Boks and Writers

...and, finally, represents the traditional Chinese as well as the modern scientific viewpoint, There have bean many books written on Chinese History, and excellent ones too, but they havs either been too dry and technical and of interest only to specialists, or they have been limited to certain periods of Chinese history, or sgsfn, they hsve represented only one aspect of this very complex civilisation— either the political, the archaeological or the cultural side...

...The author has followed a very flexible pattern in his book, interrupting the political sequence of the dynasties from time to time to give the reader s more comprehensive view and acquaint him with the cultural achievements of the period...

...TaUl has acquitted himself honorably of the difficult task of unraveling the confused period inside China Immediately following the Revolution and has given a synopsis of China's relations with Japan, leading up to the present war...

...He^ demonstrates beyond doubt that the four freedoms are in fact identical with basic rights of man for which the labor movement haa struggled almost since its inception...

...for example, he does not explain the emergence of the causal notions advanced by the Greek atomists in terma of alterations in Greek social conditions...

...Its romantic qualitiea whet the reader's appetite...

...Accordingly, h primitive society law and morality co-iaeide, and its members guide their ac-¦ens in the light of .the retributions Which fellow any transgression of cus-ts...

...Nor does Professor Kelsen alwaya succeed in showing that changes in the conception of causality were the concomitants of changes in social organisation...

...In consequence, all events come to be explained in terms of personal agents, conceived as acting in accordance with the norms of social intercourse...

...1, December, 1943...

...This is a new kind of magazine for labor...

...Two-thirds of his book ia devoted to the discussion of primitive mentality, and only a bare 20 pages are given over to the analysis of modern ideas of causality...

...However, as a consequence of the serious social revolutions in the 7th and 6th centuriea B.C., new directions were given to Greek theological thought...

...And presently, the atomists achieved a notion of causality which came to be embodied in classical physics —the idea of an impersonal objective necessity...

...It voices not a \ mere partisan appeal, remote and uninformed...

...The author explaina the technical difficulties of carrying into effect the four freedoms of the Atlantic Charter...

...He has thus devoted no less than two chapters to the early Chinese philosophers, Confucius, Laotse, Motze, Hanfeitte...

...Professor Kelaen'a comments on the modern conceptions of causality are far too schematic to be really persuasive...

...Tsui has perfect command of the English language, with Just enough ef the Chinese influence left in his style to make It more in heaping with his subject...

...IIEKJC, at last, is the book on China ** that the English-reading public has been awaiting: a history of the Chinese people, from the origins to the present day, that ia not toe cumbersome, yet ia complete...

...This separation *us Introduced, according to him, for the sake ef reconciling the belief in an abso-hjts causal necessity in some domains (a ssrsssity which was retarded as an ex-fttoslsn of Gad...

...The issue contains a searching paper en the unemployment problem by Albert Halaai which presents a wealth of information concerning methods available for combating depressions...

...He notices interesting analogies between the idea of retribution and the classical idea of causality as an absolutely necessary, objective order...

...Labor and Internationalism ly FRANZ HAUSIR INTERNATIONAL POST-WAR PROBLEMS...

...The second chapter is the scientific counterpart of the first, the same theme, the birth of China, being given again, thla time in terms of archaeological discoveries...

...Robert M. Maclver saalyses the legal aspects ef international organization...

...He offers considerable ethnological material It shew that primitive societies are organised as political absolutisms, on the teals ef rigid moral rules...

...It will not do for government experts to form policies and impose plans...

...Alvin Hansen discusses post-war employment problems from different viewpoint...

...If, however, the laws of nature are Inter-PMhal in the aasdarn manner as state-•amts of statistical probabilities, and are »» Wmger claimed to possess an absolute •kJsttive necessity, no warrant exists for *"jsng society frees nature...

...another entire chapter to Buddhism, and he has stressed the culture of T'sng and the Sung in their respective chapters...

...In an Interdependent world, national governments may no longer operate under the assumption that they are free to abide by, or depart from, lawful conduct, international codes and conventions will remain of secondary importance until an enforcement mechanism is set'up strong enough to compel compliance with international commitments from any nation, however powerful...

...Modern practicing scientists, no lees than ancient primitive men, have curious con" captions as to the world they inhabit, if one ia to judge them entirely on the basis of what they explicitly profess...

...and the entire cosmos is viewed simply as a more inclusive society, as a field for the operation ef the moral principle of retribution...

...Maclver's plea for international law with teeth in it may win support once the advantages of a strong international organization are clearly understood...

...Nevertheless, in spite of such limitations, Professor Kelsen's book is full of interesting and suggestive ideas, and is eminently worth reading...

...The present volume develops some of the ideas suggested by this fact...

...will), with the belief that human actions are free and not coas-fkstsij controlled hy rigid causal laws...

...Professor Kelsen next examines Greek religion and philosophy...

...Here Is an example of his methods: The first chapter of the book, entitled "Genesis and Deluge," gives us the traditional legenda connected in folklore and dynastic hiatories with the birth of China...

...And he sketches in broad outline what ho hakes te be the moat modern views on causality—views which he believes to be completely emancipated from the ancient kiss ef retribution...

...makes good read trig and yet ia accurate...

...Quarterly review of the American Labor Conference on International Af' fairt...

...Despite the magnitude of the problems with which we will have to cope, the author shows how gradual but permanent progress can be made with the Help of a stable International authority snd an International Labor Office endowed with increased jurisdiction and prestige...

...But in the coming peace American labor wants to have a hand directly...

...Its primary concern is to trace the evolution of the notion of causality from its primitive identification with the idea of retribution, down to its recent interpretation in terms of ftatiatkal probability...

...Mr...

