What Are We To Do With Our Lives

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WHAT ARE WE TO DO WITH OUR LIVES?
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T i t l e : W H A TA R EW ET OD OW I T HO U RL I V E S ? A u t h o r : H .G .W e l l s *AP r o j e c tG u t e n b e r go fA u s t r a l i ae B o o k* e B o o kN o . : 0 2 0 1 0 8 1 h . h t m l L a n g u a g e : E n g l i s h D a t ef i r s tp o s t e d : D e c e m b e r2 0 0 2 D a t em o s tr e c e n t l yu p d a t e d :D e c e m b e r2 0 0 2 D i g i t i z e db yR a eW e s t . P r e p a r e df o rP r o j e c tG u t e n b e r go fA u s t r a l i ab yA n d r e wS l y . P r o j e c tG u t e n b e r go fA u s t r a l i ae B o o k sa r ec r e a t e df r o mp r i n t e de d i t i o n s w h i c ha r ei nt h ep u b l i cd o m a i ni nA u s t r a l i a ,u n l e s sac o p y r i g h tn o t i c e i si n c l u d e d .W ed oN O Tk e e pa n ye B o o k si nc o m p l i a n c ew i t hap a r t i c u l a r p a p e re d i t i o n . C o p y r i g h tl a w sa r ec h a n g i n ga l lo v e rt h ew o r l d .B es u r et oc h e c kt h e c o p y r i g h tl a w sf o ry o u rc o u n t r yb e f o r ed o w n l o a d i n go rr e d i s t r i b u t i n gt h i s f i l e . T h i se B o o ki sm a d ea v a i l a b l ea tn oc o s ta n dw i t ha l m o s tn or e s t r i c t i o n s w h a t s o e v e r .Y o um a yc o p yi t ,g i v ei ta w a yo rr e u s ei tu n d e rt h et e r m s o ft h eP r o j e c tG u t e n b e r go fA u s t r a l i aL i c e n s ew h i c hm a yb ev i e w e do n l i n ea t h t t p : / / g u t e n b e r g . n e t . a u / l i c e n c e . h t m l
GOTOProjectGutenbergofAustraliaHOMEPAGE
WHATAREWETODOWITHOURLIVES?
byH.G.Wells
CONTENTS
gutenberg.net.au/ebooks02/0201081h.html 1/63
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I . I I . I I I . I V . V . V I . V I I . V I I I . I X . X . X I . X I I . X I I I . X I V . X V . X V I . X V I I . X V I I I . X I X .
T h eP r e s e n tC r i s i si nH u m a nA f f a i r s T h eI d e ao ft h eO p e nC o n s p i r a c y W eH a v et oC l e a ra n dC l e a nU pO u rM i n d s T h eR e v o l u t i o ni nE d u c a t i o n R e l i g i o ni nt h eN e wW o r l d M o d e r nR e l i g i o ni sO b j e c t i v e W h a tM a n k i n dH a st oD o B r o a dC h a r a c t e r i s t i c so faS c i e n t i f i cW o r l dC o m m o n w e a l N oS t a b l eU t o p i ai sN o wC o n c e i v a b l e T h eO p e nC o n s p i r a c yi sn o tt ob eT h o u g h to fa saS i n g l e O r g a n i z a t i o n ;I ti saC o n c e p t i o no fL i f eo u to fw h i c h E f f o r t s ,O r g a n i z a t i o n s ,a n dn e wO r i e n t a t i o n sW i l lA r i s e F o r c e sa n dR e s i s t a n c e si nt h eG r e a tM o d e r nC o m m u n i t i e s N o wP r e v a l e n t ,w h i c hA r eA n t a g o n i s t i ct ot h eO p e nC o n s p i r a c y . T h eW a rw i t hT r a d i t i o n T h eR e s i s t a n c e so ft h eL e s sI n d u s t r i a l i z e dP e o p l e st ot h e D r i v eo ft h eO p e nC o n s p i r a c y R e s i s t a n c e sa n dA n t a g o n i s t i cF o r c e si nO u rC o n s c i o u sa n d U n c o n s c i o u sS e l v e s T h eO p e nC o n s p i r a c yB e g i n sa saM o v e m e n to fD i s c u s s i o n , E x p l a n a t i o n ,a n dP r o p a g a n d a E a r l yC o n s t r u c t i v eW o r ko ft h eO p e nC o n s p i r a c y E x i s t i n ga n dD e v e l o p i n gM o v e m e n t sw h i c hA r eC o n t r i b u t o r y T ot h eO p e nC o n s p i r a c ya n dw h i c hM u s tD e v e l o paC o m m o n C o n s c i o u s n e s s .T h eP a r a b l eo fP r o v i n d e rI s l a n d T h eC r e a t i v eH o m e ,S o c i a lG r o u p ,a n dS c h o o l :T h eP r e s e n t W a s t eo fI d e a l i s t i cW i l l P r o g r e s s i v eD e v e l o p m e n to ft h eA c t i v i t i e so ft h eO p e n C o n s p i r a c yi n t oaW o r l dC o n t r o la n dC o m m o n w e a l :T h eH a z a r d s O ft h eA t t e m p t H u m a nL i f ei nt h eC o m i n gW o r l dC o m m u n i t y
I THEPRESENTCRISISINHUMANAFFAIRS
Theworldisundergoingimmensechanges.Neverbeforehavetheconditionsoflifechangedsoswiftly andenormouslyastheyhavechangedformankindinthelastfiftyyears.Wehavebeencarriedalong withnomeansofmeasuringtheincreasingswiftnessinthesuccessionofevents.Weareonlynow beginningtorealizetheforceandstrengthofthestormofchangethathascomeuponus. Thesechangeshavenotcomeuponourworldfromwithout.Nohugemeteoritefromouterspacehas struckourplanet;therehavebeennooverwhelmingoutbreaksofvolcanicviolenceorstrangeepidemic diseases;thesunhasnotflareduptoexcessiveheatorsuddenlyshrunkentoplungeusintoArctic winter.Thechangeshavecomethroughmenthemselves.Quiteasmallnumberofpeople,heedlessof theultimateconsequenceofwhattheydid,onemanhereandagroupthere,havemadediscoveriesand producedandadoptedinventionsthathavechangedalltheconditionsofsociallife. Wearenowjustbeginningtorealizethenatureofthesechanges,tofindwordsandphrasesforthem andputthemdown.Firsttheybegantohappen,andthenwebegantoseethattheywerehappening. Andnowwearebeginningtoseehowthesechangesareconnectedtogetherandtogetthemeasureof theirconsequences.Wearegettingourmindssoclearaboutthemthatsoonweshallbeableto demonstratethemandexplainthemtoourchildreninourschools.Wedonotdosoatpresent.Wedo notgiveourchildrenachanceofdiscoveringthattheyliveinaworldofuniversalchange. Whatarethebroadlinesuponwhichthesealterationsofconditionareproceeding?
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Itwillbemostconvenienttodealwiththemintheorderinwhichtheycametoberealizedandseen clearly,ratherthanbytheorderinwhichtheycameaboutorbytheirlogicalorder.Theyaremoreorless interdependentchanges;theyoverlapandinteract. Itwasonlyinthebeginningofthetwentiethcenturythatpeoplebegantorealizetherealsignificanceof thataspectofourchangingconditionstowhichthephrasetheabolitionofdistancehasbeenapplied.For awholecenturybeforethattherehadbeenacontinualincreaseinthespeedandsafetyoftraveland transportandtheeaseandswiftnesswithwhichmessagescouldbetransmitted,butthisincreasehad notseemedtobeamatterofprimaryimportance.Variousresultsofrailway,steamship,andtelegraph becamemanifest;townsgrewlarger,spreadingintothecountryside,onceinaccessiblelandsbecame areasofrapidsettlementandcultivation,industrialcentresbegantoliveonimportedfood,newsfrom remotepartslostitstimelagandtendedtobecomecontemporary,butnoonehailedthesethingsas beingmorethanimprovementsinexistingconditions.Theyarenotobservedtobethebeginningsofa profoundrevolutioninthelifeofmankind.Theattentionofyoungpeoplewasnotdrawntothem;no attemptwasmade,orconsiderednecessary,toadaptpoliticalandsocialinstitutionstothiscreeping enlargementofscale. Untiltheclosingyearsofthenineteenthcenturytherewasnorecognitionoftherealstateofaffairs.Then afewobservantpeoplebegan,inarathertentative,commentarysortofway,tocallattentiontowhat washappening.Theydidnotseemtobemovedbytheideathatsomethinghadtobedoneaboutit;they merelyremarked,brightlyandintelligently,thatitwasgoingon.Andthentheywentontothe realizationthatthisabolitionofdistancewasonlyoneaspectofmuchmorefarreachingadvances. Menweretravellingaboutsomuchfasterandflashingtheircommunicationsinstantlyabouttheworld becauseaprogressiveconquestofforceandsubstancewasgoingon.Improvedtransportwasonlyone ofanumberofportentousconsequencesofthatconquest;thefirsttobeconspicuousandsetmen thinking;butnotperhapsthefirstinimportance.Itdawneduponthemthatinthelasthundredyears therehadbeenastupendousprogressinobtainingandutilizingmechanicalpower,avastincreasein theefficiencyofmechanism,andassociatedwiththatanenormousincreaseinthesubstancesavailable formanspurposes,fromvulcanizedrubbertothemodernsteels,andfrompetroleumandmargarineto tungstenandaluminium.Atfirstthegeneralintelligencewasdisposedtoregardthesethingsaslucky finds,happychancediscoveries.Itwasnotapprehendedthattheshoweroffindswassystematicand continuous.PopularwriterstoldaboutthesethingsbuttheytoldofthematfirstasWonders WonderslikethePyramids,theColossusofRhodes,andtheGreatWallofChina.Fewrealizedhow muchmoretheywerethananyWonders.TheSevenWondersoftheWorldleftmenfreetogoon living,toiling,marrying,anddyingastheyhadbeenaccustomedtoforimmemorialages.IftheSeven Wondershadvanishedorbeenmultipliedthreescoreitwouldnothavechangedthelivesofanylarge proportionofhumanbeings.Butthesenewpowersandsubstancesweremodifyingandtransforming unobtrusively,surely,andrelentlesslyveryparticularofthenormallifeofmankind. Theyincreasedtheamountofproductionandthemethodsofproduction.TheymadepossibleBig Business,todrivethesmallproducerandthesmalldistributoroutofthemarket.Theysweptaway factoriesandevokednewones.Theychangedthefaceofthefields.Theybroughtintothenormallife, thingbythinganddaybyday,electriclightandheating,brightcitiesatnight,betteraeration,newtypes ofclothing,afreshcleanliness.Theychangedaworldwheretherehadneverbeenenoughintoaworld ofpotentialplenty,intoaworldofexcessiveplenty.Itdawnedupontheirmindsaftertheirrealization
