OLD-FASHIONED "G.B.S."

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 912, 3 September 1910, Page 9

OLD-FASHIONED "G. 8.5."

'•; The ' .."Hibbert■■'■' Journal'!■■', for ■ July opens its)'pages to a' serious article by Professor A. E-.'Rogers on "Mr. Bernard;;. Shaw's.-••. Philosophy.'!. ; Professor Rogers admits the dangers of attempting to pin. dowri : .such' a 'writer;'as Mr; Shaw.to.a, philosophic system, but ho thinks that the basis of' his "nimblo .and elusive, convictions'! is ...: .',■■'■ .. ..?. "Thei old-fashioned doctrine that existence ':':is.'-no. mere "personal,., private, selfish .thing, .but inclusion in; and-co-operation : with, -the'.'forces 'of the uni-,yers6-T-what other and- less sophisticatedgenerations were wont to call the plan 'of-.God.:. :'Aiid tho most substahtial motive, for'-, a truer;'appreciation, of one's larger duties is .to -be- found in this - sense of the mystery -and -'power.' of the ■uniyersal lifd, : the grip.' iinori-a' inan'.s , imagination aiid his.action that. c'ome3 from .the. realisation, that -he•'• is' a■:part of'; the current of the world's destiny. ' Herein.'lies' the' true joy, of life, 'thebeing used by ;.a. purpose recognised;by I yourself as a mighty, one, the being: I thoroughly worn out'' before - you'- 'are thrown; on the scrap-heap; tho being aforce of' nature, instead of a. feverish, selfish-, little .'clod of ailments and'grievr amies: complaining that the world will hot .devote . _itself to making, you happy,'.'•': ■;.■'.' ■■;'■■'[:.'■ -.-': ■'-.';'.',':,.' )■ "I.scarcely think .it 'is'. the !: passion ,fppArighteousness: which' possesses ;him,-. ,so'much as it is a heartfelt"'dislike for' shams-and inconsistencies;?,' He' is an inveterate 'hater of waste ' and' disorder.'" ; V-' ■■'■■■•.■.'■■

._; .When,7 however,;7Mr. "Shaw's., own ideal , ." is put before us in the concrete, the [Professor failstb "find ■, it altogether admirable.V -The ,'clearness. /and.' impartiality and world-encompassing vision of : his ;heroes raises themVabove: all the ordinary- human .motives 'and laws.' "As; to the Superman,- Professor V Rogers's .'conclusion': is':- '}■■ '■■ ■■'''. • : , v ' '. : .'■"ln spite of,its show of the scientific! temper, this .doctrine of the Superman reveals at..bottom the most.Vicious' fault of- idealism, by quarrelling with reality, and- despairing of any.-result 'unless it can/be provided with a new race of men to.work upon; it represents the childish demand, for a ready-niado and finished goodness, created outright by a. piece of machinery. And, furthermore, such-a theory suggests an attitude toward existing men which bears 1 out in .some measure the doubt-that has' already' been raised about Mr. Shaw's moral ideal on the'side of its human and personal :quality. ..The premise of Mr. Shaw's doctrine is the general worthlessness and. incapacity for ; improvement'of men as we know them." The real value of' Mr. Shaw, concludes the Professor, lies in his "call to /clear self-scrutiny and consistency in our social ideals. To force men to look belor/ the labels to the reality—if he can do this, Mr. Shaw's exaggerations may .well be forgiven." l '. . ■