Abstract

This short essay outlines a program for international co-operation based on an understanding of common human nature. It begins plausibly enough by a search for this common nature in terms of what constitutes ‘minimal man’; but its level of discourse and argument soon degenerate. Proceeding from the unproven claim that culture has insulated the human species to such an extent that the ‘human form’ is now stabilized, Mr Simmons claims that a minimal human displays this form and exhibits ‘a system of time greater than the age of its own body’. Unfortunately, this latter distinguishing characteristic of man is merely stated and neither developed nor defended. Presumably infants and mental defectives are not men according to the author’s criteria. An individual’s sense of time and timing, the author continues, can be developed, and consequently there are different levels of man. The growth from minimal to maximal man is achieved through education. This then leads the author to present a utopian scheme for achieving a world community: the world powers must allow themselves to be tamed by a world educational system centered on an autonomous World University. If Mr Simmons can convince the world powers to do so, he should certainly be named Chancellor of the University.