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oftheabolitionofdistancethatshortageofsupplierhadalsobeenabolishedandthatirksometoilwas nolongernecessarytoproduceeverythingmaterialthatmanmightrequire.Itisonlyinthelastdozen yearsthatthisbroaderandprofounderfacthascomethroughtotheintelligenceofanyconsiderable numberofpeople.Mostofthemhavestilltocarrytheirrealizationastepfartherandseehowcomplete istherevolutioninthecharacterofthedailylifethesethingsinvolve. Buttherearestillotherchangesoutsidethisvastadvanceinthepaceandpowerofmateriallife.The biologicalscienceshaveundergoneacorrespondingextension.Medicalarthasattainedanewlevelof efficiency,sothatinallthemodernizingsocietiesoftheworldtheaveragelifeisprolonged,andthereis, inspiteofagreatfallinthebirthrate,asteady,alarmingincreaseintheworldspopulation.The proportionofadultsaliveisgreaterthanithaseverbeenbefore.Fewerandfewerhumanbeingsdie youngThishaschangedthesocialatmosphereaboutus.Thetragedyoflivescutshortandended prematurelyispassingoutofgeneralexperience.Healthbecomesprevalent.Thecontinualtoothaches, headaches,rheumatism,neuralgias,coughs,colds,indigestionsthatmadeupsolargeapartofthe brieferlivesofourgrandfathersandgrandmothersfadeoutofexperience.Wemayalllivenow,we discover,withoutanygreatburthenoffear,wholesomelyandabundantly,foraslongasthedesireto liveisinus. Butwedonotdoso.Allthispossiblefreedomofmovement,thispowerandabundance,remainsfor mostofusnomorethanpossibility.Thereisasenseofprofoundinstabilityabouttheseachievementsof ourrace.Eventhosewhoenjoy,enjoywithoutsecurity,andforthegreatmultitudeofmankindthereis neitherease,plenty,norfreedom.Hardtasks,insufficiency,andunendingmoneyworriesarestillthe ordinarystuffoflife.Overeverythinghumanhangsthethreatofsuchwarasmanhasneverknown before,werearmedandreinforcedbyallthepowersanddiscoveriesofmodernscience. Whenwedemandwhytheachievementofpowerturnstodistressanddangerinourhands,weget someveryunsatisfactoryreplies.Thefavouriteplatitudeofthepoliticianexcusinghimselfforthe futilitiesofhisbusiness,isthatmoralprogresshasnotkeptpacewithmaterialadvance.Thatseemsto satisfyhimcompletely,butitcansatisfynootherintelligentperson.Hesaysmoral.Heleavesthat wordunexplained.Apparentlyhewantstoshifttheresponsibilitytoourreligiousteachers.Atthemost hehasmadebutthevaguestgesturetowardsareply.Andyet,whenweconsiderit,charitablyand sympathetically,theredoesseemtobeagermofrealityinthatphraseofhis. Whatdoesmoralmean?Moresmeansmannersandcustoms.Moralityistheconductoflife.Itiswhatwe dowithoursociallives.Itishowwedealwithourselvesinrelationtoourfellowcreatures.Andthere doesseemtobeamuchgreaterdiscordnowthantherewas(say)acoupleofhundredyearsago betweentheprevailingideasofhowtocarryonlifeandtheopportunitiesaanddangersofthetime.We arecomingtoseemoreandmoreplainlythatcertainestablishedtraditionswhichhavemadeupthe frameofhumanrelationshipsforagesarenotmerelynolongerasconvenientastheywere,butare positivelyinjuriousanddangerous.Andyetatpresentwedonotknowhowtoshakeoffthese traditions,thesehabitsofsocialbehaviourwhichruleus.Stilllessareweabletostate,andstillless bringintooperation,thenewconceptionsofconductandobligationthatmustreplacethem. Forexample,thegeneralgovernmentofhumanaffairshashithertobeendistributedamonganumberof sovereignstatesthereareaboutseventyofthemnowanduntilrecentlythatwasaquitetolerable systemofframeworksintowhichageneralwayoflivingcouldbefitted.Thestandardoflivingmaynot havebeenashighasourpresentstandards,butthesocialstabilityandassuranceweregreater.The
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youngweretrainedtobeloyal,lawregarding,patriotic,andadefinedsystemofcrimesand misdemeanourswithproperlyassociatedpains,penalties,andrepressions,keptthesocialbody together.Everyonewastaughtahistoryglorifyinghisownstate,andpatriotismwaschiefamongthe Virtues.Now,withgreatrapidity,therehasbeenthatabolitionofdistance,andeveryonehasbecome nextdoorneighbourtoeveryoneelse.Statesonceseparate,socialandeconomicsystemsformerly remotefromoneanother,nowjostleeachotherexasperatingly.Commerceunderthenewconditionsis perpetuallybreakingnationalistboundsandmakingmilitantraidsupontheeconomiclifeofother countries.Thisexacerbatespatriotisminwhichwehaveallbeentrainedandwithwhichweareall,with scarcelyanexception,saturated.Andmeanwhilewar,whichwasonceacomparativeslowbickering uponafront,hasbecomewarinthreedimensions;itgetsatthenoncombatantalmostassearchingly asatthecombatant,andhasacquiredweaponsofastupendouscrueltyanddestructiveness.Atpresent thereexistsnosolutiontothisparadoxicalsituation.Wearecontinuallybeingurgedbyourtrainingand traditionstoantagonismsandconflictsthatwillimpoverish,starve,anddestroybothourantagonists andourselves.Wearealltrainedtodistrustandhateforeigners,saluteourflag,stiffenupinawooden obedientwayatournationalanthem,andpreparetofollowthelittlefellowsinspursandfeatherswho poseastheheadsofourstatesintothemosthorriblecommondestruction.Ourpoliticalandeconomic ideasoflivingareoutofdate,andwefindgreatdifficultyinadjustingthemandreconstructingthemto meetthehugeandstrenuousdemandsofthenewtimes.Thatisreallywhatourgramophonepoliticians haveinmindinthevaguewayinwhichtheyhaveanythinginmindwhentheyputonthatwellworn recordaboutmoralprogressnothavingkeptpacewithmaterialinventions. Sociallyandpoliticallywewantarevisedsystemofideasaboutconduct,aviewofsocialandpolitical lifebroughtuptodate.Wearenotdoingtheeffectivethingwithourlives,wearedrifting,wearebeing hoodwinkedandbamboozledandmisledbythosewhotradeupontheoldtraditions.Itispreposterous thatweshouldstillbefollowedaboutandpesteredbywar,taxedforwarpreparations,andthreatened bodilyandinourlibertiesbythisunnecessaryandexaggeratedanddistortedsurvivalofthedisunited worldoftheprescientificera.Anditisnotsimplythatourpoliticalwayoflivingisnownobetterthan aninheriteddefectandmalformation,butthatoureverydaylife,oureatinganddrinkingandclothing andhousingandgoingabout,isalsocramped,thwarted,andimpoverished,becausewedonotknow howtosetaboutshakingofftheoldwaysandfittingthegenerallifetoournewopportunities.The straintakestheformofincreasedunemploymentandadislocationofspendingpower.Wedonotknow whethertospendorsave.Greatswarmsofusfindourselvesunaccountablythrownoutofwork. Unjustly,irrationally.Colossalbusinessreconstructionsaremadetoincreaseproductionand accumulateprofits,andmeanwhilethecustomerswithpurchasingpowerdwindleinnumbersandfade away.Theeconomicmachinecreaksandmakeseverysignofstoppinganditsstoppingmeans universalwantandstarvation.Itmustnotstop.Theremustbeareconstruction,achangeover.Butwhat sortofachangeover? Thoughnoneofusareyetclearastotheprecisewayinwhichthisgreatchangeoveristobeeffected, thereisaworldwidefeelingnowthatchangeoveroravastcatastropheisbeforeus.Increasing multitudesparticipateinthatuneasysenseofinsecuretransition.Inthecourseofonelifetimemankind haspassedfromastateofaffairsthatseemstousnowtohavebeenslow,dull,illprovided,andlimited, butatleastpicturesqueandtranquilminded,toanewphaseofexcitement,provocation,menace, urgency,andactualorpotentialdistresses.Ourlivesarepartofoneanother.Wecannotgetawayfrom it.Weareitemsinasocialmass.Whatarewetodowithourlives?
