Soviet Philosophy and Education

REVIEWS 215 SOVIET PHILOSOPHY AND EDUC~TION* B. E. SHORE John Somerville, the author of the first of these books, is a rare phenomenon in the world )of English-Russian relations. He is a person with solid academic training in his own discipline, with a knowledge of the Russian language, and with two years' experience in the Soviet Union in a detailed examination of the theory and practice of his discipline in that area. I . The results of this research and observation are embodied in Soviet Philosophy , in an account that is at once comprehensive and proportionate, scholarly and readable, scientific and non-technical. For these qualities alone, widespread attention would be much deserved, but there is an additional fact-uniqueness .. This is the first book in English on the philosophic. principles that underlie the Soviet regime, and the effect those principles have ha~ in practice. , It can hardly be said that political philosophy in the Western world·and in the Soviet Union agree on many points. Consequently, a writer on the subject_ must be either in one camp or in the other. The author of this book, in his attempt to give a "sympathetic" account, quite definitely puts himself so far in the Soviet camp that he.is ultimately not so much making an exposition as writing an apology. At the outset, he postulates that the philosophy of the Soviet is peaceful, while that of the former fascist states was warlike. It is indeed open to question whether class struggle is not a war, and whether the killing or imprisonment of opposing groups does not .constitute the essentials of battle. In its early days the Soviet regime was preoccupied with the idea of war, although this war was directed against low industrial production, antiquated agricultural methods, and illiteracy. At the present time, when there is no possibility of a foreign invasion, the same government maintains an enormous standing army, far exceeding that of any other country. Surely militarism plays a definite part in Soviet philosophy, and a part that has greatly increased si.ncethe successful conclusion of the second world conflict. This attitude of "sympathy" also leads the author into the position of justifying what he sees. The terrific toll in h'uman life that was exacted in the career of the Soviet state is dismissed :is "the normal cost of a normal mistake." Nothing_ is said about the fact that the philosophy that gave rise to such a condition ' is the very phase of philosophy that makes all other phases of philosophy impossible. It stresses uniformity, the stifling of .any opposition, the silencing of all criticism. Even if such a phase of philosophy happened to be right in its interpretation of history and economics, what a tremendous loss in ,human happiness and productivity it has created by its ruthless programme of extermination. Thorough conviction of rightness gives a *Soviet Philosophy. By JoHN SoMERVILLE. New York: Philosophical Library [Toronto : McLeod].- 1947. Pp. 269. ($4.50) Sor;ict Education. By MAURICE J. SHORE. New York: Philosophical Library [Toronto : McLeod.• 1947. Pp. 346. ($5.50) 216 THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO QUARTERLY movement a sen$e of the inevitability of its tr~umph, and with that sense, a certain toleran~e to differing currents which, pr_esumably, are doomed in themselves. Non-Communist states are not convinced tha·t the philosophy prevail]ng in them at the moment is so very right; but by their tolerant attitude they allow the possibility of a philosophy b. eing developed that will better accomplish the ends of the happiness oJ mankind. Professor Somerville is too cautious in his criticism of Soviet practice; he refuses to take up particular examples that might be sensitive points for the preseilt Soviet regime. Rather, he confines himself to innocuous general remarks: "All people pay for their mistakes, and the Russians have made their share,, Perhiaps the most informative sections of this book are not the sections dealing with Soviet practice so much as those dealing with philosophic theory. .The ethical relationships of the Soviet individual to society are based on a complete rejection of "individualism'~ as such. The individual achieves his highest expression precisely in and through social participation, which...