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Refutes the scientific fatalism with which Charles Murray and Richard J. Herrnstein have indulged in their study of social groups, race, IQ and genes. Criticism on Murray's scientism reflected in drawing distinction between political fashion and science; Discussion on the belief that the fate of individuals is determined by their membership in a group; Suggestion that the belief in freedom recognizes the differences in endowments distinguishing individuals from each other; Failure of Murray to account for the rise of African American middle class on the morrow of the civil rights revolution.

Focuses on the life of Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes. View that Holmes' life was in many respects a most apt illustration of the great-souled man; Report that in few cases of social importance, he express the view of a liberal majority of the court; Discussion on the reason for Justice Holmes' dissents; Fact that Justice Holmes impressed a growing number of people as a thinker who was giving immortal expression to basic ideas on human life and destiny.

Focuses on a dinner in New York City which was attended by radicalism and conservatism advocates, with H. G. Wells as guest of honor. Characterization of Wells as a parlor Bolshevik; Wells' indictment of the existing organization and conduct of society; Response of the succeeding speakers to Wells' fatalism; Proneness of Americans to optimistic fatalism.

Reviews the motion picture "L'Argent," directed by Robert Bresson. INSET: FILMS WORTH SEEING..

The article discusses the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa, focusing on philosophical reactions to it. Topics include an article called "A Hospital from Hell, in a City Swamped by Ebola" by Adam Nossiter in "The New York Times"; the way theists and atheists make sense of large-scale human suffering; and topics including luck, God, fate, fatalism, and meaning in life.

Presents several letters to the editor referencing articles and topics published in previous issues. Information on the teachings of the Catholic Church; Criticism of concepts like atheism, materialism, skepticism, racism and fatalism by the Catholic Church; Prohibition of the spread of doctrines condemned by Catholic Church; Condemnation of the freedom of thought, freedom of speech, freedom of worship, equality of religion before the law and many other principles essential to liberal doctrine by Catholic Church.

Focuses on the end of American isolation. Self-complacent isolation; Effects of the outbreak of European war on the foreign policies of the United States; Independence of Europe official; Examples of political independence; Misunderstandings of traditional optimistic fatalism; Accumulation of scrapheap of patriotic misconceptions; Effects of war on industries and interests; Threats to economic efficiency of a nation.

Presents two letters to the editor referencing to articles based on Chicago, Illinois, published in previous issues of the periodical. Comments on Lewis Mumford's article "Impressions of That Awful Place, Chicago, As Seen in One of Its Railroad Station"; Approach of Mumford to Chicago from the East; Explanation by author about his article "Reflections on Chicago."

In this column the author discusses the earthquake in Haiti. The author focuses his discussion on whether God exists. Topics discussed include the philanthropic works of the U.S., human nature, fatalism, the moral and ethical aspects of helping those suffering, and the indifference of U.S. citizens.

Presents a chain letter in the U.S. that allegedly gives good luck to the recipient.

This article examines the impact of the launching of the Russian satellite Sputnik on the U.S. Sputnik is unquestionably a revelation of how a nation may fall behind when it casts out the eggheads and intrusts its destiny to men of the golden touch. Well, the eggheads have been contending for five and a half years that turning the Cabinet into a millionaires' club was not a good idea because the golden touch is not all the equipment necessary for running a nation. To recover the prestige lost at that moment will probably cost a great deal more than the men of the golden touch have saved.

The article focuses on the book "The Nag," by Mendele Mocher. The Nag is a difficult book to classify; it is partly allegory, partly simple narrative, partly a blunt attack on the slothfulness and fatalism of the east European Jewish world as it appeared to Mendele some 80 years ago. The hero of the book is a workhorse, forever beaten and abused, yet forever capable of re-gathering his energies and pushing ahead to the certain prospect of further beatings and abuse, Hardly more fabulous than his resilience is the capacity of this horse to reason about his fate and, in an amusing facsimile of Jewish dialectic, to debate the problems of modern history.

Presents information on the life and works of author Theodore Dreiser. Statement that the philosophy on which Dreiser's work is based is a blend of ancient fatalism and modern materialism; Drawbacks of his writing style; Claim that his work is in heritage of those who stand against supernaturalism in the arts and surrealism in religion and morals.

Several letters to the editor are presented including one on fatalism, another on the formation of an organization of lawyers similar to the American Newspaper Guild among newspapermen and on the All-Union Congress.

Presents the poem "Alternatives," by Amy Lowell.