Monday, May 2. 1960
University Daily Kansan
Page 3
Mass Philosophizing Tires, but Stimulates
By Allen Brauninger
How would you like to discuss the philosophies of Sartre, Brownowski, Carnap, Russell or Dewey eight times a week?
Norman S. Care, assistant instructor of Western Civilization, is doing this - - - and he enjoys it.
Mr. Care said that despite leading eight second-semester Western Civilization sections a week, he usually finds something fresh in each different discussion group.
"SOME DAYS after I've had three sections in a row. I'm physically tired, but I find every discussion usually brings out something new and mentally stimulating," he said.
Mr. Care said that once students acquire some understanding of these readings, they have even more interesting discussions than those of previous weeks.
"That is because these contemporary philosophers share the same background and viewpoint we have today," he said.
MR.CARE added that in contrast to writers before them, these contemporary philosophers are no longer seeking absolute and objective values that apply to everyone. They are resigned to the fact that each man sees the world in a different manner, thus for these men, values become subjective creations, he said.
He said that these philosophies placed the individual who holds them in a position of insecurity, and for that reason are rather hard at first for the student to endorse whole-heartedly.
"IN SOME CASES, I have seen students go through what might be called a crisis about their personal beliefs," Mr. Care added.
Most of the contemporary philosophies studied definitely conflict with some part of the students' religious backgrounds, he said.
According to "The Age of Analysis," edited by Morton White, one of the texts for the course, existentialism as set forth by Sartre denies the role of any divine creator in shaping
the lives or personalities of men.
Its doctrine 's "Existence before essence." That is, human beings exist and are responsible themselves for any "human nature."
White writes that for William James' school of pragmatists, the truth is that which gives the individual a satisfactory and useful answer to his problem. James insisted, however, that in addition to solving the problem at hand, truth had to be reconcilable with existing facts and reality.
RUDOLPH CARNAP'S philosophy of logical positivism holds that all metaphysics are only a means of expression and have no representative function, White writes. Therefore, metaphysics becomes a kind of artistic expression instead of a strict philosophical discipline for Carnap.
White observes that a conception of a changing and relative truth lies at the base of all these contemporary philosophies.
Mr. Care said that he is often able to stimulate a discussion by taking the philosopher's position when that viewpoint is objectionable to students.
"HOWEVER, playing devil's advocate can backfire," he said. "Sometimes students are indignant that anyone should hold the views of a Hitler or Mussolini, for instance, and then they refuse to talk about the matter any further."
Foreign Students To Study Election
Twenty foreign students will spend three days in Washington, D.C. studying the 1960 elections through grants from the Institute of International Education.
The students will be selected from applicants from colleges and universities throughout the country. They will receive grants which will provide round trip transportation to Washington, D.C. They will be guests of local families for the three days of the program, known as the Contemporary America Seminar.
Applicants for the program must mail a letter of application by today, stating the reason for wanting to participate. Also included in the letter must be information on the applicant's nationality, field of study, years spent in this country and date of expected return to his native country.
The seminar lasts from June 12 through June 15. Its activities include visits to the national headquarters of the political parties and interviews with legislators and others who are prominent in national politics.
Music Conducting Calls For Deep Knowledge
Mounting a podium and waving a baton in the air before a group of musicians may look like an easy job to the music layman.
Eut actually conducting an orchestra makes the highest demands on a musician.
"Conducting calls for a thorough knowledge of musical theory, history and instruments," said Robert Baustian, associate professor of orchestra, at the Faculty Club meeting yesterday.
AND THEN he discussed the
AND THEN he discussed the problems of the formu-ting process. The first major problem of con-duition is to formulate a mental con-ception of the sound of a musical work from a written score, he said. He added that the score is one of the most complex creations of the human mind.
The musical score notates abstractly the sound of the composition. It shows the conductor every note that is to be played by the individual musicians and indicates the com-
poser's choice of pace, loudness and softness and unusual accents.
Dean Taylor Readies Dishrags
Gamma Phi Beta sorority took second place in the fund-raising contest by taking in a total of $111.19, which averaged out to $2.03 per person. Kappa Alpha Theta sorority placed third by taking in a month's total of $73.81 for an average of $1.29 per person.
Douthart Hall was recognized as the house having the best special fund-raising project and won an award of $5 added to their month's total. The women of Douthart had a special dinner with the men of the scholarship halls. The women bid money to eat with the men on the basis of the appearance of the men's legs. The bidding took place when they were concealed behind a cardboard which revealed only their burmuda-clad legs.
