Science and Our Needs

From Our Archives: A Glimpse into 1960

By Dr Philippe Forget

This second part of Dr Forget’s article, published in last week’s edition, examines the central role of science and technical progress in meeting Mauritius’s economic and social needs at a critical moment in its history. Building on Professor Meade’s diagnosis of the prerequisites for development, it argues that sustained advance depends not only on material investment but also on a cultural shift that embraces scientific thinking, research, and merit-based expertise. Overcoming resistance to change, integrating research into community life, and fostering local talent are presented as essential steps if technical knowledge is to become a genuine engine of national progress.

A number of measures must be designed to achieve this integration of research and the scientific method (as an attitude) in the community. No foreign scientist should be brought here on contract before and unless a suitable Mauritian candidate has been selected and sent abroad to acquire the equivalent knowledge. A greatly expanded programme of scholarships must be pushed forward and candidates selected strictly on merit. The closed-shop attitude which restricts the selection of candidates to privileged groups — whether these be social groups or the civil service — must be mercilessly tracked and eradicated. Within all technical departments, the arrogance of seniority must be stigmatized and combated. Not only must merit be given its due, but the country must exploit merit to the full — the kind of national suicide which consists in holding back enthusiasm and skill until it succumbs into tepid conformity must not be tolerated.

Research facilities, the proper freedom of scientific thought, must provide the desirable environment. We must be constantly on our guard lest we accept scientists who in their country would be third-rate, and should not watch complacently technicians in one field becoming experts in other fields — a metamorphosis catalyzed by bigger and bigger emoluments. Specialists must not abandon their special field for administrative duties, for this represents a misapplication of the public funds devoted to their acquiring specialist training. We must undoubtedly forgo the luxury of overseas leave and invest the corresponding savings in study leaves, more scholarships and refresher courses. These and many more things we must do quickly to provide a substantial increase in technical know-how.

Scientific Advance

It is apparent however that the impetus, control and safeguarding of this scientific advance programme, at least in its technical aspects, cannot come entirely or even primarily from the Legislative Council, Ministers or ministry advisers. Nor could the P.S.C. be entrusted with the selection of candidates for specialist training or the appointment of the most suitable technician to a specific job. In the specialists’ fields, laymen, however shrewd and willing, are apt to sink into deep waters, and this too often allows for favoritism, prejudicial practices like give-and-take policies or unconscious submission to the wiles of unscrupulous advisers. It would seem that the body most likely to safeguard the interests of science would be a Council of all science graduates, freed from political or employer loyalties, not excluding departmental ones.

In addition to having a say in selection, the council would scrutinize and advise on the differential importance of the technical branches, priorities, anomalies, scientific planning, etc. That the freely expressed opinion of this corporate competent body could be a superior safeguard than present in camera proceedings is certain. The actual modalities of its machinery can be worked out to provide a harmonious integration with present departmental machinery. The council would also fulfill a number of other duties. It could be the foundation of a research institute; it could be a forum for discussion and the reading of papers; it could constitute the kernel of a future Faculty of Science.

It would draw public attention with regards to opinion on relevant matters and thus obviate to individual opinions being exploited as representative professional opinion. It would re-establish a proper balance in favour of many branches of science at present obscured in the public eye by the relative predominance of medical graduates. It could play an important role in linking its didactic efforts with those of the Ministry of Education. Existing organizations like the Mauritius Institute and the R. C. of Arts and Sciences, founded a century ago, are totally inefficient in the present age. The opportunity arises to realign them to conditions which have altered since their foundation and provide Mauritius with institutions more suited to present needs.

Pressure Group State

Present needs. But whose needs? This question must be answered by conceding: the needs of science. Not necessarily the needs of the country, however much the country depends on science and technical know-how for further advance. This theoretical paradox arises from the anti-democratic trend of professional associations — “the shift from open social rights to concealed professional syndicalism.” (3) Although this trend is incidental to the main theme of his essay, Professor Richard Titmuss has given an illuminating analysis of its dangers in “The Irresponsible Society” 1960. He warns that “the growth of a ‘Pressure Group State’ generated by more massive concentrations of interlocking economic, managerial and self-regarding professional power points… towards more inequality.”

He remarks that in view of the “growing conservatism of professionalism,” to substitute “professional protest for the social protest” is no answer. It is acknowledged that in the UK, the B.M.A. “has become an indispensable provider of political services to the medical profession, and that, one may suppose, is the chief secret behind its success.” (4) There is some ground for believing that lately, in Mauritius, professional associations have begun to move in a parallel direction. If this tendency should become consolidated, there is no doubt that the substitution of democratically chosen representatives of the country (who are relatively unfamiliar to the needs of science) by a professional body of competent scientists (who may be relatively insensible to the needs of the country) would be no more than a partially satisfactory answer.

References

(1) and (3) — Richard M. Titmuss; “The Irresponsible Society”
(2) — Marie Jahoda; “Race Relations & Mental Health” UNESCO 1960
(4) —  Harry Eckstein; “Pressure Group Politics”

7th Year – No 326
Friday 25th November, 1960

Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 23 January 2026