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II THEIDEAOFTHEOPENCONSPIRACY
Iamawriteruponsocialandpoliticalmatters.EssentiallyIamaveryordinary,undistinguished person.Ihaveamediocrebrain,averyaveragebrain,andthewayinwhichmymindreactstothese problemsisthereforeverymuchthewayinwhichmostbrainswillreacttothem.Butbecauseitismy businesstowriteandthinkaboutthesequestions,becauseonthataccountIamabletogivemoretime andattentiontothemthanmostpeople,Iamabletogetratheraheadofmyequalsandtowritearticles andbooksjustalittlebeforetheideasIexperiencebecomeplaintoscoresofthousands,andthento hundredsofthousands,andatlasttomillionsofotherpeople.Andsoithappenedthatafewyearsago (roundabout1927)Ibecameveryanxioustoclearupandgiveformtoaknotofsuggestionsthat seemedtometohaveinthemthesolutionofthisriddleofadaptingourlivestotheimmensenew possibilitiesandtheimmensenewdangersthatconfrontmankind. Itseemedtomethatallovertheworldintelligentpeoplewerewakinguptotheindignityandabsurdity ofbeingendangered,restrained,andimpoverished,byamereuncriticaladhesiontotraditional governments,traditionalideasofeconomiclife,andtraditionalformsofbehaviour,andthatthese awakingintelligentpeoplemustconstitutefirstaprotestandthenacreativeresistancetotheinertiathat wasstiflingandthreateningus.ThesepeopleIimaginedwouldsayfirst,Wearedrifting;wearedoing nothingworthwhilewithourlives.Ourlivesaredullandstupidandnotgoodenough. Thentheywouldsay,Whatarewetodowithourlives? Andthen,Letusgettogetherwithotherpeopleofoursortandmakeovertheworldintoagreatworld civilizationthatwillenableustorealizethepromisesandavoidthedangersofthisnewtime. Itseemedtomethatas,oneafteranother,wewokeup,thatiswhatweshouldbesaying.Itamountedto aprotest,firstmentalandthenpractical,itamountedtoasortofunpremeditatedandunorganized conspiracy,againstthefragmentaryandinsufficientgovernmentsandthewidespreadgreed, appropriation,clumsiness,andwastethatarenowgoingon.Butunlikeconspiraciesingeneralthis wideningprotestandconspiracyagainstestablishedthingswould,byitsverynature,gooninthe daylight,anditwouldbewillingtoacceptparticipationandhelpfromeveryquarter.Itwould,infact, becomeanOpenConspiracy,anecessary,naturallyevolvedconspiracy,toadjustourdislocated world. Imadevariousattemptstodevelopthisidea.IpublishedalittlebookcalledTheOpenConspiracyas earlyas1928,intowhichIputwhatIhadinmymindatthattime.Itwasanunsatisfactorylittlebook evenwhenIpublishedit,notquiteplainenoughandnotquiteconfidentenough,andevidentlyunsure ofitsreaders.Icouldnotfindouthowtodoitbetteratthetime,anditseemedinitswaytosay somethingoflivingandcurrentinterest,andsoIpublisheditbutIarrangedthingssothatIcould withdrawitinayearorso.ThatIdid,andthispresentbookisalargelyrewrittenversion,muchclearer andmoreexplicit.Sincethatfirstpublicationwehaveallgotforwardsurprisingly.Eventshavehustled thoughtalongandhavebeenhustledalongbythought.Theideaofreorganizingtheaffairsoftheworld onquiteabigscale,whichwasUtopian,andsoforth,in1926and1927,andstillboldin1928,has nowspreadabouttheworlduntilnearlyeverybodyhasit.Ithasbrokenoutallovertheplace,thanks largelytothementalstimulationoftheRussianFiveYearPlan.Hundredsofthousandsofpeople
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everywherearenowthinkinguponthelinesforeshadowedbymyOpenConspiracy,notbecausethey hadeverheardofthebookorphrase,butbecausethatwasthewaythoughtwasgoing. ThefirstOpenConspiracyconveyedthegeneralideaofaworldreconstructed,butitwasveryvague abouttheparticularwayinwhichthisorthatindividuallifecouldbelivedinrelationtothatgeneral idea.Itgaveageneralanswertothequestion,Whatarewetodowithourlives?Itsaid,Helptomake overtheNewWorldamidsttheconfusionsoftheOld.Butwhenthequestionwasasked,WhatamIto dowithmylife?thereplywasmuchlesssatisfactory. Theinterveningyearsofthoughtandexperiencemakeitpossible,now,tobringthisgeneralideaofa reconstructiveeffort,anattempttobuildupanewworldwithinthedangersanddisharmoniesofour presentstate,intoamuchcloserandmoreexplicitrelationtotheindividualOpenConspirator.We canpresentthethinginabetterlightandhandleitwithasurertouch.
III WEHAVETOCLEARANDCLEANUPOURMINDS
Now,onethingisfairlyplaintomostofuswhoarewakinguptotheneedoflivingourlivesinanew wayandofmakingoverthestate,whichistheframeworkofourlives,tomeetthenewdemandsupon it,andthatis,thatwehavetoputourownmindsinorder.Whyhaveweonlyawakenednowtothe crisisinhumanaffairs?Thechangesinprogresshavebeengoingonwithasteadyaccelerationfora coupleofcenturies.Clearlywemustallhavebeenveryunobservant,ourknowledgeasitcametous musthavebeenverybadlyarrangedinourminds,andourwayofdealingwithitmusthavebeen cloudyandmuddled,orelseweshouldsurelyhaveawakenedlongagototheimmensenecessitiesthat nowchallengeus.Andifthatisso,ifithastakendecadestorouseus,thenquiteprobablywearenot yetcompletelyawake.Evennowwemaynothaverealizedthejobbeforeusinitscompleteness.We maystillhavemuchtogetplaininourminds,andwecertainlyhavemuchmoretolearn.Oneprimary andpermanentdutythereforeistogoonwithourthinkingandtothinkaswellaswecanabouttheway inwhichwethinkandaboutthewaysinwhichwegetanduseknowledge. FundamentallytheOpenConspiracymustbeanintellectualrebirth. Humanthoughtisstillverymuchconfusedbytheimperfectionofthewordsandothersymbolsit employsandtheconsequencesofthisconfusedthinkingaremuchmoreseriousandextensivethanis commonlyrealized.Westillseetheworldthroughamistofwords;itisonlythethingsimmediately aboutusthatareplainfact.Throughsymbols,andespeciallythroughwords,manhasraisedhimself abovetheleveloftheapeandcometoaconsiderablemasteryoverhisuniverse.Buteverystepinhis mentalascenthasinvolvedentanglementwiththesesymbolsandwordshewasusing;theywereatonce helpfulandverydangerousandmisleading.Agreatpartofouraffairs,social,political,intellectual,isin aperplexinganddangerousstatetodaybecauseofourloose,uncritical,slovenlyuseofwords. AllthroughthelaterMiddleAgesthereweregreatdisputesamongtheschoolmenabouttheuseof wordsandsymbols.Thereisaqueerdispositioninthehumanmindtothinkthatsymbolsandwords andlogicaldeductionsaretruerthanactualexperiences,andthesegreatcontroversieswereduetothe struggleofthehumanintelligenceagainstthatdisposition.OntheonesideweretheRealists,whowere socalledbecausetheybelieved,ineffect,thatnamesweremorerealthanfacts,andontheotherside weretheNominalists,whofromthefirstwerepervadedbyasuspicionaboutnamesandwords
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generally;whothoughttheremightbesomesortofcatchinverbalprocesses,andwhogradually workedtheirwaytowardsverificationbyexperimentwhichisthefundamentalthingabout experimentalscienceexperimentalsciencewhichhasgivenourhumanworldalltheseimmense powersandpossibilitiesthattemptandthreatenittoday.Thesecontroversiesoftheschoolmenwereof theutmostimportancetomankind.Themodernworldcouldnotbegintocomeintoexistenceuntilthe humanmindhadbrokenawayfromthenarrowmindedverbalistwayofthinkingwhichtheRealists followed. ButallthroughmyeducationIneverhadthismatterexplainedtome.TheUniversityofLondon intimatedthatIwasasoundlyeducatedyoungmanbygivingmeadegreeinfirstclasshonoursandthe libertytoacquireandwearanelegantgownandhood,andtheLondonCollegeofPreceptorsgaveme andtheworlditshighestassurancesthatIwasfittoeducateandtrainthemindsofmyfellowcreatures, andyetIhadstilltodiscoverthataRealistwasnotanovelistwhoputrathertoohighlyflavouredsex appealintohisbooks,andaNominalist,nothinginparticular.ButithadcreptintomymindasIlearnt aboutindividualityinmybiologicalworkandaboutlogicandpsychologyinmypreparationasthe perfectpreceptor,thatsomethingveryimportantandessentialwasbeingleftoutandthatIwasntatall aswellequippedasmydiplomaspresentlysaidIwas,andinthenextfewyearsIfoundthetimeto cleanupthismatterprettythoroughly.Imadenomarvellousdiscoveries,everythingIfoundoutwas knownalready;nevertheless,IhadtofindOutsomeofthisstuffformyselfquiteoveragain,asthough ithadneverbeendone;soinaccessiblewasanycompleteaccountofhumanthinkingtoanordinaryman whowantedtogethismindintoproperworkingcondition.AndthiswasnotthatIhadmissedsome recondite,preciousrefinementsofphilosophy;itwasthatmyfundamentalthinking,attheveryrootof mypoliticalandsocialconduct,waswrong.Iwasinahumancommunity,andthatcommunity,andI withit,wasthinkingofphantomsandfantasiesasthoughtheywererealandlivingthings,wasina reverieofunrealities,wasblind,slovenly,hypnotized,baseandineffective,blunderingaboutinan extremelybeautifulandanextremelydangerousworld. Isetmyselftoreeducatemyself,andafterthepracticeofwriterswroteitinvarioustrialpamphlets, essays,andbooks.Thereisnoneedtorefertothesebookshere.Thegistofthematterissetoutinthree compilations,towhichIshallreferagainalmostimmediately.TheyareTheOutlineofHistory(Ch.XXI, 6,andCh.XXXIII,6),TheScienceofLife(BookVIII,onThoughtandBehaviour)andTheWork,Wealth, andHappinessofMankind(Ch.II,14).Inthelast,itisshownquiteplainlyhowmanhashadtostruggle forthemasteryofhismind,hasdiscoveredonlyaftergreatcontroversiestheproperandeffectiveuseof hisintellectualtools,andhashadtolearntoavoidcertainwidespreadtrapsandpitfallsbeforehecould achievehispresentmasteryovermatter.Thinkingclearlyandeffectivelydoesnotcomebynature. Huntingthetruthisanart.Weblundernaturallyintoathousandmisleadinggeneralizationsandfalse processes.Yetthereishardlyanyintelligentmentaltrainingdoneintheschoolsoftheworldtoday.We havetolearnthisart,ifwearetopractiseitatall.Ourschoolteachershavehadnopropertraining themselves,theymiseducatebyexampleandprecept,andsoitisthatourpressandcurrentdiscussions aremorelikeanimprompturiotofcrippledanddeafandblindmindsthananintelligentinterchangeof ideas.Whatboshonereads!Whatrashandimpudentassumptions!Whatimbecileinferences! Butreeducatingoneself,gettingonesmindintohealthandexercisingitandtrainingittothink properly,isonlythebeginningofthetaskbeforetheawakeningOpenConspirator.Hehasnotonlyto thinkclearly,buthehastoseethathismindisequippedwiththepropergeneralideastoformatrue frameworkforhiseverydayjudgmentsanddecisions.
