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did not explain why the arguments which they levelled against the
resolution were not equally valid against the amending phrase
if
the
latter meant the same thing. The truth
is,
of course, that it did not
mean the same thing.
It
meant nothing at all.
The discussion of the resolution transcended in importance any–
thing else that came out of the Congress. For it threw a glaring light
upon the present role of philosophy in the world, how the philoso–
phers themselves conceived of that role, and the dangers which
threaten the community of philosophical tradition in the West.
Throughout many countries of the world today philosophy is
not free. Some philosophers are in exile, others are in concentration
camps, many more are on starvation-rations for no reason save that
their philosophical views are unacceptable to the police regimes under
which they live. Here was a gathering of the world's distinguished
philosophers, capable of commanding a universal hearing. Despite
their professed contempt for public opinion, sometimes dictatorial
governments are sensitive to it.
*
The cumulative intellectual authority
of the philosophers assembled at Amsterdam was enormous. By a
forthright and principled stand they could have made new purges
in philosophy more difficult. But the opportunity was lost. It
is
un–
likely that it will arise again in the near future.
III
No general summary of the philosophical discussions at the Con–
gress would do justice to the variety of the themes presented, de–
fended and criticized. But there were several basic related issues around
which the different philosophical positions crystallized. These were
the conception of philosophy, the nature of man, the status of human
value, the definition of reason, and the form of the good society.
The subject matter of philosophy is something about which
philosophers themselves have notoriously been at odds. Is there any
knowledge which philosophy possesses about the universe and man's
place in it that marks
it
off from the knowledge natural and social
scientists give us? One group of philosophers, rather weakly repre-
*
This is revealed in the response of the Argentinian government to the reso–
lution adopted by the American Philosophical Association (Eastern Division)
on conditions of intellectual life ' in Argentina. Cf. N. Y.
Times,
2/2/49 and
Christian Science Monitor,
2/5/49.