PL BETA PHY'S MONEY total was $162.80 which equaled out to $3.01 per person. The freshman counselors took in a total of $42.15 which amounted to $6.02 per person.
Once he has done this, the conductor must translate his conception of the composition to the individual performers, he said. The conductor must outwardly depict with gestures the sound he desires.
"IN SHORT, the conductor must visualize the composition in sound and 'auditorialize' the piece before he ever faces the orchestra or chorus," Prof. Baustian said.
MISS LYNCH SAID the money raised from the drive, which included the two "Loot for Late Lassies Nights" and the special projects by each house, will go to some deserving University woman in memory of women who died while enrolled at KU. The total amount taken in had been kept a secret the past few weeks. She said:
"In doing this, the conductor must not only indicate the style and control the situation from moment to moment, but also must prepare for what's about to come," he said.
PROF. BAUSTIAN also discussed the training of conductors. The conductor must be aware of the individual's problems in regard to the mechanics of his instrument, and he also must take into account the musician's personal problems, he said.
Dorothy Lynch, Tulsa, Okla., junior, announced that the total intake for the month-long drive for the scholarship fund was $1,535.61.
MOSCOW — (UPI) — Russia's May Day parade this year featured a massive show of military might including a 1,000-mile ballistic missile and a self-propelled 16-inch atomic field gun.
Military Might Seen In Red May Day Show
"It has been a thrilling secret to keep. Every woman on campus deserves a vote of thanks for the enthusiasm shown for the drive."
BERLIN — (UPI) — More than 1,000 East Germans fled to West Berlin over the weekend, many of them taking advantage of the Communist May Day celebrations to do so, refugee officials reported today. Last month, 15,402 refugees from the Soviet zone were welcomed here. The month's total was one of the highest since the "labor revolt" of June 1, 1953.
Altogether, about 40 rockets of varying sizes were shown, building up to the "mammoth" intermediate-range missile.
He said that the conductor has to be versed in a wide range of musical styles, and has to be acquainted with the standard musical literature for the pre-classical period to the present day.
Bell Wages Hiked
East Germans Flee Reds Over Weekend
OMAHA, Neb. — (UPI) The Northwestern Bell Telephone Co. and the Communications Workers of America have signed a new three-year contract, covering 18,000 telephone employees in Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa and the Dakotas, which provides basic wage boosts of up to $4.50 a week.
TODAY
K. U. Engineerettes will hold their regular meeting in the Auditorium of Strong, 3rd floor. Mr. Shieldon Head, of the ceramic department will show a film and demonstrate the making of ceramics. Mrs. Anne Hess, assistant instructor of design, will display textile designs and weaving of ceramics. She will also be an ejection of officers. 8 p.m.
The Art History Department presents "Great Cities and Their Art." Klaus Berger, professor of art history, will speak on "Rome and the Vatican." 4 p.m. Museum of Art Lecture Room. Coffee served.
Official Bulletin
Items for the Official Bulletin must be brought to the public relations office. 222 Strong, before 9:30 a.m. on the day of publication, not bring to the Daily Kansas Notices should include name, place, date, and time of function.
Episcopal Evening Prayer. 9:30 p.m.
Danforth Chapel.
TOMORROW
Miss Scott said:
"I know that the house is just really happy about winning Dean Taylor's services and I know that we'll have something for her to do."
WEDNESDAY
St. John's Church
Epicopal Morning Prayer. 6:45 a.m.
Holy Communion, 7 a.m. Breakfast following.
Canterbury House.
Newman Club Daily Mass. 6:30 a.m.
St. John's Church
"TM LOOKING FORWARD to working for the Pi Phis for a day. I have never believed the stories that are told about the rough way the Pi Phis treat their help," Dean Taylor said laughing.
Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship.
Speaker and Prover.
The Pi Phi's special project to raise money for the fund was waiting tables at various men's houses one evening. Connie Scott, Pittsburgh sophomore, said that the evening was enjoyable and no serious accidents resulted.
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Lutheran Gamma Delta Vespers. 5-5:20
p.m. Danforth, Vicar R. E. Kurz.
SUA Last Lecture Series, Prof. William Gilbert, Jayhawk Room, Union. 7:30 p.m.
Folk Dance Club. 7:30 p.m. Union.
Dancing and instruction.
Naval Reserve Research Company.
LCDR James R. Thoman, USNR. "Experimental Design." 104 Military Science. 7:30 p.m.
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