The School Of Applied Ethics

n this article we give a brief ketch of the School of Applied Ethcs and Trof. Henry C. Adams' vork n connection with it. The following, taken from the secretary's report, describes the orgin and purposes of the institution: " " The School of Applied Ethics held ts first sesson at I'lymouth, Mass., from July i to August 12, jgpj, This was an experimental andertaking, and the first step towards the carrying out of a large and important educational project, the founding of a fully-equipped School of Applied Ethics in connection with some large university. It is proposed, not to found another school similar to and as a rival of any schools already existing, but to meet a real educational need by furnishing systematic instruction in a field of investigation not especially provided for in established institutions. The experiment of last summer proved so successful that it has been decided to hold a similar session another year at the same time and place, and the managers hope that not only the summer school, but also the permanent school referred to will be successfully established, and occupy in time an important place among educational institions. The proposition to cstablish a School of Applied Eihics, either indepemlently or in connection with some large university, lias been unler discussion for several years. Attention' was first called to the need of such a school, in a public address in Boston, by Professor Felix Adler, during the May anniversary week of 1879. The project was afterwards discussed in the Index and other papers; but thé plans were still too indennite and public interest was not sufficiently awakened to ■the importance of the undertaking. The subject was next brought to public notice, and in a more definite shape at the third convention of the Ethical Societies, held in Philadelphia, January, 1889. It was the topic of a special public meeting, and addresses were made by Professor Adler, Mr. Thomas Davidson, Professor Royce, Rev. Wm. J. Potter, and others. Numerous letters endorsing the proposed school were received from distinguished representatives of different professions in various parts of the country. At the next convention of the Ethical Societies, held in New York, December, 1890, the project was again broueht forward and endorsed at a ■public meeting by President E. Benj. Andrews, Rev. Lyman Abbott, Professor Daniel G. Brinton, Rev. R. Heber Newton, Dr. A. S. Isaacs, and Professor Adler. Definite action towards the reali.ation of the project was taken in the following resolution, passed by the convention: licsoh-ed, That the Executive j mittee be empowered to raise $4,000 to j establish a Sumuiér School of Ethica forone year, and to hand over ita management to a committee of nine, threg of whom shiill be lecturers of the Ethial Societies. In consequence of this resolution a committee was appointed, which met in New York, March 2, 1S91. There were present Professor H. C. Adams, of the University of Michigan, Professor C. H.Toy.of Harvard University, Professor Felix Adler, of New York, President t. JJenj. Andrews, of Brown University, Professor Morris Jastrow, Jr. , of the University of Pennsylvania, and Mr. S. Burns Weston, of Philadelphia. The trust implied by the above resolution was accepted by the committee, and plans were presented and adopted for a summer session of six weeks with the three departments of Economics, History of Religions, and Ethics. Professor Henry C. Adams was made director of the department of Economics, Professor C. H. Toy, of History of Religions, and Professor Felix Adler, of Ethics proper. It was decided that the office of Dean should be filled in rotation by the heads of the departments in the order given, and Professor Adams became Dean of the school for the first year. The first session opened July i, at Lyceum Hall, Plymouth, Mass.. with public addresses by Professors Adams, Toy, and Adler on the wort to be done in their respectivt branches. The regular daily lectures began Thursday, Jüly 2, with a good attendancs. In the department of econoïnics the main course consisted of a series of sixteen lectures by Professor Adaras, on the History of Industrial Society and Economie Doctrine in ; England and America, in which special attention was given to the ! gradual rise of those practical problems in the labor world, which cause so much anxiety and discussion today. The subjects of the lectures in this course were as follows: The Modem Social Movement, and the TrueMetliod of Study. The Manor considered as the Unit of Agricultural Industry in Feudal Times . The Town considered as the Unit of Manufactur111 g Industry in Feudal Times. The Black Death and Tyler's Rebellion considered in their Industrial Consequences. The Times of Henry VIII and Eli.abeth considered as foreshadowing Modern Ideas of Capital. The Spirit of Nationálism as expressed in industrial Legislation of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries. Liberal Writers of the Eighteenth Century, 'considered with Especial Reference to the Industrial Liberalism of Adam Smith. Industrial and Social Results of the Development of Textile Macliinery. Critical Analysis of the Effect of Macliinery on YVages. Industrial and Social Results uf the Development of Steam Navigation. Mill'sPolitical Economy, considered as the most Perfect Expression of the Industrial Ideas of the Middle Classes. Changesin Economie Ideas since Mili; (a) Fundamental Economie Conceptions, (b) Relation of Government to Industries. Trades-Unions considered astheWorkingman's Solution of the Labor Question. Public Conimissions considered as a Conservative Solutiou of the Monopoly Question. Au Interpretatiou of the Social Movement of Our Time." The following, clipped f rom the article by Rev. W. H. Johnson in the Christian Register, shows that Prof. Adams sustained his well-merited reputation as a political economist of the nrst rank: "The ehieï interest of the school seems to have centered iii the Department of Econopies, testifying to the growing appreciation of the profoundly vital mantier in which the great social topics of the times touch us all. Here were numbers of people gatherèd together who had become tired of the cure-'alls otfered by narrow-minded enthusiasts, not less than héartsick of the social wrongs and miseries which hi-incr thia class into existence, and intensely anxious for some teaching which would point out clear landmarks. Only the existence of this t'eeling of earnest longing for soine measure of authoritative exposition can account for the entbusiasm which has attended the economie course. In Prof. Adams, this department has had for its director and chief expositor a master mind. Apart from the interest of the subject, it would be impossible to listen without keen satisfaction to his rigid analysis and lucid explanations of a subject which is, for the most of us, wrapped in "chaos and perpetual night." Prof. Adams: final lecture, summin? up the economie teaching of the school during the six weeks' course, was one of rare merit. He was at once overwhelmed with riimiPKts for its Dublication, to which he liasconsented."