Page 10
University Daily Kansan
Friday, Feb. 28, 1964
Harris Talks About Rules Of Authority
In outlining the philosophic foundations of world order, Errol E. Harris, professor of philosophy, last night examined the principles underlying political authority in his fourth lecture on the conditions of peace.
Political action, Harris said, is essentially rational, because the two essential characters of politics are, the exercise of intelligence in the arrangement of human affairs, and the planning and organization of men's activities in the pursuit of what he called "the good life."
"It is the pursuit of the common interest rather than any individual interest that gives a government the right to compel its subjects' obedience." Harris said. "The 'good life' is attainable," he said, "only in an organized society presided over by a supreme authority with unchallenged power to enforce the law."
"But, he added, the legitamacy of the use of force by the state depends upon its capacity to maintain the conditions of the 'good life."
Referring to the conclusion of his first series of lectures delivered last fall, Harris said, "... under modern conditions the national sovereign state cannot protect the lives and persons of its subjects from the ravages of nuclear war, nor can it prevent itself from becoming involved in such a war, but on the contrary, it is forced . . . to wage it."
This policy, he pointed out, is at cross-purposes with the pursuit of the "good life." "All nations," Harris said, "are dependent upon one another and upon world trade for the standard of living they succeed in maintaining."
maintaining "Since the modern sovereign state can neither guarantee the personal security of its subjects or their material welfare," he said, "its authority, theoretically, is not legitimate."
The sovereign nation's incompetence because of the stress of international power politics—to provide the good life, also extends itself to the advancement of knowledge, and the maintenance of human rights," Harris said.
Harris said. "The antagonisms of the cold war infect the race conflict and make it both easier for racism to flourish and more difficult for it to be combatted," he said.
On the communist side, "discrimination is purposely confused with imperialism in order to enlist the colored races and the newly emerging colonial peoples against the western powers."
"On the other side, advocacy of racial equality is identified as communism, not as a commendation of communism but in order to vilify supporters of equal rights."
"The world center of this conflict in South Africa where discriminatory policies are at their worst, has been protected from the full influence of world opinion by the strong anti-communist alignment of white South Africa," Harris said.
But national conflicts are not the source of racial antagonisms, he said, nor would the removal of such conflicts reduce them.
"Racialism is as much a failure of morals as political party, and one cannot reform people morally by legislation." "But," he added, legislation can help."
"Racial discrimination." Harris said, " . . . is conected with the illusion of racial or group superiority . . . usually associated with the fear of loss of privilege derived from an unjustified political dominance."
Official Bulletin
TODAY
Mathematics Colloquium, 4:30 p.m. 103 Strong. "Subalgebraes of the Algebra of Bounded Sequences"—Dr. Arlan Ramsay, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Catholic Mass, 5 p.m. St Lawrence Chapel, 4:30 Stratford. Special Lenten Weekend.
Jewish Community Center Services,
7:30 p.m., 917 Highland Dr. Refresh-
ment Center
Episcopal Evening Prayer, 9:30 p.m.
Danforth.
Catholic Masses, 6:45 a.m. 5 p.m. St.
Louis Chapel; Confessions; 4:5-7, 8-
Lunary.
Catholic Masses, 8 a.m. St. Lawrence
Boston, 8 a.m. Rd. 9:30 and 11
a.m. Fraser Theater.
SUNDAY
Oread Friends meeting 10:30 a.m.
Droadhill Church to this Quaker meeting for worship
Problems related to aging and old age will be discussed at KU's 14th annual Kansas Conference on Aging Monday and Tuesday at the Kansas Union.
Conference On Aging Monday
The conference, sponsored by the Kansas Citizens Council, Inc., and University Extension, is expected to attract about 150 interested persons, including nurses, social workers, church and community workers and public health officials.
"SHOULD WE DISARM?"
Our National Security Policy reviewed by
George Brown
Clifford Ketzel
Sponsored by
The Current Events Forum
Friday, Feb.28, 1964 4:30 Forum Room
Debate Tourney Planned
The eighth Heart of America Debate Tournament with 60 debaters from universities across the country will be held March 12-14 here.
About 20 schools will provide the 32 teams for the three-day tournament. Eight preliminary rounds will be held Thursday and Friday, with final rounds held on Saturday.
The championship debate will be at 4 p.m. Saturday. All contests will be in the Kansas Union. Judges will be debate coaches and faculty representatives from each school.
THERE'S LOTS MORE IN '64!
ENDS TONITE! "MAN'S FAVORITE SPORT" Starts Tomorrow... Phew! The questions she asked — about things to do!
STARTS
TOMORROW!
SHOWS AT 7:00 & 9:10
ADULTS 90c
SOON — Carl Foreman's "THE VICTORS"
NOW! ENDS SATURDAY
ONE SHOW EACH EVENING
OPEN 6:45 — STARTS 7:30
MAT. SATURDAY AT 2:00