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The Burning Glass

By Charles Morgan

Product Image: The Burning Glass

The Burning Glass

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Description
PREFACECharles Morgan's play THE BURNING GLASS was written less than eight years after the first atom bomb fell on Hiroshima and little more than four years before the first Sputniks and Explorers were sent on their voyages around the earth. Its historical background is the rapid progress in science and engineering which, in the meantime, has led to the successful launching of further man-made satellites into outer space; there can be little doubt that the International Geophysical Year 1957/58 marks the beginning of the "Space Age". Morgan, however, is no Jules Verne. His play deals with a problem of conscience of which the readers of Verne's once famous technical romances did not even dream. Since the French author's time science has thrust upon mankind a gigantic power, military and civil, and a corresponding responsibility — but, thoughtful people are asking, has the development of our spiritual qualities kept pace with the development of our power over nature? What if it has not ?In his long preface 'On Power Over Nature' Morgan does not conceal his apprehensions : " No sensitive mind can be unaware of a stirring of dread in the world — not only of fear that science is condemning civilization to bodily death, but of spiritual dread that life is being deprived of its order and proportion." He confesses that he does not believe in the idea of unlimited progress. On the contrary, he feels alarmed. For he cannot help thinking that the increase of our power has already become too vast and, above all, too one- sided. It seems to him that we are inclined to forget our limitations and have begun to use our growing knowledge and technical skill as a drug that makes us feel godlike. But are we gods ? …
Product details
Number of Pages:
61
Publisher:
Hirschgraben
Languages:
Published: English
ISBN10:
3454166705
Weight:
100 g
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