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ItwastheGreatWarfirstbroughthometomehowignorantIwas,andhowillfinishedanduntidymy mind,aboutthemostimportantthingsoflife.Thatdisastrouswasteoflife,materialandhappiness, sinceitwaspracticallyworldwide,wasmanifestlytheoutcomeoftheprocessesthatconstitutethebulk ofhistory,andyetIfoundIdidnotknowandnobodyelseseemedtoknowhistoryinsuchafashion astobeabletoexplainhowtheGreatWarcameaboutorwhatoughttocomeoutofit.Versailles,we allseemtobeagreednowadays,wassilly,buthowcouldVersaillesbeanythingelsethanwhatitwasin viewoftheimperfect,lopsided,historicalknowledgeandtheconsequentsuspicion,emotion,and prejudiceofthosewhoassembledthere.Theydidnotknowanybetterthantherestofuswhatthewar was,andsohowcouldtheyknowwhatthepeaceoughttobe?IperceivedthatIwasinthesamecase witheveryoneelse,andIsetmyselffirstofallformyownguidancetomakeasummaryifallhistory andgetsomesortofmaptomoreserviceableconclusionsaboutthepoliticalstateofmankind.This summaryImadewasTheOutlineofHistory,ashamelesscompilationandarrangementofthemainfacts oftheworldstory,writtenwithoutatouchofartorelegance,writtenindeedinaconsiderablehurryand excitement,anditssale,whichisnowinthethirdmillion,showedhowmuchIhadincommonwitha greatdispersedcrowdofordinarypeople,allwantingtoknow,alldisgustedwiththepatriotic,litigious twaddlinggossipystuffgiventhemashistorybytheirschoolmastersandschoolmistresseswhichhad ledthemintothedisasterofthewar. TheOutlineofHistoryisnotawholehistoryoflife.Itsmainthemeisthegrowthofhuman intercommunicationandhumancommunitiesandtheirrulersandconflicts,thestoryofhowandwhy themyriadsoflittletribalsystemsoftenthousandyearsagohavefoughtandcoalescedintothesixtyor seventyoddgovernmentsoftodayandarenowstrainingandlabouringinthegripofforcesthatmust presentlyaccomplishtheirfinalunison.AndevenasIcompletedTheOutline,Irealizedthatthere remainedoutsideitsscopewiderandmorefundamental,andcloser,moreimmediatefieldsof knowledgewhichIstillhadtogetinorderformyownpracticalendsandtheendsoflikeminded peoplewhowantedtousetheirliveseffectively,ifmyexistencewastoescapefutility. IrealizedthatIdidnotknowenoughaboutthelifeinmybodyanditsrelationstotheworldoflifeand matteroutsideittocometoproperdecisionsaboutanumberofurgentmattersfromraceconflicts, birthcontrol,andmyprivatelife,tothepubliccontrolofhealthandtheconservationofnatural resources.Andalso,Ifound,Iwasastonishinglyignorantabouttheeverydaybusinessoflife,thehow andwhyoftheminerwhoprovidedthecoaltocookmydinner,andthebankerwhotookmymoneyin returnforachequebook,andtheshopkeeperfromwhomIboughtthings,andthepolicemanwhokept thestreetsinorderforme.YetIwasvotingforlawsaffectingmyrelationswiththesepeople,paying themdirectlyorindirectly,airingmyignorantopinionsaboutthem,andgenerallycontributingbymy behaviourtosustainandaffecttheirlives. SowiththeaidanddirectionoftwoverycompetentbiologistsIsettoworktogetoutasplainandclear astatementaspossibleofwhatwasknownaboutthesourcesandnatureoflifeandtherelationof speciestoindividualsandtootherspecies,andtheprocessesofconsciousnessandthought.ThisI publishedasTheScienceofLife.AndwhilethiswasgoingonIsetmyselftothetaskofmakingareview ofallhumanactivitiesinrelationtoeachother,theworkofpeopleandtheneedsofpeople,cultivation, manufacture,trade,direction,government,andall.Thiswasthemostdifficultpartofthisattempttoget arationalaccountofthemodernworld,anditcalledforthehelpandcounselofagreatvarietyof people.Ihadtoaskandfindsomegeneralanswertothequestion,Whatarethenineteenhundredodd millionhumanbeingswhoarealivetodaydoing,andhowandwhyaretheydoingit?Itwas,infact,
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anoutlineofeconomic,social,andpoliticalscience,butsince,afterTheOutlineofHistory,theword outlinehasbeenagooddealcheapenedbyvariousenterprisingpublishers,Ihavecalledit,TheWork, Wealth,andHappinessofMankind. Now,Ifind,bygettingthesethreecorrelatedcompilationsintoexistence,Ihaveatlast,inhowever roughafashion,broughttogetheracompletesystemofideasuponwhichanOpenConspiratorcango. BeforeanyonecouldhopetogetontoanythinglikeapracticalworkingdirectiveanswertoWhatare wetodowithourlives?itwasnecessarytoknowwhatourliveswereTheScienceofLife;whathadled uptotheirpresentpatternTheOutlineofHistory;andthisthirdbook,totellwhatwewereactuallydoing andsupposedtobedoingwithourworkinglives,daybyday,atthepresenttime.BythetimeIwas throughwiththesebooksIfeltIhadreallysomethingsoundandcomprehensivetogoupon,an ideology,aspeoplesay,onwhichitwaspossibletothinkofbuildinganewworldwithout fundamentalsurprises,and,moreover,thatIhadgotmymindstrippeddownandcleanedofmany illusionsandbadhabits,sothatitcouldhandlelifewithanassuranceithadneverknownbefore. Thereisnothingmarvellousaboutthesecompilationsofmine.Anysteadywriterofaverageintelligence withthesamewillandthesameresources,whocoulddevoteaboutnineortenyearstothetaskandget thePropersortofhelp,couldhavemadethem.Itcanbedone,itisnodoubtbeingdone,alloveragain byotherpeople,forthemselvesandperhapsforothers,muchmorebeautifullyandadequately.Butto getthatamountofvisionandknowledge,toachievethatgeneralarrangementandunderstanding,wasa necessaryconditionthathadtobesatisfiedbeforeanyanswertothequestion,Whatarewetodowith ourlives?couldevenbeattempted,andbeforeonecouldbecomeinanyeffectivewayanOpen Conspirator. Thereisnothingindispensableevennow,Irepeat,aboutthesethreeparticularbooks.Iknowabout themandrefertothembecauseIputthemtogethermyselfandsotheyarehandyformetoexplain myself.Butmostofwhattheycontaincanbeextractedfromanygoodencyclopdia.Manypeoplehave madetheirownoutlinesofhistoryforthemselves,havereadwidely,graspedtheleadingprinciplesof biologyandgrappledwiththecurrentliteratureofbusinessscienceanddonotintheleastneedmy particularsummary.Sofarashistoryandbiologyareconcernedthereareparallelbooks,thatareas goodandserviceable.Butevenforhighlyeducatedpeoplethesesummariesmaybeusefulinbringing thingsknownwithdifferentdegreesofthoroughness,intoageneralscheme.Theycorrelate,andtheyfill upgaps.Betweenthemtheycovertheground;andthatgroundhastobecoveredbeforethemindofa moderncitizenispreparedtotackletheproblemsthatconfrontit.Otherwiseheisanincapablecitizen, hedoesnotknowwhereheisandwheretheworldis,andifheisrichorinfluentialhemaybeavery dangerouscitizen.Presentlytherewillbefarbettercompilationstomeetthisneed,orperhapsthegist ofallthethreedivisionsofknowledge,concentratedandmademorelucidandattractive,maybe availableastheintellectualframeofmoderneducationthroughouttheworld,asaGeneralAccountof Lifethatshouldbegiventoeveryone. Butcertainlynoonecanpossiblysetaboutlivingproperlyandsatisfactorilyunlessheknowswhathe is,whereheis,andhowhestandstothepeopleandthingsabouthim.
IV THEREVOLUTIONINEDUCATION
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Somesortofreckoningthereforebetweenpeopleawakenedtothenewworldthatdawnsaboutusand theschools,colleges,andmachineryofformaleducationisoverdue.Asabodytheeducatedaregetting nothinglikethatAccountofLifewhichisneededtodirectourconductinthismodernworld. Itisthecrowningabsurdityintheworldtodaythattheseinstitutionsshouldgothroughasolemn paradeofpreparingthenewgenerationforlifeandthatthen,afterwards,aminorityoftheirvictims, findingthispreparationhasleftthemalmosttotallyunprepared,shouldhaveoftheirownaccordto struggleoutofourworldheapofstarvedanddistortedmindstosomesortofrealeducation.Theworld cannotberunbysuchaminorityofescapedandreeducatedmindsalone,withalltherestoftheheap againstthem.Ournecessitiesdemandtheintelligenceandservicesofeveryonewhocanbetrainedto givethem.Thenewworlddemandsnewschools,therefore,togiveeveryoneasoundandthorough mentaltrainingandequipeveryonewithclearideasabouthistory,aboutlife,andaboutpoliticaland economicrelationshipsinsteadoftherubbishyheadcontentatpresentprevalent.Theoldworld teachersandschoolshavetobereformedorreplaced.Avigorouseducationalreformmovementarises asanaturalandnecessaryexpressionoftheawakeningOpenConspirator.Arevolutionineducationis themostimperativeandfundamentalpartoftheadaptationoflifetoitsnewconditions. ThesevariouscompendiaofknowledgeconstitutingaModernAccountofLife,onwhichwehavelaid stressintheprevioussection,thesesupplementstoteaching,whicharenowproducedandreadoutside theestablishedformaleducationalworldandintheteethofitsmanifesthostility,arisebecauseofthe backwardnessofthatworld,andasthatworldyieldsslowlybutsurelytothepressureofthenewspirit, sotheywillpermeateandreplaceitstextbooksanddisappearasaseparateclassofbook.The educationthesenewdangeroustimesinwhichwearenowlivingdemands,muststartright,fromthe beginningandtheremustbenothingtoreplaceandnothingtorelearninit.Beforewecantalkpolitics, finance,business,ormorals,wemustseethatwehavegottherightmentalhabitsandtheright foundationofrealizedfacts.Thereisnothingmuchtobedonewithourlivesuntilwehaveseentothat.
