Theoria - DISA

less the case in my own subject (Philosophy) than in others.
For philosophical results simply make no sense at all unless
accompanied with arguments which exhibit philosophical
techniques. In American survey courses of " periods " of philosophical
history a great effort is made to make nonsense of the
subject in the student's mind, but such methods have not yet
been adopted here. What we do is limited, but it is authentic.
3.—If you think that improvements of our teaching methods are possible
in this respect, ivhat are they ? {i.e., by way of enabling students to think
for the?nselves).
PROF. COUTTS : Improvements could be achieved by meeting
students informally in small groups, for discussion; and
(particularly with more advanced students) by holding seminar
classes at which the students should present papers upon suitable
topics. It is very useful for post-graduate students to hold
discussions upon the subjects upon which they specialise.
Further, as a training of the critical faculty, students should read
in the original sources how certain results were attained—•
especially in cases where conflicting opinions have been supported
by protagonists of equal eminence.
PROF. DURRANT : Yes, improvements are certainly possible.
The seminar method, as practised in Germany, is generally a
great improvement on our present lecture system, and we could
do with fewer lectures.
In the study of English, the predominantly historical and
philological methods of the past could with advantage give way
to the study of Poetics and Rhetoric, closely combined with
Practical Criticism.
PROF. FINDLAY : Improvements in university teaching demand
one thing : larger staffs, in which each man will have a smaller
assignment, and many minds will interact with each other and
on the students. But since we have decided in this country to
have many universities rather than good ones, such improvements
are totally impossible.
4.—Is competent and independent thought impossible without a good
knowledge of the mother tongue ?
PROF. COUTTS : The lack of a reasonable command of the mother
tongue is, I think, a serious handicap to clarity in mental processes.
PROF. DURRANT : It is perhaps possible to think effectively
without such knowledge in mathematics, natural science, and
some branches of philosophy. But any effective transference of
thought to the complex situations of real life must surely depend
on a thorough command of the mother tongue.
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