Ella Goodall Cooper |
"Know thyself," enjoined Socrates, without,
however, revealing any method of going about it. Nevertheless, the precept
still holds good, and extends to knowing one's neighbor, since "the proper
study of mankind is man." To the Baha'is this popular interest, far from
being improper, is encouraging, for it is a token of people's interest in one
another, which interest we believe will grow and grow till all come to
recognize the truth of Baha'u'llah's saying, "This handful of dust, the
earth, is one home."
In sharp contrast to the popular superficial and often
selfish applications of psychology, are the earnest endeavors, profound and
beneficent, of the conscientious psychiatrists and physicians, patiently
working to unravel the intricate threads of maladjusted lives, using the valuable
technique contributed by the psycho-analysts, to bring education to the normal,
and relief to the abnormal, members of society.
To these men, Janet, Freud Jung, Adler and others, society
owes a debt, which is ever growing, as the efforts, particularly those of Dr.
Adler and his colleagues in Vienna, are being extended to cooperate not only
with medical men but also with the educator and social welfare worker, and we
ardently hope the circle may soon widen to include the enlightened and
scientifically-minded religionist, as well. The efforts of this group are
directed toward prevention of abnormal conditions through education, rather
than merely the relief of the tragic situation after it has been allowed to
arise. Is not this the object of spiritual education also?