¹ On the other hand, one of the least rewarding aspects of Oriental Despotism in the intellectual sense is the pursuit and punishment of those intellectual and political figures whom Professor Wittfogel regards as having perverted the true Iesson of Marx either ignorantly or meretriciously or both. Marx himself is not immune to the lash. Such hot pursuit may, of course, be of the greatest importance for other purposes.

² It is a pity that Professor Needham lacked the advantage of consulting this work.

³ In the American Historical Review, LXII, No. 4 (July 1957), pp. 918–20.

⁴ Review of Vol. I in the Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, XVIII, Nos. 1 and 2 (June 1955), pp. 270–83; review of Vol. II pending.

⁵ In the journal of Asian Studies, XVI, No. 2 (February 1957), pp. 261–71.

⁶ There is some question as to whether Professor Needham's illustrative quotation (Vol. II, p. 82) is not a much better example of Taoist sensitivity to perspective than of a prefigured relativity. Indeed, it may actually contradict relativity theory.

⁷ Gillispie, Charles C., “Perspectives,” American Scientist, XLV, No. 2 (March 1957), pp. 169–76.Google Scholar