Search For The Truth

Chronicle (Levin), 21 January 1949, Page 5

Search For The Truth

WELLINGTON, Jan. 20. Whether or not a University should consider the establishment of courses designed to provide a liberal education for both scientists and humanists, was the principal topic disenssed by the Chancellor, Sir David Smith, before thc Senate of the 5 University of New Zealand today. The chancellor spoke at length of his investigations abroad concerning etforts by Universities to produce balanced graduates for the need of the present age. "In conversation with some notable British vice-chancel-lors," said Sir David, "I gathered that their view is that University education needs as its basis not *only a search for tjie truth but also emphasis upon values which constitute a satisfying way of life. x The search for the-' truth should be.a search for the whole truth and that includes trnth of religious as well as of other experience. " Eaeh University should have its own chapel which should be ireely open for use by any reli■gious group in a University. Their view was that the pursuit of science was found'ed on values that were common to the arts. There were distinguished administrators . in Britain who would like to see.the University emphasise directly the values upon which an unprejndiced search for the truth was based. Ho-w much could be done'and how was it to be done under I New Zealand conditions, were the main qnestions for consideration. Those were pedagogical and pracbical questions and he offered 110 concluded view. On the question of the desirability of making some conrSes available, he' tliought that senior , students and recent , graduates should be asked to .state their views.