By Thomas L. W. Johnson Assistant Instructor of Political Science
FIVE IDEAS THAT CHANGE THE WORLD by Barbara Ward; W. W. Norton & Company; $3.75.
It has been said that man longs for a simple and uncomplicated answer concerning the nature of the times in which we live. "Five Ideas That Change the World" does not provide that simple and uncomplicated answer. But Barbara Ward has rendered a distinct service to anyone interested in pondering the problems of the twentieth century. She has chosen for discussion five of the major secular forces that have contributed to the shaping of the modern world—nationalism, industrialism, colonialism, communism, and internationalism.
The book is the product of a series of lectures which Miss Ward delivered at the invitation of the University of Ghana. Her ability to handle large ideas with clarity and an economy of words is indeed refreshing.
In grappling with the problems involved in obtaining world order one is impressed with Miss Ward's realistic conception of the difficulties that are present even in a partial disarmament or a limited disengagement of military forces. An she appears to be very much aware of the nationalistic feeling that has manifested itself among the young nations of the world—nations that have gained their independence in the last decade.
But in the opinion of this reviewer Miss Ward's apparent plea for international brotherhood based upon an extension of Western welfare-statism to the "underprivileged" of the world is neither entirely convincing nor completely realistic, however desirable such a goal may be.
Admittedly, industrialism in the United States and Great Britain has been transformed so as to accommodate the principal of governmental intervention as a means to insure that minimum standards will be met. It is doubtful, however, that an extension of the welfare state to the international scene will, in reality, bring the stability that is lacking today. In this one instance some elaboration by Miss Ward with respect to her point of view would be enlightening. Certainly she has offered a challenge that cannot be ignored.
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By Stanley J. Solomon Assistant Instructor of English
ESSAYS IN PHILOSOPHY, FROM DAVID HUME TO BERTRAND RUSSELL edited by Housten Peterson, Pocket Library. Price 50c.
Mr. Peterson has wisely chosen twenty-seven articles and essays by twenty-three noted writers, all the selections being complete in themselves and many of them unusual choices. Aside from the philosophers one always finds in such anthologies, Hume, Rousseau, Kant, Pierce, James, Russell, etc., the editor has used his imagination and come up with selections from William Blake, Richard Whately, and James McNeill Whistler, among others.
The main flaw in this book—indeed the flaw of all similar collections of philosophical essays on a variety of subjects—is a lack of focus, resulting in the scattered impressions one receives from reading unrelated discussions of numerous matters. Nevertheless, the anthology succeeds on the basis of the individual merit of each article despite the possible confusion of the cumulative effect.
Among the more readable selections are Jacques Maritain's essay on the Divine Comedy, "Dante's Innocence and Luck," the aphorisms of Nietzsche and the proverbs of Blake (both of which, however, have been taken from their original context and are far from clear in their overall intention here), John Wisdom's "Gods," and Richard Whately's satirical attempt to disprove Napoleon's existence in "Historical Dobbles Relative to Napoleon Buonaparte."
Karl Marx's "Theses on Feuerbach" is an interesting example of an early work by a thinker still in the process of formulating his philosophy. Also of considerable interest are Newman's sermon on faith and reason. Hume's "An Abstract of a Treatise of Human Nature," and three important prefaces by Kant (especially the one to the second edition of the Critique of Pure Reason).
Most of the essays in this collection are not intended for the layman, and a few even presuppose a more than general acquaintance with the particular area of philosophy under discussion. Russell's "Logic as the Essence of Philosophy" is an important statement of his own theory of logic and a perceptive analysis of the flaws in the traditional theory of logic.
The editor's informative introductory comments provide a good deal of background material for the essays. Mr. Peterson is to be applauded for his selection which does not condescend to a general public by offering simple essays, not to a pretentious undergraduate group that might demand some of the "big names" omitted here such as Hegel, Henri Bergson, Comte, John Tanner, Sartre, etc.
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KU Army ROTC cadets ended their spring semester drill periods with a review honoring senior cadets.
Review Honors Senior Cadets
Awards were given to cadets being commissioned in June and to the members of the rifle team for their outstanding leadership ability shown during the school year.
Thomas J. Kennedy Jr., St. JosephMo, received the Professor of Military Science and Tactics award. Stephen C. Jenkins, Topeka; William H. Parson, Leavenworth, and John E. Peppercorn, Overland Park, received the Professor of Military Science and Tactics Senior Leadership award. All are seniors.
James R. Salyer, Kansas City, Mo,
junior; Jerry D. Roberts, Kansas
City, Mo., sophomore and Robert L.
Aufdemberge, Leavenworth freshman,
received the Veterans of Foreign War Rifle Team Trophy and awards for being the season's highest fireers. Aufdemberge also received the American Legion Rifle Team Trophy and award as the outstanding freshman member of the rifle squad.
Jayhawks Meet Sooners
Col. Ralph J. Hanchin, Professor of Military Science and Tactics, presented the Army ROTC awards. Mr. Earl L. Percival and Mr. Richard T. Gibson presented the VFW and American Legion awards, respectively.
The Kansas baseball team began its bid to get out of the Big Eight conference cellar this afternoon by meeting Oklahoma in a single game at Norman. The Jayhawkers will round out the season's action tomorrow afternoon with a doubleheader.
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