SISTERS UNDER THE SKIN

At this year's Confidential Guide meetings, many students criticized Government and Economics for not having enough courses in history, and History for lacking instruction in theory; for example, one cannot take History 1 without realizing that the fundamental principle of the Middle Ages was unity. If some concentrators want a philosophical approach to the various theories by which History has been interpreted, instead of a commentary upon historical institutions, let them try Philosophy 9a. Or, students may cover this material in tutorial work.

As for Economics, there happen to be two courses, 11 and 36, primarily on the history of economics. The demand for a course in the history of economic theory ceased when the requirement was dropped; today concentrators can take a graduate course on this subject, if they so desire. Again it is reasonable to place responsibility for this instruction upon the tutors.

In the Government meeting, concentrators pointed out that the only course in the history of any phase of government is Dean Pound's, which appears most valuable for future Law School men. Yet one cannot study government without at the same time studying history; thus, a course in American party government must include the historical background of the parties and of the pressure groups influencing them.

It would seem that concentrators fail to realize that the division between History, Government, and Economics is often arbitrary, and does not reflect the essential unity of the social sciences.