The Doctrine of Social Adaptation

The doctrine of social adaptation points to presumed changes in 'Society' and argues the necessity of corresponding changes in the contributory part: i.e., in the university. The language of social functions and social purposes lends intellectual elevation to what is basically a form of moral coercion. The doctrine of social adaptation may operate with some such holistic concept as 'Society', but is likely in doing so to fall into absurdities. Thus grandiose remarks about education 'reflecting social values' can only invite us to wonder what social values could possibly be involved in construing Virgil, or in following a proof of the Pythagorean theory. In the case of the universities, the doctrine of social adaptation carries with it not merely these curious echoes of Victorian beliefs about progress, but also a heavy charge of nationalist passion.