V RELIGIONINTHENEWWORLD
Yes,objectsareader,butdoesnotourreligiontelluswhatwearetodowithourlives? Wehavetobringreligion,asafundamentalmatter,intothisdiscussion.Fromourpresentpointofview, religionisthatcentralessentialpartofeducationwhichdeterminesconduct.Religioncertainlyshould telluswhattodowithourlives.Butinthevaststirandoccasionsofmodernlife,somuchofwhatwe callreligionremainsirrelevantordumb.Religiondoesnotseemtojoinontothemainpartsofthe generalproblemofliving.Ithaslosttouch. LetustryandbringthisproblemoftheOpenConspiracytomeetandmakethenewworld,intorelation withthetraditionsofreligion.TheclearmindedOpenConspiratorwhohasgothismodernideology, hislucidlyarrangedaccountoftheuniverseinorder,isobligedtobelievethatonlybygivinghislifeto thegreatprocessesofsocialreconstruction,andshapinghisconductwithreferencetothat,canhedo wellwithhislife.Butthatmerelylauncheshimintothemostsubtleandunendingofstruggles,the struggleagainsttheincessantgravitationofourintereststoourselves.Hehastolivethebroadlifeand escapefromtheclosenarrowlife.Wealltrytoattainthedignityandhappinessofmagnanimityand escapefromthetormentingurgenciesofpersonaldesire.Inthepastthatstrugglehasgenerallyassumed
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theformofareligiousstruggle.Religionistheantagonistofself. Intheircompleteness,inthelifethatwasprofessionallyreligious,religionshavealwaysdemandedgreat subordinationsofself.Thereinlaytheircreativeforce.Theydemandeddevotionandgavereasonsfor thatdemand.Theydisentangledthewillfromtheegotisticalpreoccupations,oftenverycompletely. Thereisnosuchthingasaselfcontainedreligion,aprivatereligioussolo.Certainformsof Protestantismandsomemysticaltypescomeneartomakingreligionsecludedduetbetweenthe individualandhisdivinity,butherethatmayberegardedasaperversionofthereligiousimpulse.Just asthenormalsexualcomplexexcitesandstirstheindividualoutofhisegotismtoservetheendsofthe race,sothenormalreligiousprocesstakestheindividualoutofhisegotismfortheserviceofthe community.Itisnotabargain,asocialcontract,betweentheindividualandthecommunity;itisa subordinationofboththeexistingindividualandtheexistingcommunityinrelationtosomething,a divinity,adivineorder,astandard,arighteousness,moreimportantthaneither.Whatiscalledinthe phraseologyofcertainreligionsconvictionofsinandtheflightfromtheCityofDestructionare familiarinstancesofthisreferenceoftheselfcentredindividualandthecurrentsociallifetosomething farbetterthaneithertheoneortheother. Thisisthethirdelementinthereligiousrelationship,ahope,apromise,anobjectivewhichturnsthe convertnotonlyfromhimselfbutfromtheworld,asitis,towardsbetterthings.Firstcomesself disregardthenservice,andthenthisreconstructivecreativeurgency. Forthefinersortofmindthisaspectofreligionseemsalwaystohavebeenitsprimaryattraction.One hastorememberthatthereisarealwillforreligionscatteredthroughoutmankindarealdesiretoget awayfromself.Religionhasneverpursueditsdistinctivevotaries;theyhavecometomeetit.The desiretogiveoneselftogreaterendsthantheeverydaylifeaffords,andtogiveoneselffreely,isclearly dominantinthatminority,andtraceableinanincalculableproportionofthemajority. Buthithertoreligionhasneverbeenpresentedsimplyasadevotiontoauniversalcause.Thedevotion hasalwaysbeeninit,butithasbeencomplicatedbyotherconsiderations.Theleadersineverygreat religiousmovementhaveconsidereditnecessarythatitshouldexplainitselfintheformofhistoryanda cosmogony.IthasbeenfeltnecessarytosayWhy?andTowhatend?Everyreligionthereforehashadto adoptthephysicalconceptions,andusuallyalsotoassumemanyofthemoralandsocialvalues,current atthetimeofitsformation.Itcouldnottranscendthephilosophicalphrasesandattitudesthatseemed thentosupplythenaturalframeforafaith,nordrawuponanythingbeyondthestoreofscientific knowledgeofitstime.Inthislurkedtheseedsoftheultimatedecayandsupersessionofevery successivereligion. Butastheideaofcontinualchange,goingfartherandfartherfromexistingrealitiesandneverreturning tothem,isanewone,asnobodyuntilveryrecentlyhasgraspedthefactthattheknowledgeoftodayis theignoranceoftomorrow,eachfreshdevelopmentofreligionintheworldsofarhasbeenproclaimed inperfectgoodfaithastheculminatingandfinaltruth. Thisfinalityofstatementhasconsiderableimmediatepracticalvalue.Thesuggestionofthepossibility offurtherrestatementisanunsettlingsuggestion;itunderminesconvictionandbreakstheranksofthe believers,becausethereareenormousvariationsinthecapacitiesofmentorecognizethesamespirit underachangingshape.Thesevariationscauseendlessdifficultiestoday.Whilesomeintelligencescan recognizethesameGodunderavarietyofnamesandsymbolswithoutanyseverestrain,otherscannot
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evendetectthemostcontrastedGodsonefromtheotherprovidedtheywearthesamemaskandtitleIt appearsaperfectlynaturalandreasonablethingtomanymindstorestatereligionnowintermsof biologicalandpsychologicalnecessity,whiletoothersanyvariationwhateverinthephrasingofthe faithseemstobenothinglessthanatheisticalmisrepresentationsofthemostdamnablekind.Forthese latterGodaGodstillanthropomorphicenoughtohaveawillandpurposetodisplaypreferencesand reciprocateemotions,tobeindeedinperson,mustberetaineduntiltheendoftime.Forothers,Godcan bethoughtofasaGreatFirstCause,asimpersonalandinhumanasatomicstructure. Itisbecauseofthehistoricalandphilosophicalcommitmentstheyhaveundertaken,andbecauseof concessionsmadetocommonhumanweaknessesinregardtosuchonceapparentlyminorbutnowvital moralissuesasproperty,mentalactivity,andpublicveracityratherthanofanyinadequacyintheir adaptationtopsychologicalneedsthatthepresentwidediscreditoforganizedreligionshascome about.Theynolongerseemevenroughlytruthfuluponissuesoffact,andtheygivenoimperatives overlargefieldsofconductinwhichperplexityisprevalent.Peoplewillsay,Icouldbeperfectly happyleadingthelifeofaCatholicdevoteeifonlyIcouldbelieve.Butmostoftheframeworkof religiousexplanationuponwhichthatlifeissustainedistoooldfashionedandtooirrelevanttoadmit ofthatthoroughnessofbeliefwhichisnecessaryforthedevotionofintelligentpeople. Greatingenuityhasbeenshownbymodernwritersandthinkersintheadaptationofveneratedreligious expressionstonewideas.Peccavi.HaveInotwrittenofthecreativewillinhumanityasGodthe InvisibleKingandpresenteditinthefigureofayouthfulandadventurousfinitegod? ThewordGodisinmostmindssoassociatedwiththeconceptofreligionthatitisabandonedonly withthegreatestreluctance.Thewordremains,thoughtheideaiscontinuallyattenuated.Respectfor HimdemandsthatHeshouldhavenolimitations.Heispushedfartherandfartherfromactuality, therefore,andHisdefinitionbecomesincreasinglyabundleofnegations,untilatlast,inHisrleofThe Absolute,Hebecomesanentirelynegativeexpression.Whilewecanspeakofgood,saysome,can speakofGod.Godisthepossibilityofgoodness,thegoodsideofthings.Ifphrasesinwhichthename ofGodisusedaretobeabandoned,theyargue,religionwillbeleftspeechlessbeforemanyoccasions. Certainlythereissomethingbeyondtheindividualthatisandtheworldthatis;onthatwehavealready insistedasacharacteristicofallreligions;thatpersuasionistheessenceoffaithandthekeytocourage. Butwhetherthatistobeconsidered,evenafterthemoststrenuousexercisesinpersonification,asa greaterpersonoracomprehensiveperson,isanothermatter.Personalityisthelastvestigeof anthropomorphism.Themodernurgetoapreciseveracityisagainstsuchconcessionstotraditional expression. Ontheotherhandthereisinmanyfinereligiousmindsadesireamountingalmosttoanecessityforan objectofdevotionsoindividualizedastobecapableatleastofareceptiveconsciousnessevenifno definiteresponseisconceded.Onetypeofmindcanacceptarealityinitselfwhichanothermustproject anddramatizebeforeitcancomprehenditandreacttoit.Thehumansoulisanintricatethingwhich willnotendureelucidationwhenthatpassesbeyondacertaindegreeofharshnessandroughness.The humanspirithaslearntlove,devotion,obedienceandhumilityinrelationtootherpersonalities,and withdifficultyittakesthefinalsteptoatranscendentsubordination,fromwhichthelastshredof personalityhasstripped. Inmattersnotimmediatelymaterial,languagehastoworkbymetaphors,andthougheverymetaphor
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carriesitsownpeculiarrisksofconfusion,wecannotdowithoutthem.Greatintellectualtoleranceis necessary,thereforeacultivateddispositiontotranslateandretranslatefromonemetaphysicalor emotionalidiomtoanotherifthereisnottobeadeplorablewastageofmoralforceinourworld.Just nowIwrotePeccavibecauseIhadwrittenGodtheInvisibleKing,butafterallIdonotthinkitwasso muchasintousethatphrase,GodtheInvisibleKing,asanerrorinexpression.Ifthereisno sympatheticpersonalleaderoutsideus,thereisatleastinustheattitudeweshouldadopttowardsa sympatheticpersonalleader. Threeprofounddifferencesbetweenthenewmentaldispositionsofthepresenttimeandthoseof precedingageshavetoberealizedifcurrentdevelopmentsofthereligiousimpulsearetobeseenin theircorrectrelationshiptothereligiouslifeofthepast.Therehasbeenagreatadvanceintheanalysis ofpsychicprocessesandthecouragewithwhichmenhaveprobedintotheoriginsofhumanthought andfeeling.Followinguponthebiologicaladvancesthathavemadeusrecognizefishandamphibianin thebodilystructureofman,havecometheseparalleldevelopmentsinwhichweseeelementalfearand lustandselflovemoulded,modified,andexalted,underthestressofsocialprogress,intointricate humanmotives.Ourconceptionofsinandourtreatmentofsinhavebeenprofoundlymodifiedbythis analysis.Ourformersinsareseenasignorances,inadequaciesandbadhabits,andthemoralconflictis robbedofthreefourthsofitsegocentredmelodramaticquality.Wearenolongermovedtobeless wicked;wearemovedtoorganizeourconditionedreflexesandleadalifelessfragmentaryandsilly. Secondly,theconceptionofindividualityhasbeeninfluencedandrelaxedbybiologicalthought,sothat wedonotthinksoreadilyoftheindividualcontramundumasourfathersdid.Webegintorealizethat weareegotistsbymisapprehension.Naturecheatstheselftoservethepurposesofthespeciesbyfilling itwithwantsthatwaragainstitsprivateinterests.Asoureyesareopenedtothesethings,wesee ourselvesasbeingsgreaterorlessthanthedefinitiveself.Manssoulisnolongerhisown.Itis,he discovers,partofagreaterbeingwhichlivedbeforehewasbornandwillsurvivehim.Theideaofa survivalofthedefiniteindividualwithalltheaccidentsandidiosyncrasiesofhistemporalnatureupon himdissolvestonothinginthisnewviewofimmortality. Thethirdofthemaincontrastsbetweenmodernandformerthoughtwhichhaverenderedthegeneral shapesofestablishedreligionoldfashionedandunserviceableisareorientationofcurrentideasabout time.Thepowerfuldispositionofthehumanmindtoexplaineverythingastheinevitableunfoldingofa pasteventwhich,sotospeak,sweepsthefuturehelplesslybeforeit,hasbeencheckedbyamassof subtlecriticisms.Theconceptionofprogressasabroadeningandincreasingpurpose,aconception whichistakingholdofthehumanimaginationmoreandmorefirmly,turnsreligiouslifetowardsthe future.Wethinknolongerofsubmissiontotheirrevocabledecreesofabsolutedominion,butof participationinanadventureonbehalfofapowerthatgainsstrengthandestablishesitself.Thehistory ofourworld,whichhasbeenunfoldedtousbyscience,runscountertoallthehistoriesonwhich religionshavebeenbased.TherewasnoCreationinthepast,webegintorealize,buteternallythereis creation;therewasnoFalltoaccountfortheconflictofgoodandevil,butastormyascent.Lifeaswe knowitisamerebeginning. Itseemsunavoidablethatifreligionistodevelopunifyinganddirectivepowerinthepresentconfusion ofhumanaffairsitmustadaptitselftothisforwardlooking,individualityanalyzingturnofmind;it mustdivestitselfofitssacredhistories,itsgrosspreoccupations,itsposthumousprolongationof personalends.Thedesireforservice,forsubordination,forpermanenteffect,foranescapefromthedistressful
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pettinessandmortalityoftheindividuallife,istheundyingelementineveryreligioussystem. Thetimehascometostripreligionrightdowntothat,tostripitforgreatertasksthanithaseverfaced before.Thehistoriesandsymbolsthatservedourfathersencumberanddivideus.Sacramentsand ritualsharbourdisputesandwasteourscantyemotions.Theexplanationofwhythingsareisanunnecessary effortinreligion.Theessentialfactinreligionisthedesireforreligionandnothowitcameabout.Ifyou donotwantreligion,nopersuasions,noconvictionsaboutyourplaceintheuniversecangiveittoyou. Thefirstsentenceinthemoderncreedmustbe,notIbelieve,butIgivemyself. Towhat?Andhow?Tothesequestionswewillnowaddressourselves.
