Vice-Chancellor's Report 1985-87

responsibility an d th e spiri t o f enterprise , th e mor e hop e ther e i s for society . I n fact, th e improvemen t an d reformatio n o f an y societ y requir e th e powerfu l thrust o f a strong motiv e forc e whic h i s born e o f th e spiri t o f enterprise . Onl y then wil l progres s b e made . Th e inculcatio n o f a sense of responsibilit y an d th e spirit o f enterpris e ca n begi n w i t h a minorit y o f peopl e makin g th e effor t self-consciously. Wh en thi s minorit y i s abl e t o exer t influenc e o n th e majority , thereby creatin g a ne w climate , th e forc e o f chang e 一 th e motiv e forc e fo r reforming societ y — wil l com e int o play . Therefore , a sens e o f responsibilit y and th e spiri t o f enterpris e ar e importan t no t onl y t o th e individual , bu t als o for th e futur e o f societ y a s a whole . Albert Camus , th e Frenc h existentialis t philosopher , sai d i n hi s famou s work The Rebel, ‘ A l l campaign s agains t inequalit y whic h d o no t bea r responsibility towards th e publi c outsid e th e campaig n wil l itsel f becom e a n eve n stronger forc e o f inequality. ' Thi s statemen t epitomize s th e importanc e o f a sense o f responsibilit y i n socia l evolution . I n The Book of Changes wa s writte n the well-know n dictum , 'Heave n i s robus t i n it s progress . Thu s th e gentlema n unceasingly renew s hi s ow n strength. ' T o rene w one' s ow n strengt h an d t o improve onesel f unceasingl y i s what I mea n b y th e spiri t o f enterprise . I n layin g their respectiv e emphasi s o n a sens e o f responsibilit y an d th e spiri t o f enterprise, Camus an d th e Confucian s o f ol d bot h giv e suppor t t o wha t I a m sayin g to yo u today . So fa r I have , perhaps , mad e n o mor e tha n a few commonsensica l observations but, nonetheless , the y ar e observation s whic h hav e a seriou s bearin g on th e developmen t o f civilization . I fee l i t importan t tha t yo u should , a s yo u are leavin g th e University , reflec t earnestl y o n wha t I hav e said . 30