Shorter Notices
Pacifism and Conscientious Objection. By G. C Field. (Cambridge University Press 3s. 6d.)
THIS latest addition to Sir Ernest Barker's " Current Problem " series is in every way worthy of its predecessors. The treatment of con- scientious objectors in war-time is an impOrtant and singularly difficult problem, which has, on the whole, been handled much more wisely in this war than in the last. Prof. Field approaches the question with unusual qualifications. He holds the chair of Philo- sophy in the University of Bristol, and as member of a tribunal he has had in the last few years to listen to and discuss the repre- sentations of some thousands of conscientious Objectors of all types, from the most reasonable to the most non-co-operative. Dr. Field's approach to the subject is admirable. In no sense a pacifist himself, he is always temperate in his criticisms, and writes constantly with an understanding that may be justly termed sympathetic of attitudes from which he personally differs in tow. It is noteworthy that, while he criticises the motives of various objectors, he does not believe " that personal fear plays much part in the decision of more than a very small minority," and, convincing though many of his logical arguments are, he admits frankly that "argument and evidence can never, by themselves, play the decisive part in moral decisions." Altogether this is a most valuable contribution to the discussion of a problem to which few contributions at once dispassionate and com- prehending have so far been made.
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