Partisan Pummelled

The report on the symposium on Toynbee is unfair to both Toynbee and the speakers. For instance "Partisan" says. "Thus we have the first concrete inference from Toyn-beeism for the present world—civilisation is doomed! Toynbeeism is therefore firstly the historical philosophy of pessimsim," but at the most what Toynbee is saying is that our civilisation is doomed. This is no more "the historical philosophy of pessimism" than is Marxism which asserts that our capitalist society is doomed.

Before attempting a Marxist interpretation of history, or for that matter, any other interpretation, a sound factual basis and understanding is necessary. It is unfortunate that '"Partisan" has used Marx's name and purports to write a Marxist interpretation without that understanding. He has built a house on sand.

Q.E.A. and K.L.G.