Abstract

Unfortunately, few substantial works by the "new wave" of Eastern European philosophers have yet appeared in widely read languages. Those who are interested in a glimpse into these developments will therefore welcome this international anthology devoted to the topic of socialist humanism. Such authors as Schaff, Bloch, Petrovic, and Korac are represented, as well as Western writers such as Goldmann, Marcuse, Rubel, and Russell, whose "In Praise of Idleness" was apparently thought relevant to this subject. Unfortunately, the brevity of these contributions forces the authors to limit the penetration of their remarks, so that in some cases one gets an impression of superficiality which is not fair to them. But until their major works are translated, or until we all learn Serbo-Croatian and Polish, this is the best we can do, and it gives evidence that very interesting themes indeed are being discussed these days behind the rusting Iron Curtain. The titles of the sections of the book, which give a rough idea of the matters with which the essays deal, are On Humanism, On Man, On Freedom, On Alienation, and On Practice.—J. J.