NONTHEMATIC / Vol. 29, No. 1 (Spring 1962)

Anthony Downs

The Public Interest: Its Meaning in a Democracy

Since its appearance, the political model in my book An Economic Theory of Democracy has been criticized--in this journal, among others--because it does not include any concept of the public interest. The book's critics argue that a theory of political action based on economic principles and containing only self-interested actors cannot explain those crucial political decisions that are made by men acting for the common good instead of their own. In my opinion these attacks are partially justified by certain defects in my economic model of political behavior.

Karl de Schweinitz, Jr.

On the Determinism of the Marxian System

The repugnance that people feel for Marx is easy to understand. Known largely through his writings, which were filled with ad hominem remarks and asides about those with whom he disagreed, Marx projected a contentious, irascible, and omniscient image that obscured his compassionate and very human qualities. Moreover, one cannot find fault with neoclassical economists for refusing to take seriously the labor theory of value as developed in Capital. The conditions under which it could explain price formation were so restrictive that Marx himself recognized its inappropriateness to an industrial economy.

Aron Gurwitsch

The Common-Sense World as Social Reality—A Discourse on Alfred Schutz

In these pages I propose to concentrate on a certain group of problems that not only were of primary importance in Alfred Schutz's thinking but also hold a central position in contemporary philosophical thought, especially in the work of Edmund Husserl and later authors who belong to what may be called the phenomenological movement in a broad sense of the term.

Katherine S. Van Eerde

Problems and Alignments in African Labor

It is no longer necessary to urge the importance of Africa in world politics. Once again, as happened about eighty years ago, it is suddenly a focus of attention after a period of relative isolation from the stream of history. Africa's emergence onto the world scene has not, however, rendered it an area easy to understand. Its contrasts and complexities probably outdo those of any other great region--for instance, its mingling of ancient and primitive civilizations; its sometimes explosive mixtures of races; and its current attempt to retain past memories (witness the revival of the names 'Ghana' and 'Mali') while abandoning certain essentials of that same past, such as witchcraft and cannibalism.

Manuel Gottlieb and Kurt L. Shell

Forum—The German Peace Settlement: Comment

A response to a review of the author's book, The German Peace Settlement and the Berlin Crisis, written by Kurt L. Shell which appeared in Summer 1961 issue of Social Research.

Henry M. Pachter

Review Note: The Legend of the 20th of July, 1944

A summary of several books published about the July 20th, 1944 attempt on Hitler's life. Explores authors' intentions, historical context and approach.