...It brings to bear the powerful resources of labor leaders and acholars on the critical choices confronting America and the world when peace comes...

...Application ef such methods would inevitably lead as hack to a routine ef power politics which accepts war aa a legitimate sseaas ef adjustment Instead ef a ayatem ef alliances, we need a real body of laws which would regulate relations between nations with the saass effectiveness aa national legal orders enforce lawful conduct af individuals...

...Braunthal's on labor's international rights are contributiona towards stimulating such understanding...

...Moreover, Mr...

...The author's style Is readable and pleasing...

...However old a nation the Chinese are, they are atlll young enough to adapt themselves to a changing world, and far from remaining petrified in a venerable but antiquated system, they have adjusted their old valusa to newer onea: scientific methods, democratic government, modern warfare...

...We have to aim at a system of international law worthy of the name...

...To the anther, the thing railed International law today is nothing bat a collection ef courtesy rules designed to mitigate the worst cruelties which result from the anarchy of international relations...

...He has also adduced fresh ^kseamthsg ivUniii against the wiee-asi saai lien that the study ef se-ykebailsi of men roojuir— the nee ef sansattejy Merest frees these J"*- On the other hand, it Is only fair "•State t>at Professor Kelsen'• performance ia uneven and not always con vine* ing...

...Again, the discussion of Greek philosophy takes only incidental notice of Aristotle's views on causality—surely a surprising and serious ommission...

...Moreover, although Professor Kelsen admits that the actual behavior of primitive man towards nature ia of primary importance for understanding the primitive conception of the World, be relies almost entirely en the content'of primitive mythologiee for ascertaining what that conception is...

...Articles such aa Dr...

...3.00 a year, $3.50 in Canada...

...In essence, therefore, the author pleads for the re-establishment of a League of Nations—but a league which would have real power to enforce its decisions...

...With the subsequent rapid changes in Greek social life, and with the acquisition of fresh information about different forms of social organization, it became progressively more difficult te identify the law of nature with the social law...

...Aside from these articles, the issue is dedicated to the discussion of more specific themes...

...He believea in con-SSeasaee that the sharp separation of . society and nature, so characteristic of Christian theological thinking, no longer has S reasonable basis...

...In order to establish his views on the conception of nature held by primitive man, he relies hesvily on anthropological data whose competence is at least questionable—Herbert Spencer and Sir J. G. Prater can hardly be counted among the reliable ethnologists...

...These legenda may have little scientific value, but they are of great interest in the field of comparative mythology...

...The well-edited survey and comment* section contains information en comprehensive social security schemes of the BevcridgO type...

...Professor Kelsen finally tries to show that even this notion contains important ¦arrivals from the notion of retribution...

...However, Professor Kelsen's interest is not in the chronicle of an idea, lie has tried to show that the shift in intellectual outlook represented by this evolution as a reflection of revolutionary changes in social and political organization which human societies have undergone...

...The American Labor Conference on International Affairs, in its new quarterly magazine, ia exploring the field of post-war problems from the all-important labor viewpoint...

...Labor's contribution to the war, on every front at home and abroad, warrants active participation in making the post-war world...

...1, No...

...Ha gives the highlights of China's international policy in the 20th century, which constitutes indispensable Information for anyone interested in China now and after the war...

...it is packed full of substance, has imaginative strength and real artistic value...

...r'hms been often pointed out by scholars that the word "cause" is a translation of ail ancient Greek word which originally had the legal meaning of Ming responsible for certain actions...

...Professor Kelsen first attempts te establish the claim that primitive man in-trrprste all ef nature in terms of ideas taken ever from social experience...

...He finds that here too, until the advent of the philosophy of the atomists, the idea of retribu-' tkm is the primary principle in terms of which events are explained...

...but he doea not establish his claim that the latter was simply a survival from the former...

...The ILO had its uses, and ought to have more in the future...

...Mf HEN peace was made after the last world war, labor was content to put ita hopes in the International Labor Organization...

...With the •"¦wete svueawlnatien ef the notion ef mm» frees the notion of retribution, society as a field for scientific inquiry be-vemM aa integral part ef nature, e e e P *¦ he Obvious oven from this brief ••¦¦mary that Professor Kelsen hue ¦»*» ¦ valuable contribution te the hia-of ideas...

...The significance af international cooperation for stimulating national schemes of social security hi treated in aa article hy Arthur J. Altmayer...

...Tsui has tried to do justice to Chinese civilisation as a whols and has succeeded remarkably wall in hie rather ambitious enterprise...

...Progress in this direction can be made once we recognize that our concept of national aovereignty has to be reformulated...

...If future issues maintain standards and scape ef the first number, the Quarterly may go far te promote achievement in the held ef International organisation...

...Sorb order, the author pleads, cannot be built upon alliances, however powerful snd sll embracing...

...Tsui, by linking the new China to the old, has brought out one striking snd unique fact about the Chinese civilisation: its unbroken continuity, despite all the stresses and strains it has had to withstand and Its great vitality, despits its long duration...

...One of the moat satiafactory parts of the book is the series of chapters dealing with the Chinese Revolution and the birth of modem China...

...Unfortunately, it ia rare to find in one work a comprehensive history of both ancient and modern China...

...In this first number William Green reminds us that concern with foreign affairs ia in the best tradition of the labor movement, and that enduring achievements between the two great wars are the direct result of such world consciousness The keynote of international cooperation recurs in Clinton 8. Golden's condensed but stimulating discussion ef labor's war aims...

...Nagel is Profesor of Philosophy at Columbia University.] The Story of China by Liu Kin-Ling A SHORT HISTORY OF CHINESE CIV I LIZA TION, bp Ttui Chi...