Modes of Thought by Alfred North WhiteheadReview by: M. F. Ashley MontaguIsis, Vol. 32, No. 1 (Jul., 1940), p. 239Published by: The University of Chicago Press on behalf of The History of Science SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/226102 .

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REVIEWS 239W

Alfred North Whitehead-Modes of thought. D1+24I pp. New York: The MACMILLAN CO., 1938 ($2.50).

Is not this one of the greatest books of all time? I ask the question, since it may be a question. It is not, however, a question for me. It is for me perhaps the greatest of all the books I have ever experienced; and that, no doubt, has been said by others of earlier works by WHITE- HEAD. Like all great books it is a book to be read many times, religiously. Modes of thought is the distilled essence of WHrIHEAD's philosophy, the summit of all humane, and therefore, of all pure thought. This is saying a great deal, but after a decent interval in which to allow the fine frenzy of my initial enthusiasm to wear off-if it would, my opinion remains unchanged.

" The use of philosophy " writes WmmmEAD in the penultimate paragraph of the book " is to main an active novelty of fundamental ideas illuminating the social system." (p. 237). It is from the standpoint of such a use of philosophy that WHiTEiEAD writes throughout. Of what greater service can any human activity be to man? In WHITEEAD's hands philosophy once more rightfully assumes the place which for more than two thousand years it has failed to occupy, as the illumintor of all thought and activity, as the great coordinator and integrator. In Modes of thought WHITEHEAD points the way not only to all philosophers but to all human beings who are capable of comprehending. Scientists cannot be recommended to read a more important book both for the benefit of their work and for their own soul's sake; whilst those engaged in the Humtes will here find an order of humane thought which cannot but enrich their own minds and their fields of activity. And now what shall we say of that unhappy creature, the ' common man' whom we have left out in the street, the,' man in the street? ' That reflection of our philosophical failure to create the good society wherein men shall lead the good life? It is a sad commentary upon ourselves that we cannot give him WHmrEAD to read. But if it is any consolation there is this to say, WHrrEHEAD's book will, I am sure, greatly assist to bring about those future conditions when such a book as this will be read with pleasure by ' the man in the street'. Need more be said to suggest the quality of this great book ?

Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital, Philadelphia. M. F. ASHLEY MONTAGU.

Bruno Wachsmuth.-Der Arzt in der Dichtung unserer Zeit. With. a preface by P. DIEPGEN. Stuttgart, F. ENKE, 1939, 244 pp.

The position of the doctor in a given period of historv is elucidated by contemporary non-medical writings rather than by medical witnesses.

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