Behind and Before de W. E. Heitland

Behind and Before: Two Essays on the Relation of History Politics and Eugenist Warnings

W. E. Heitland

en Limba Engleză Paperback – 30 oct 2013

William Emerton Heitland (1847–1935) was a well-known classical scholar and a fellow of St John's College, Cambridge. Originally published in 1924, this book presents two essays containing Heitland's thoughts on eugenics and the application of 'biological criticism' to sociological and political questions. Whilst much of the content is dubious in nature, the text provides an important document of its time. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in historical perspectives on eugenics and socio-political thought.

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Cuprins

1. Students note defects in policy; 2. Relation of policy to study. Theories. History - what use?; 3. Study in general - aims - science and art; 4. Application to history and politics. No exact science, but art in function; 5. Political art functioning in time; 6. Personalities and motive. Accidents; 7. Moral judgment and circumstance; 8. Analogies and parallels; 9. Anticipation and protraction; 10. Modern history more useful than ancient or medieval; 11. Enlarged outlook since 15th century. Political problem of Europe; 12. Representation - nationality; 13. Danger of modern analogies etc. Precedent. Irish policy; 14. Lack of checks in British constitution; 15. Need of education. Grades of education, difficulties of each; 16. The possible and desirable in historical study; 17. Orientation, its function; 18. Desultory reading, conditions of its usefulness; 19. Academic teaching. Its methods, aims and dangers; 20. Interest in subject matter discussed; 21. Foreign policy. Questions raised by nationality; 22. The value of knowledge in dealing with such issues; 23. Reaction on home conditions nowadays; 24. Dangers of error in comparing situations; 25. Student's task difficult. Questions of moral judgment; 26. Case of 17th century movements and issues; 27. Lessons derivable therefrom; 28. Analysis of questions raised in historical study; 29. Nature and conditions of experiment in politics; 30. Change of conditions owing to 'popular' government; 31. Public opinion, how to be ascertained?; 32. Swift communications, their effect. The press; 33. 'Mandates' and their inevitable difficulties; 34. Modern devices - referendum. Proportional representation; 35. Value of vox populi. Complications of mandate doctrine; 36. Has government by majority ever been an effective fact?; 37. Difficulty of gauging significance of elections; 38. History, how far indirectly of use to statesmen in facing problems arising therefrom; 39. Supreme importance of leadership; 40. Education of leaders, how best achieved; 41. Mankind and other animals as needing leaders; 42. Human nature at present beyond exact analysis; 43. Human defects recognized. Special difficulty in politics; 44. Party system. Apprenticeships. Learning by experience. 45. Practical politics and natural sciences; 46. Biological view - zoological - heredity; 47. Classes and functions. Middle class failing; 48. Heterogeneity. Danger of promoting rise into upper classes; 49. Fallacy of inequality. Are modern states experimenting rashly?; 50. Class-distinction criticized; 51. Demagogy - queries - slum-system the real present evil; 52. Laissez-faire. Socialist movements. Anti-slum movements; 53. Garden schemes good - small as yet. Despite difficulties, better than legislative palliatives; 54. True aim to improve character; 55. Training of citizens. The birth-rate question. Biological attitude as to restriction. How get the power needed for dealing with the matter?; 56. Supposed analogy of bodily and social organisms. Control of breeding - can it be applied in human societies?; 57. Is it applicable to classes as well as to individuals?; 58. Interchange between classes - query, unavoidable? Present attempts to deal with problem; 59. Rising and sinking. Query as to effects on classes; 60. Interbreeding and illegitimacy. Caution needed; 61. Biological pessimism - democracy condemned; 62. Doubts as to necessity of pessimistic view; 63. The element of time. Is it too late to reform? The boom of the 19th century and present peril; 64. Emigration as a proposed remedy, and the grave difficulties to be faced at home and in the colonies; 65. Present conditions within the British Empire. Mutual accommodation the only way hopeful; 66. Psychology and history; 67. Need of emotional influences for effective operation in public affairs; 68. Religion as supplying such influence; 69. Conclusions; Remarks on the s