VI MODERNRELIGIONISOBJECTIVE
Togiveoneselfreligiouslyisacontinuingoperationexpressedinaseriesofacts.Itcanbenothingelse. Youcannotdedicateyourselfandthengoawaytolivejustasyouhavelivedbefore.Itisapoortravesty ofreligionthatdoesnotproduceanessentialchangeinthelifewhichembracesit.Butintheestablished andolderreligionsofourrace,thischangeofconducthasinvolvedmuchselfabasementmerelytothe GodorGods,ormuchselfmortificationmerelywithaviewtothemoralperfectingofself.Christian devotion,forexample,intheseearlystages,beforethehermitlifegaveplacetoorganizedmonasticlife, didnottoanyextentdirectitselftoserviceexceptthespiritualserviceofotherhumanbeings.Butas Christianitybecameadefinitesocialorganizingforce,ittookonagreatseriesofhealing,comforting, helping,andeducationalactivities. Themoderntendencyhasbeenandisallinthedirectionofminimizingwhatonemightcallselfcentred devotionandselfsubjugation,andofexpandinganddevelopingexternalservice.Theideaofinner perfectibilitydwindleswiththediminishingimportanceattachedtoindividuality.Weceasetothinkof mortifyingorexaltingorperfectingourselvesandseektoloseourselvesinagreaterlife.Wethinkless andlessofconqueringselfandmoreandmoreofescapingfromself.Ifweattempttoperfectourselves inanyrespectitisonlyasasoldiersharpensandpolishesanessentialweapon. Ourquickenedapprehensionofcontinuingchange,ourbroaderandfullervisionofthehistoryoflife, disabuseourmindsofmanylimitationssettotheimaginationsofourpredecessors.Muchthattheysaw asfixedanddeterminate,weseeastransitoryandcontrollable.Theysawlifefixedinitsspeciesand subjectedtoirrevocablelaws.Weseelifestrugglinginsecurelybutwithagatheringsuccessfulnessfor freedomandpoweragainstrestrictionanddeath.Weseelifecomingatlasttoourtragicandhopeful humanlevel.Unprecedentedpossibilities,mightyproblems,werealize,confrontmankindtoday.They frameourexistences.Thepracticalaspect,thematerialform,theembodimentofthemodernized religiousimpulseisthedirectionofthewholelifetothesolutionoftheseproblemsandtherealization oftheirpossibilities.Thealternativebeforemannowiseithermagnificenceofspiritandmagnificenceof achievement,ordisaster. Themodernreligiouslife,likeallformsofreligiouslife,mustneedshaveitsownsubtleanddeepinner activities,itsmeditations,itsselfconfrontations,itsphasesofstressandsearchandappeal,itsserene andprayerfulmoods,buttheseinwardaspectsdonotcomeintothescopeofthispresentinquiry,which isconcernedentirelywiththeoutwardshape,thedirection,andtheorganizationofmodernreligious effort,withthequestionofwhat,givenreligiousdevotion,wehavetodoandhowthathastobedone.
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Now,inthenewandgreateruniversetowhichweareawakening,itsimmensepossibilitiesfurnishan entirelynewframeandsettingforthemorallife.Inthefixedandlimitedoutlookofthepast,practical goodworkstooktheformmainlyofpalliativemeasuresagainstevilsthatwereconceivedofas incurable;thereligiouscommunitynursedthesick,fedthehungry,providedsanctuaryforthefugitive, pleadedwiththepowerfulformercy.Itdidnotdreamofpreventingsickness,famine,ortyranny.Other worldlinesswasitsreadyrefugefromtheinvincibleevilandconfusionoftheexistingschemeofthings. Butitispossiblenowtoimagineanorderinhumanaffairsfromwhichtheseevilshavebeenlargelyor entirelyeliminated.Moreandmorepeoplearecomingtorealizethatsuchanorderisamaterial possibility.Andwiththerealizationthatthisisamaterialpossibility,wecannolongerbecontentwitha fieldofgooddeedsandrightactionrestrictedtopalliativeandconsolatoryactivities.Suchthingsare merelyfirstaid.Thereligiousmindgrowsbolderthanithaseverbeenbefore.Itpushesthroughthe curtainitonceimaginedwasabarrier.Itapprehendsitslargerobligations.Thewayinwhichour activitiesconducetotherealizationofthatconceivablebetterorderinhumanaffairs,becomesthenew criterionofconduct.Otherworldlinesshasbecomeunnecessary. Therealizationofthispossiblebetterorderbringsusatoncetocertaindefinitelinesofconduct.We havetomakeanendtowar,andtomakeanendtowarwemustbecosmopolitaninourpolitics.Itis impossibleforanyclearheadedpersontosupposethattheevermoredestructivestupiditiesofwarcan beeliminatedfromhumanaffairsuntilsomecommonpoliticalcontroldominatestheearth,andunless certainpressuresduetothegrowthofpopulation,duetotheenlargingscopeofeconomicoperationsor duetoconflictingstandardsandtraditionsoflife,aredisposedof. Toavoidthepositiveevilsofwarandtoattainthenewlevelsofprosperityandpowerthatnowcome intoview,aneffectiveworldcontrol,notmerelyofarmedforce,butoftheproductionandmain movementsofstaplecommoditiesandthedriftandexpansionofpopulationisrequired.Itisabsurdto dreamofpeaceandworldwideprogresswithoutthatmuchcontrol.Thesethingsassuredtheabilities andenergiesofagreatlyincreasedproportionofhumanbeingscouldbedivertedtothehappy activitiesofscientificresearchandcreativework,withaneverincreasingreleaseandenlargementof humanpossibility.Onthepoliticalsideitisplainthatourlivesmustbegiventotheadvancementof thatunion. Suchaforwardstrideinhumanlife,thefirststrideinamightycontinuingadvance,anadvancetowhich nolimitappears,isnownotsimplymateriallypossible.Itisurgent.Theopportunityisplainbefore mankind.Itisthealternativetosocialdecay.Butthereisnocertainty,nomaterialnecessity,thatit shouldeverbetaken.Itwillnotbetakenbymankindinadvertently.Itcanonlybetakenthroughsuch anorganizationofwillandenergytotakeitasthisworldhasneverseenbefore. Thesearethenewimperativesthatunfoldthemselvesbeforethemorealertmindsofourgeneration. Theywillpresentlybecomethegeneralmentalbackground,asthemoderninterpretationsofthehistory oflifeandofthematerialandmentalpossibilitiesaboutusestablishthemselves.Evilpolitical,social, andeconomicusagesandarrangementsmayseemobdurateandhuge,buttheyareneitherpermanent noruncontrollable.Theycanbecontrolled,however,onlybyaneffortmorepowerfulanddetermined thantheinstinctsandinertiasthatsustainthem.Religion,modernanddisillusioned,hasforitsoutward tasktosetitselftothecontrolanddirectionofpolitical,social,andeconomiclife.Ifitdoesnotdothat, thenitisnomorethanadrugforeasingdiscomfort,theopiumofthepeoples.
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Canreligion,orcanitnot,synthesizetheneededefforttoliftmankindoutofourpresentdisorders, dangers,baseness,frustrations,andfutilitiestoaphaseofrelativesecurity,accumulatingknowledge, systematicandcontinuinggrowthinpowerandthewidespread,deephappinessofhopefuland increasinglife? Ouranswerhereisthatthereligiousspirit,inthelightofmodernknowledge,candothisthing,andour subjectnowistoenquirewhatarethenecessaryopeningstagesinthesynthesisofthateffort.Wewrite, fromthispointonward,forthosewhobelievethatitcan,andwhodoalreadygrasptheimplicationsof worldhistoryandcontemporaryscientificachievement.
