Six Talks on "The Life and Work of Bernard Shaw"

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 17, 6 November 1931, Page 19

Six Talks on "The Life and Work of Bernard Shaw"

, By the

Rev.

William A.

Constable

M.A.

Synopsis No. 4.-‘ Man and Superman." Broadcast from 1YA, Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 7.30 p.m. THE positive philosophy of Bernard Shaw finds its first full expression in "Man and Superman," especially in the "Dream Act." |The theme is the. "creation of a new race that can understand." "The Superman is not yet created." It is our task through co-operation with the "Life Force" or Purpose behind Creative Evolution to hasten progress toward ' this new race. The term "Superman" is taken from Nietzche, but the main influence on the development of Shaw’s thought on evolution and in other spheres was the work of Samuel Butler (who lived for several years sheep-farming --in New Zealand). The Life-Force has been at work for millions of years evolving higher and higher forms by a process of trial and error, and has reached its highest attainment’ so far in man. And it will go on to the creation of the super-man. Shaw holds that three things are of special’ importance for the production of the super-man: . (1) Brains-the organ of self-consciousness and self-understanding. By the use of mind we can hasten progress along the line of greatest adyantage to the race instead of yielding’ in the direction of least resistance. "The Philosopher is nature’s pilot: to ‘be in Hell is to drift; to be in Heaven is to steer." a (2) Sex.-Shaw’s view is simply that the "love of man and woman, physically congruent, and temperamentally compatible, is the ideal condition of the progressive evolution of the race." ' But as the. future of the race means more to woman than to man, woman, far more often than we realise, takes the initiative in sex. (3) The Co-ordination of the Instincts by Moral Passion.-The instincts are mere blind forces until the birth of moral passion in the soul i. gives them direction and organises them into an "army of purposes and i principles." Behind evolution, Shaw believes that there is a Mighty Purpose, which is ever seeking higher and fuller expression. "I tell you as long as I can conceive something better than myself, I cannot. be easy unless I am striving to bring it into existence or clearing the way for it." And it is this active co-operation with this Purpose that the only true happiness. can be found. "This is the true joy of life-the being used for a purpose recognised by yourself as a mighty one." ~~ Points for discussion by groups.(1) Is there a place for the conception of Purpose in Evolution? (2) Is woman more the wooer than man? How does this compare with the idea of Shakespeare in his plays? 3