Problems of to-day from the point of view of a psychologist / by Hugo Münsterberg.
- Hugo Münsterberg
- Date:
- 1910
Licence: In copyright
Credit: Problems of to-day from the point of view of a psychologist / by Hugo Münsterberg. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![^ have been made. Perhaps none may more quickly lead ) to an improvement than the much-discussed plan of in- ] troducing a stronger element of competition into the ? scholarly sphere, and thus using for intellectual purposes J those levers which have been so effective in the field of 2 sport. The effort to put the highest energy into scholar- > ship has not reached its ideal form so long as it is con- 1 trolled by the hope of surpassing a rival. That for I which we must aim is certainly a more genuine enthusiasm i for intellectual efficiency. And yet the present situation i would not only excuse, but really demand, the fullest pos- 1 sible play of these secondary motives. If we can foster 2 scholarship by an appeal to the spirit of rivalry, by all 1 means let us use it. We may hope that as soon as better J traditions have been formed, and higher opinions have i been spread, the interest in the serious work will replace j the motives of vanity. As soon as the finest men of the : college turn, from whatever motives, with their full I strength toward their class-work, the masses may follow, and higher and higher ambitions will be developed. Of course, no one can overlook some intrinsic difficulties in the way of such plans. No artificial premium can focus on the successful scholar that same amount of flattering interest and notoriety which the athletic victory easily yields. The difference lies simply in the fact that the student’s athletic achievement represents, in that little field, a performance which may be compared with the very best. The scholarly work of the undergraduate, on the other hand, at its highest point necessarily remains](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28142330_0067.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
