Ideological differences and world order : studies in the philosophy and science of the World's cultures

THE need for world order, bringing international disputes under the rule of law rather than leaving them subject to suicidal decisions by force, is obvious. Unfortunately, the difficulties which contempo rary investigations in the social sciences and the philosophy of culture reveal to be in the way-difficulties which center in con siderable part in ideological differences-are not so generally recog nized yet are nonetheless evident and real. In fact, the neglect of them is probably the major reason for the failure of the League of Nations and for the serious weaknesses already evident in the Court of International Justice, in the organization of the United Nations, and in proposals for world government. It becomes imperative, therefore, if the latter institutions and proposals are to become ef fective, that less attention be paid momentarily to the goal of world order and that greater attention be given (a) to the ideological differences which present obstacles on the way to that goal and (b) to the methods suggested by the contemporary social sciences and the philosophy of culture for the removal of these obstacles. It is with this undertaking that this book is primarily concerned.

That its authors are many rather than one is dictated by the char acter of its problem. This problem requires for its understanding a knowledge of the major cultures of the world and their diverse ide ologies. It is very difficult for a person living in any one culture, unconsciously or consciously dedicated to its ideology, to do justice to the quite different economic, political, legal, moral, religious, and artistic doctrines and cultural values of people of other cultures. Hence the wisdom of having the many cultures of the many nations or political parties of the world and their respective philosophies presented in a single volume by many persons, each of whom is in digenous to or expertly acquainted with the culture upon which he writes.