Rollins Chapel
Dartmouth College
October 2, 2007
Dr. Robert Whitley
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
Let us Pray: ‘May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our
hearts, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, our strength and redeemer’ Amen
where is the life we have lost in living?
where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?
where is the knowledge we have lost in information?’
I try to read these famous words of T S Eliot at the beginning of every
class I teach, because his thesis, or the subtext of his thesis, that we lose
wisdom as we gain knowledge, is one which I believe every responsible person
should carefully consider. Do we lose wisdom as we gain knowledge, individually
and/ or collectively? If you agree that we lose wisdom as we gain knowledge,
then logically universities and colleges will be considered influential factors
in the decrease in wisdom in our society, as we are the prime movers and
shakers in the business of knowledge production. New students take note, if we
take T.S Eliot’s thesis to the extreme, today you may be wise but ignorant,
four years hence you may be foolish but knowledgeable.
Now of course T S Eliot was writing in the 20th century, in the era of where
we have broached the frontiers of knowledge, the pace and scope of such advance
being unimaginable to previous generations. Brain science, nuclear physics,
pharmacology, genetics, computer science, engineering, transport- all these
disciplines promise much for human development and the alleviation of human
suffering. On the other hand blind faith in knowledge, divorced from wisdom,
contributes to less savoury societal outcomes. The promise of biology and
evolutionary science led to eugenics, compulsory sterilization and holocaust.
The promise of nuclear physics led to Hiroshima and Chernobyl. The promise of
agricultural science led to DDT, species extinction and widespread
environmental degradation. The promise of brain science and psychiatry led to
millions of people addicted to drugs of questionable efficacy but
unquestionable side effects. One could certainly say, that ‘knowledge’ quote,
unquote, has a lot to answer for.
Still the thesis that knowledge and wisdom are somewhat inimical concepts
would have been risible to earlier generations, whether they be scientists,
theologians or ordinary people. As we heard in the reading today, knowledge,
wisdom and understanding are intricately linked in scripture, whether it be
Moses, Job, Samuel, Paul or Jesus himself. Of course such a tradition inspired
many scientists and academics between then and now. The much traduced Charles
Darwin is a case in point. One of the few books he took with him on his journey
on HMS Beagle was the great Christian classic, Milton’s Paradise Lost. Indeed
at the beginning of the Origin of Species, he quotes another great Christian
writer, Francis Bacon "Let no man think or maintain that a man can search too
far or be too well studied in the book of God's word or in the book of God's
works, but rather let man endeavor an endless progress or proficiency in both."
In other words wisdom is derived from the study of the word of God (i.e. the
Bible) and the works of God (the natural world).
Indeed, Christian conviction and belief in the congruence of wisdom and
knowledge led to the foundation of the great colleges and universities of the
Anglophone world. Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Yale, McGill, Toronto, Dartmouth-
yes, you heard me correctly, Dartmouth. Though it is only whispered around
these parts these days, Dartmouth was founded by active Christians who
envisioned this place as a house that could further wisdom, knowledge,
understanding, collegiality, fellowship and prayer. Only yesterday I was
reading the College Charter granted by King George III in the Baker-Berry
library, where the words ‘the Grace of God’ are repeated throughout. It always
brings a sardonic smile to my face when my atheist friends here at Dartmouth
say to me that Christianity is part of the problem rather than part of the
solution to. Without Christian wisdom and Christian energy, there would be no
Dartmouth. Without Dartmouth, there would be no Dartmouth employees. Without
Dartmouth employees, my friends would be out of job. Tell that to anyone here
who tells you Christianity is part of the problem.
On this point, as a Christian I had mixed-feelings about the new ‘mission
statement’ of the College, which was formulated earlier this year and is
available on line to those who have not seen it. Under sub-headings of mission,
core values and legacy, the word ‘wisdom’ is not mentioned once. Indeed neither
is God or Christianity, even though Christians founded the College on Christian
principles. To some cynics reading this document, the word ‘air-brush’ may come
to mind. Still, the word knowledge is frequently mentioned, so rest assured the
mission of Dartmouth is to fill you with knowledge. Finding wisdom, however, is
your own business.
Now of course I am acutely aware that we need to be sensitive to those of
other faiths, and to use language that does not alienate our brothers and
sisters from other religions, including those adherents to the religion of
atheism. But do we have to be so clearly revisionist about our history? Do we
have to eviscerate religious language and notions of wisdom from our current
discourse? Is there no place for a moral vocabulary on campus?
One reason I am being particular about this issue, relates to the meaning of
the word Mission. The word ‘Mission’ derives from the Latin ‘to send’, so
whenever I see the word Mission Statement, even if I’m in a used-car
dealership, I always ask three questions (i) who is doing the sending (ii) what
is being sent and (iii) where is it being sent to? When ‘mission statements’
weren’t so ubiquitous, the answer to such a question was obvious, as mission
was generally used in two specific contexts. National Governments sent missions
to foreign capitals. Now they are called embassies. Religious organizations
sent missionaries to foreign countries. Now it is called Christian aid. Is such
an answer obvious in the case of Dartmouth? Now I am quite sure that King
George III, the Earl of Dartmouth, Eleazor Wheelock and Samson Occum would have
said to a man that Dartmouth was sent by God to propagate knowledge, wisdom and
understanding in New England. If these fellow were to materialize today, what
would they think now that the mission statement of the college elides mention
of God, wisdom and out Christian heritage?
Of course they may think such statements immaterial, given that there are
many individuals, organizations, departments and the like where wisdom is
propagated, from the Tucker foundation to individual professors to student
volunteers who care deeply not only about each others intellectual development,
but also their moral, spiritual and social development. There are many places
on campus where wisdom can be found, and this chapel must appear high on the
list. Still, I would encourage everyone here, student, faculty, employee,
alumni, guest, to question the balance between wisdom and knowledge in their
classes, their research, their work place, their day-to-day interactions. You
are gaining knowledge? Fine, but are you gaining wisdom? If not seek it out
through people, through scripture, through voluntary work, through helping
others, through prayer, through scripture, through communion, through
free-thought, through interacting with others unlike yourself.
And finally friends I would ask you as individuals the same question I posed
earlier vis-à-vis the Mission of Dartmouth College. As individuals, who is
sending you out, and where are you being sent to? Without question we have been
sent here, in the loose sense of the word, by our parents, by our extended
family, by the hard work of others whose taxes paid for our initial schooling,
by religious minister and congregations who have nurtured us in previous times,
and dare I say it, by God. This is an ongoing process. As such, we are all
standing on the shoulders of giants, and must endeavor to ensure that our
journey and destination are worthy of the love, care and hope invested in us by
those who have sent us.
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