VII WHATMANKINDHASTODO
Beforewecanconsidertheformsandmethodsofattackingthisinevitabletaskofreconstructionitwill bewelltodrawthemainlinesandtoattemptsomemeasureofthemagnitudeofthattask.Whatarethe newformsthatitisthusproposedtoimposeuponhumanlife,andhowaretheytobeevolvedfromor imposeduponthecurrentforms?Andagainstwhatpassiveandactiveresistanceshasthistobedone? Therecanbenopauseforreplacementintheaffairsoflife.Daymustfollowday,andthecommon activitiescontinue.Thenewworldasagoingconcernmustariseoutoftheoldasagoingconcern. Nowthemostcomprehensiveconceptionofthisnewworldisofonepolitically,socially,and economicallyunified.Withinthatframefallalltheotherideasofourprogressiveambition.Tothisend wesetourfacesandseektodirectourlives.Manythereareatpresentwhoapprehenditasapossibility butdonotdare,itseems,todesireit,becauseoftheenormousdifficultiesthatintervene,andbecause theyseeasyetnointimationsofawaythroughorroundthesedifficulties.Theydonotseeawayof escapefromthepatchworkofgovernmentsthatgripsthemanddividesmankind.Thegreatmajorityof humanbeingshavestilltoseethehumanadventureasonewhole;theyareobsessedbytheairof permanenceandfinalityinestablishedthings;theyacceptcurrentrealityasultimatereality.Asthe sayinggoes,theytaketheworldastheyfindit. Butherewearewritingforthemodernminded,andforthemitisimpossibletothinkoftheworldas secureandsatisfactoryuntilthereexistsasingleworldcommonweal,preventingwarandcontrolling thosemoral,biological,andeconomicforcesandwastagesthatwouldotherwiseleadtowars.And controllingtheminthesensethatscienceandmansrealizationandcontrolofhispowersand possibilitiescontinuallyincrease. Letusmakeclearwhatsortofgovernmentwearetryingtosubstituteforthepatchworkoftoday.Itwill beanewsortofdirectionwithanewpsychology.Themethodofdirectionofsuchaworldcommonweal isnotlikelytoimitatethemethodsofexistingsovereignstates.Itwillbesomethingnewandaltogether different. Thispointisnotyetgenerallyrealized.Itistoooftenassumedthattheworldcommonwealwillbe,asit were,justtheoneheirandsurvivorofexistingstates,andthatitwillbeasortofmegatheriumofthe sameformandanatomyasitspredecessors. Butalittlereflectionwillshowthatthisisamistake.Existingstatesareprimarilymilitantstates,anda
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worldstatecannotbemilitant.Therewillbelittleneedforpresidentorkingtoleadthemarshalled hostsofhumanity,forwherethereisnowarthereisnoneedofanyleadertoleadhostsanywhere,and inapolyglotworldaparliamentofmankindoranysortofcouncilthatmeetsandtalksisan inconceivableinstrumentofgovernment.Thevoicewillceasetobeasuitablevehicle.World government,likescientificprocess,willbeconductedbystatement,criticism,andpublicationthatwill becapableofefficienttranslation. Thefundamentalorganizationofcontemporarystatesisplainlystillmilitary,andthatisexactlywhata worldorganizationcannotbe.Flags,uniforms,nationalanthems,patriotismsedulouslycultivatedin churchandschool,thebrag,blare,andblusterofourcompetingsovereignties,belongtothephaseof developmenttheOpenConspiracywillsupersede.Wehavetogetclearofthatclutter.Thereasonable desireofallofusisthatweshouldhavethecollectiveaffairsoftheworldmanagedbysuitably equippedgroupsofthemostinterested,intelligent,anddevotedpeople,andthattheiractivitiesshould besubjectedtoafree,open,watchfulcriticism,restrainedfrommakingspasmodicinterruptionsbut powerfulenoughtomodifyorsupersedewithouthasteordelaywhateverisweakeningor unsatisfactoryinthegeneraldirection. Anumberofreaderswillbedisposedtosaythatthisisaveryvague,undefined,andcomplicated conceptionofworldgovernment.Butindeeditisasimplification.Notonlyarethepresentgovernments oftheworldafragmentarycompetitiveconfusion,butnoneofthemisassimpleasitappears.They seemtobesimplebecausetheyhaveformalheadsanddefiniteforms,councils,votingassemblies,and soforth,forarrivingatdecisions.Buttheformalheads,thekings,presidents,andsoforth,arereallynot thedirectiveheads.Theyaremerelythefigureheads.Theydonotdecide.Theymerelymakegestures ofpotentanddignifiedacquiescencewhendecisionsareputtothem.Theyarecomplicatingshams.Nor dothecouncilsandassembliesreallydecide.Theyrecord,oftenveryimperfectlyandexasperatingly, theaccumulatingpurposeofouterforces.Theseouterreallydirectiveforcesarenodoubtveryintricate intheiroperation;theydependfinallyonreligiousandeducationalformsanduponwavesof gregariousfeeling,butitdoesnotintheleastsimplifytheprocessofcollectivehumanactivityto pretendthatitissimpleandtosetupsymbolsanddummiesintheguiseofrulersanddictatorsto embodythatpretence.Torecognizetheincurableintricacyofcollectiveactionisamentalsimplification; toremainsatisfiedwiththepretensionsofexistinggovernmentalinstitutions,andtobringinallthe problemsoftheirprocedureandinteractionistocomplicatethequestion. Thepresentrudimentarydevelopmentofcollectivepsychologyobligesustobevagueandprovisional aboutthewayinwhichthecollectivemindmaybestdefineitswillforthepurposeofadministrative action.Wemayknowthatathingispossibleandstillbeunabletodoitasyet,justasweknewthat aviationwaspossiblein1900.Somemethodofdecisiontheremustcertainlybeandadefinite administrativemachinery.Butitmayturnouttobeamuchslighter,lesselaborateorganizationthana considerationofexistingmethodsmightleadustoimagine.Itmayneverbecomeonesingle interlockingadministrativesystem.Wemayhavesystemsofworldcontrolratherthanasingleworld state.Thepracticalregulations,enforcements,andofficialsneededtokeeptheworldingoodhealth,for examplemaybeonlyverylooselyrelatedtothesystemofcontrolsthatwillmaintainits communicationsinastateofefficiency.Enforcementandlegaldecisions,asweknowthemnow,maybe foundtobeenormouslyandneedlesslycumbrousbyourdescendants.Asthereasonablenessofathing ismadeplain,theneedforitsenforcementisdiminished,andthenecessityforlitigationdisappears.
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TheOpenConspiracy,theworldmovementforthesupercessionorenlargementorfusionofexisting political,economic,andsocialinstitutionsmustnecessarily,asitgrows,drawcloserandcloserto questionsofpracticalcontrol.Itislikelyinitsgrowthtoincorporatemanyactivepublicservantsand manyindustrialandfinancialleadersanddirectors.Itmayassimilategreatmassesofintelligent workers.Asitsactivitiesspreaditwillworkoutawholesystemofspecialmethodsofcooperation.As itgrows,andbygrowing,itwilllearnthebusinessofgeneraldirectionandhowtodevelopitscritical function.Alucid,dispassionate,andimmanentcriticismistheprimarynecessity,thelivingspiritofa worldcivilization.TheOpenConspiracyisessentiallysuchacriticism,andthecarryingoutofsucha criticismintoworkingrealityisthetaskoftheOpenConspiracy.Itwillbyitsverynaturebeaimingnot somuchtosetupaworlddirection,astobecomeitselfaworlddirection,andtheeducationaland militantformsofitsopeningphasewillevoke,stepbystep,asexperienceisgainedandpowerand responsibilityacquired,formsofadministrationandresearchandcorrelation. Thedifferencesinnatureandfunctionbetweentheworldcontrolsofthefutureandthestate governmentsofthepresentagewhichwehavejustpointedoutfavoursahopethattheOpen Conspiracymaycometoitsowninmanycasesratherbythefadingoutofthesestategovernments throughtheinhibitionandparalysisoftheirdestructivemilitantandcompetitiveactivitiesthanbya directconflicttooverthrowthem.Asnewworldcontrolsdevelop,itbecomesthesupremebusinessof theOpenConspiracytokeepthemworldwideandimpartial,tosavethembyanincessantcritical educationalandpropagandistactivityfromentanglementwiththeoldtraditionalrivalriesandfeudsof statesandnations.Itisquitepossiblethatsuchworldcontrolsshouldbeabletodevelop independently,butitishighlyprobable,ontheotherhand,thattheywillcontinuetobeentangledas theyaretoday,andthattheywillneedtobedisengagedwithastruggle.Werepeat,thenewdirective organizationsofmensaffairswillnotbeofthesamenatureasoldfashionedgovernments.Theywillbe intheirnaturebiological,financial,andgenerallyeconomic,andtheoldgovernmentswereprimarily nothingofthesort.Theirdirectiveforcewillbe(1)aneffectivecriticismhavingthequalityofscience, and(2)thegrowingwillinmentohavethingsright.Thedirectiveforceoftheoldergovernmentswas theuncriticizedfantasiesandwilfulnessofanindividual,aclass,atribe,oramajority. Themodernizationofthereligiousimpulseleadsusstraighttothiseffortfortheestablishmentofthe worldstateasaduty,andthecloseconsiderationofthenecessaryorganizationofthateffortwillbring thereadertotheconclusionthatamovementaimingattheestablishmentofaworlddirectorate, howeverrestrictedthatmovementmaybeatfirstinnumbersandpower,musteithercontemplatethe prospectofitselfdevelopingintoaworlddirectorate,andbythedigestionandassimilationof supersededfactorsintoanentiremodernworldcommunity,oradmitfromtheoutsetthefutility,the sparetimeamateurishness,ofitsgestures.
VIII BROADCHARACTERISTICSOFASCIENTIFICWORLDCOMMONWEAL
Continuingourexaminationofthepracticaltaskbeforethemodernmind,wemaynextnotethemain linesofcontemporaryaspirationwithinthiscomprehensiveoutlineofaworldcommonweal.Anysortof unificationofhumanaffairswillnotservetheendsweseek.Weaimataparticularsortofunification;a worldCaesarishardlybetterfromtheprogressiveviewpointthanworldchaos;theunityweseekmust meanaworldwideliberationofthought,experimentandcreativeeffort.
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AsuccessfulOpenConspiracymerelytoseizegovernmentsandwieldandretainworldpowerwould beatbestonlytheemptyframeofsuccess.Itmightbetheexactreverseofsuccess.Releasefromthe threatofwarandfromthewasteofinternationaleconomicconflictsisapoorreleaseifitdemandsasits pricethelossofallotherliberties. Itisbecausewedesireaunificationofhumandirection,notsimplyforthesakeofunity,butasameans ofreleasetohappinessandpower,thatitisnecessary,atanycostindelay,inlossofeffectiveforce,in strategicortacticaldisadvantagethatthelightoffree,abundantcriticismshouldplayuponthat directionanduponthemovementsandunifyingorganizationsleadingtotheestablishmentofthat unifyingdirection. Manisanimperfectanimalandneverquitetrustworthyinthedark.Neithermorallynorintellectuallyis hesafefromlapses.Mostofuswhoarepastourfirstyouthknowhowlittlewecantrustourselvesand gladtohaveouractivitiescheckedandguardedbyasenseofhelpfulinspection.Itisforthisreasonthat amovementtorealizetheconceivablebetterstateoftheworldmustdenyitselftheadvantagesofsecret methodsandtacticalinsincerities.Itmustleavethattoitsadversaries.Wemustdeclareourendplainly fromtheoutsetandrisknomisunderstandingsofourprocedure. TheOpenConspiracyagainstthetraditionalandnowcrampinganddangerousinstitutionsoftheworld mustbeanOpenConspiracyandcannotremainrighteousotherwise.Itislostifitgoesunderground. Everysteptoworldunitymustbetakeninthedaylightwiththeunderstandingsympathyofasmany peopleaspossible,orthesortofunitythatwillbewonwillbefoundtobescarcelyworththewinning. Theessentialtaskwouldhavetoberecommencedagainwithinthemereframeofunitythusattained. Thiscandidattempttotakepossessionofthewholeworld,thisOpenConspiracyofours,mustbemade inthenameofandforthesakeofscienceandcreativeactivity.Itsaimistoreleasescienceandcreative activityandeverystageinthestrugglemustbewatchedandcriticized,lesttherebeanysacrificeof theseendstotheexigenciesofconflict. Thesecurityofcreativeprogressandcreativeactivityimpliesacompetentregulationoftheeconomic lifeinthecollectiveinterest.Theremustbefood,shelterandleisureforall.Thefundamentalneedsof theanimallifemustbeassuredbeforehumanlifecanhavefreeplay.Mandoesnotlivebybreadalone; heeatsthathemaylearnandadventurecreatively,butunlessheeatshecannotadventure.Hislifeis primarilyeconomic,asahouseisprimarilyafoundation,andeconomicjusticeandefficiencymust underlieallotheractivities;buttojudgehumansocietyandorganizepoliticalandsocialactivities entirelyoneconomicgroundsistoforgettheobjectivesoflifescampaigninapreoccupationwith supply. Itistruethatman,liketheanimalworldingeneralfromwhichhehasrisen,isthecreatureofastruggle forsustenance,butunliketheanimals,mancanresorttomethodsofescapefromthatcompetitive pressureuponthemeansofsubsistence,whichhasbeenthelotofeveryotheranimalspecies.Hecan restraintheincreaseinhisnumbers,andheseemscapableofstillquiteundefinedexpansionsofhis productivityperheadofpopulation.Hecanescapethereforefromthestruggleforsubsistence altogetherwithasurplusofenergysuchasnootherkindofanimalspecieshaseverpossessed. Intelligentcontrolofpopulationisapossibilitywhichputsmanoutsidecompetitiveprocessesthathave hithertoruledthemodificationofspecies,andhecanbereleasedfromtheseprocessesinnootherway.
