The socialized conscience / by Joseph Herschel Coffin.

  • Coffin, J. Herschel (Joseph Herschel), 1880-
Date:
1913
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The socialized conscience / by Joseph Herschel Coffin. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    temperate degree. It is becoming somewhat trite to say that the virtues of the socialized conscience must be operative in all situations which are moral. And yet this is exactly what is required in all cases, this being no exception. Social control.—So much for the attitude of the individual to the question of amusement. But most of the amusements are of a social nature, and are promoted by social organizations. It follows there- fore that if the social environment is to be of such a nature as to be helpful rather than a hindrance to the individual in his attempt to choose wisely and act prudently, society must act as a whole upon the mat- ter of regulating those amusements which are social in character. Briefly, it may be pointed out that this is another situation in which the same kind of super- vision and censorship is needed as in the case of the stage. Not only should society suppress those forms of amusement which are not in accordance with the moral law, but it should make adequate provision for the wholesome amusement of those who are not in a position to secure it otherwise. Every member of society should interest himself in the problem and make himself intelligent upon it. Nothing short of a widespread interest will effect the change needed. Committees or commissions, either official or in- dependent, whose social duty it would be to give the matter particular study and to serve as the represen- tatives of society in effecting the proper adjustment along this line might well be appointed. This is a