The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-05-26
Liberal Viewpoint
by DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES.

MODERN science has extended greatly our
1V1 knowledge of the physical universe. At
the same time, it has shown the impressive lim1-
tations of the human intellect in any attempt to
form a final and dogmatic view of the nature
and purpose of the cosmos.
Mr.. Rothschild very clearly and usefully has
brought out the failure of science to provide us
with any final Interpretation of the universe
(Reality and Illusion. BY Richard Rothschild.
Harcourt, Brace. $3.50. But he certainly errs
in both fact and logic in his attempt to show
that the old religious and metaphysical dogmas
offer as satisfactory an explanation as the find
ings of contemporary science.
Human marriage has been one of the most
basic of all social institutions since prehistoric
times. Doctor Westermarck is regarded gener-
ally as the foremost authority on the history
of marriage institutions and practices through
out the whole evolution of mankind. (The His
tory of Human Marriage. BY Edward Wester-
marck. Macmillan. 8 vols. $50.
It was he who blasted forever the doctrine of
universal sexual promiscuity in primitive times.
Brifault and others more recently have shown
that Westermarck went too far in minimizing
the existence of promiscuity among prlnltlveS,
but his work still remains the monumental treat
ment of the course of human marriage.
MYTH the exception of a few converts and
wv enthusiasts, the western world has real
lied very inadequately the Importance of Bud
dhism in the history of human civilization.
Yet it's influence upon thought and action has
rivaled that of Christianity. Readers in the
English-speaking world now may remedy this
gap in their knowledge through the excellent
work on Buddhist philosophy and theology by
Doctor Thomas, author of the standard biog-
raphy of Buddah (The History of Buddhist
Thought, BY Edward j. Thomas. Alfred Knopt.
$50.
Professor Preserved Smith is engaged upon
the writing of the defnitive and comprehensive
history of western civilization since the begin
ming of the sixteenth century. The second
volume has just appeared, covering the age OF
the Enlightenment from 1887 to 1776 CA History
of Modern Culture. Vol. II. BY Preserved
Smith. Henry Holt Co. 50. 1t constitutes an
unrivaled one volume survey of the origins and
manifestations of modern rationalism.
The wide research and immense scholarship
upon which the book rests do not prevent the
author from putting down his facts and thoughts
in a clear and attractive style. This work bids
fair to become the outstanding achievement in
the so-called new history" to be produced by
an American scholar.
r II II
A MEXICAN readers are widely familiar with
IA at least the names and general achieve
ments of the James brothers, William and
Henry. But they are less aware that these
eminent American intellectuals were the sons OF
a father who quite matched them IN intellectual
powers and originality.
Mr.. Hartley Grattan emphasized the i'm
portance of the elder Henry James and first
made ineligible to American readers the nature
and inter-relationship of the James trinity.
Now Mr.. Warren gives us a very lucid and in
teresting volume on the elder James which
should make secure the place of the latter in the
intellectual history of the United States. (The
Elder Henry James. BY Austin Warren. Mac
milan. $500
DEFORE the Civil war the culture and urban
- ity of the cultivated south thoroughly
matched, if it did not surpass, that of the north
and east. The impact of the war and the
savagery of reconstruction were a tremendous
blow to the cultural life of the south, and the
latter was for years the target for much satire
and ridicule on the part of northern high
broWS.
MI. Couch has edited a comprehensive volume
on the cultural life of the contemporary south,
which impressively reveals the progress made
towards regaining the lost cultural pre-eminence
of the American southland Couture in the
South. Edited by w. T. Couch. U. of North
Carolina Press. so.