MORALS, POLITICS AND PHILOSOPHY

Radio Record, 8 July 1938, Page 30

MORALS, POLITICS AND PHILOSOPHY

[T’S not the sort of book you'd pick up for a_ light-hearted half-hour’s read before bed. Nor is it the sort where you start at ‘Page One and arrive at Page 240 as quick as Don Bradman-~ can reach a century.: But, for all that, Professor O. B. M. Joad’s "Guide to the Philosophy of Morals and. Politics," is a very good book indeed. Having read it, I feel sufficiently improved to be lieve that acquaintance with it wonld solve the loose thinking that obscnres much of our politics and that understanding of the real meaning and portents of Fascism and Communism, two of the great beliefs of our day, would be more complete and inevitably more effective. Treatises of the kind are never gay. But to discover the ways and means of thinking, to react against the arbitrary judgment of one school of philosophy by considering other thought lines, and to inquire into the fundamentals of political philosophies which are changing the trends of the time can be a fascinating exercise. The fascination can become almost horrifying as one reads on, discovering just what the intentions of men like Hitler and Mussolini and Stalin really are. And, though plenty of people like their horror no closer than a leering face on the films. for those who have ideas the discovery of new facts in political and mora} theory is profoundly stimulating. Listen in to any tramear or street corner conversation and you'll find it’s undoubtedly true that thinking on moral and political issues among many New Zealanders is most remarkably loose. The wildest ideas and facts are circulated with no proper consideration of their truth or merit and the Wildest surmises about Nazism and Communism go their ways with every wind. One epigram has it that the greatest discoveries of all times have been made in advance of common sense; but the way plenty of people think of politics is not commonsensical, but nonsensical. There are obvious dangers in the habit. Political hacks spout the most blatant philosophies, dictators persuade nations to march to’ war, students without an idea in their heads pass examinations brilliantly ‘on the strength of curricula serving no stimulating purpose, Inquiry into fundamental issues is obscured and governments profit, Maybe much of Professor Joad would bore you. Maybe you've arived at that stage of life where you’d prefer with Some right to sit and think of other days, Maybe your weekly pay envelope is large and your wife careful with her hills, Maybe. But, if you’re a good citizen, you still feel some duty to your country And it revolts you to think of nations persuaded to the belief that the State is the nation and the individual merely & cog whose disappearance would have no effect. You like to think of the ideal country and. you like to imagine it as a place where an individual ¢ounted and where effort was directed to the common good. You like to think of conventio, » dictated not by fear but br wisdom, "And’you hone that some day

the world will wake up to itself and see the true road ahead. Yes, you like to think that way and 1 like to too, But we make no effort to understand philosophies, we plod along, hoping for the best. That’s why a book like Professor Joad’s, written clearly and precisely, deserves its place on the book shelf. Some of it will bore you. But most of it will stimulate you; And if you can.still be stimulated, then you’ye not lost the savour of life. "Guide fo the History of Morals and Polities," by C. E. M, Joad, Published by Gollanez Ltd