whimsical than that of gunners using science to shatter men's bodies while, close at hand, surgeons use it to resore them. We must ask ourselves very seriouly what will happen if this two-edged use of knowledge, with its ever increasing power, continues.
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