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Thereisaclearhopethat,later,directedbreedingwillcomewithinhisscope,butthatgoesbeyondhis presentrangeofpracticalachievement,andweneednotdiscussitfurtherhere.Sufficeitforusherethat theworldcommunityofourdesires,theorganizedworldcommunityconductingandensuringitsown progress,requiresadeliberatecollectivecontrolofpopulationasaprimarycondition. Thereisnostronginstinctivedesireformultitudinousoffspring,assuch,inthefemininemakeup.The reproductiveimpulsesoperateindirectly.Natureensuresapressureofpopulationthroughpassions andinstinctsthat,givensufficientknowledge,intelligence,andfreedomonthepartofwomen,canbe satisfactorilygratifiedandtranquillized,ifneedbe,withouttheproductionofnumerouschildren.Very slightadjustmentsinsocialandeconomicarrangementswill,inaworldofclearavailableknowledge andstraightforwardpracticeinthesematters,supplysufficientinducementordiscouragementtoaffect thegeneralbirthrateorthebirthrateofspecifictypesasthedirectivesenseofthecommunitymay considerdesirable.Solongasthemajorityofhumanbeingsarebegotteninvoluntarilyinlustand ignorancesolongdoesmanremainlikeanyotheranimalunderthemouldingpressureofcompetition forsubsistence.Socialandpoliticalprocesseschangeentirelyintheircharacterwhenwerecognizethe possibilityandpracticabilityofthisfundamentalrevolutioninhumanbiology. Inaworldsorelieved,theproductionofstaplenecessitiespresentsaseriesofproblemsaltogetherless distressfulthanthoseofthepresentscrambleforpossessionsandselfindulgenceonthepartofthe successful,andforworkandabarelivingonthepartofthemasses.Withtheincreaseofpopulation unrestrained,therewas,astheendoftheeconomicprocess,nopracticalalternativetoamultitudinous equalityatthelevelofbaresubsistence,exceptthroughsuchaninequalityofeconomicarrangementsas allowedaminoritytomaintainahigherstandardoflifebywithholdingwhateversurplusofproduction itcouldgrasp,fromconsumptioninmereproletarianbreeding.Inthepastandatpresent,whatiscalled thecapitalistsystem,thatistosaytheunsystematicexploitationofproductionbyprivateownersunder theprotectionofthelaw,has,onthewhole,inspiteofmuchwasteandconflict,workedbeneficiallyby checkingthatgravitationtoauniversallowgradeconsumptionwhichwouldhavebeentheinevitable outcomeofasocialismobliviousofbiologicalprocesses.Witheffectiverestraintupontheincreaseof population,however,entirelynewpossibilitiesopenoutbeforemankind. Thebesettingviceofeconomicscience,orthodoxandunorthodoxalike,hasbeentheviceofbeginning intheair,withcurrentpracticeandcurrentconvictions,withquestionsofwages,prices,values,and possession,whentheprofounderissuesofhumanassociationarereallynottobefoundatallonthese levels.Theprimaryissuesofhumanassociationarebiologicalandpsychological,andtheessentialsof economicsareproblemsinappliedphysicsandchemistry.Thefirstthingweshouldexamineiswhat wewanttodowithnaturalresources,andthenext,howtogetmentodowhathastobedoneas pleasurablyandeffectivelyaspossible.Thenweshouldhaveastandardbywhichtojudgethemethods oftoday. Buttheacademiceconomists,andstillmoresoMarxandhisfollowers,refusetodealwiththese fundamentals,and,withastupidposeofsoundpracticalwisdom,insistonopeninguptheircasewith anuncriticalacceptanceofthecommonantagonismofemployersandemployedandalongrigmarole aboutprofitsandwages.Ownershipandexpropriatedlabourareonlyonesetofmanypossiblesetsof economicmethod. Theeconomists,however,willattendseriouslyonlytothecurrentset;theresttheyignore;andthe Marxists,withtheiruncontrollabledispositiontousenicknamesintheplaceofjudgments,condemnall
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othersasUtopianawordasfinalinitsdismissalfromthemindsoftheelectasthatotherpetcounter intheCommunistsubstituteforthought,Bourgeois.Iftheycanpersuadethemselvesthatanideaora statementisUtopianorBourgeois,itdoesnotseemtomatterintheleasttothemwhetheritisright orwrong.Itisdisposedof.Justasingenteelercirclesanythingisdisposedofthatcanbelabelled atheistical,subversiveordisloyal. Ifacenturyandahalfagotheworldhadsubmitteditsproblemsoftransporttotheeconomists,they wouldhaveputaside,withaslittlewastedbreathandinkaspossible,alltalkaboutrailways, motorcars,steamships,andaeroplanes,and,withafinesenseofextravagancerebuked,setthemselves tolongneuralgicdissertations,disputations,andtreatisesuponhighroadsandthemethodsof connectingthem,turnpikegates,canals,influenceoflockfeesonbargemen,tidallandingplaces, anchorages,surpluscarryingcapacity,carriers,caravans,handbarrows,andthepedestrianariat.There wouldhavebeenarapidandeasydifferentiationinfeelingandrequirementsbetweenthehorseowning minorityandthewalkingmajority;thewrongsofthelatterwouldhavetorturedthemindofevery philosopherwhocouldnotride,andbeenminimizedbyeveryphilosopherwhocould;andthere wouldhavebeenabroadriftbetweenthenarrowfootpathschool,thenofootpathschool,andtheschool whichwouldlookforwardtoatimewheneveryhorsewouldhavetobeledalongoneuniversal footpathunderthedictatorshipofthepedestrianariat.Allwiththeprofoundestgravityanddignity. Thesethings,footpathsandroadsandcanalswiththeirtraffic,werereal,andUtopianprojectsfor gettingalongatthirtyorfortymilesanhourormoreuphillandagainstwindandtide,letalonethestill moreincrediblesuggestionofairtransport,wouldhavebeensmiledandsneeredoutofcourt.Lifewent aboutonitswithacertainassistancefromwheels,orfloated,rowedandwasblownaboutonwater;soit hadbeenandsoitwouldalwaysbe. Thepsychologyofeconomiccooperationisstillonlydawning,andsotheeconomistsandthe doctrinairesocialistshavehadthefreestrangeforpedantryandauthoritativepomp.Forahundred yearstheyhavearguedandarguedaboutrent,aboutsurplusvalue,andsoon,andhaveproduceda literaturetenthousandtimesasbulky,dreary,andfoolishastheworstoutpouringsofthemediaeval schoolmen. Butassoonasthistimehonouredpreoccupationwiththeallotmentofthesharesoforiginators, organizers,workers,ownersofmaterial,creditdealers,andtaxcollectorsinthetotalproduct,ceasesto bedealtwithastheprimaryquestionineconomics;assoonasweliberateourmindsfroma preoccupationwhichfromtheoutsetnecessarilymakesthatscienceasquabbleratherthanascience, andbeginourattackuponthesubjectwithasurveyofthemachineryandotherproductivematerial requiredinorderthatthestapleneedsofmankindshouldbesatisfied,ifwegoonfromthattoconsider thewayinwhichallthismaterialandmachinerycanbeworkedandtheproductdistributedwiththe leastlabourandthegreatestpossiblesatisfaction,weshiftourtreatmentofeconomicquestionstowards standardsbywhichallcurrentmethodsofexploitation,employment,andfinancecanbejudgedrather thanwrangledover.Wecandismissthequestionoftheclaimsofthissortofparticipantorthat,forlater andsubordinateconsideration,andvieweachvarietyofhumanassistanceinthegeneraleffortentirely fromthestandpointofwhatmakesthatassistanceleastonerousandmosteffective. Thegermsofsuchreallyscientificeconomicsexistalreadyinthestudyofindustrialorganizationand industrialpsychology.Asthescienceofindustrialpsychologyinparticulardevelops,weshallfindall thisdiscussionofownership,profit,wages,finance,andaccumulation,whichhasbeentreatedhitherto
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astheprimaryissuesofeconomics,fallingintoplaceunderthelargerenquiryofwhatconventionsin thesematters,whatsystemofmoneyandwhatconceptionsofproperty,yieldthegreateststimulusand theleastfrictioninthatworldwidesystemofcooperationwhichmustconstitutethegeneraleconomic basistotheactivitiesofaunifiedmankind. Manifestlythesupremedirectionofthecomplexofhumaneconomicactivitiesinsuchaworldmust centreuponabureauofinformationandadvice,whichwilltakeaccountofalltheresourcesofthe planet,estimatecurrentneeds,apportionproductiveactivitiesandcontroldistribution.The topographicalandgeologicalsurveysofmoderncivilizedcommunities,theirgovernmentmaps,their periodicissueofagriculturalandindustrialstatistics,arethefirstcrudeanduncoordinatedbeginnings ofsuchaneconomicworldintelligence.InthepropagandaworkofDavidLubin,apioneerwhom mankindmustnotforget,andinhisInternationalInstituteofAgricultureinRome,therewerethe beginningsofanimpartialreviewmonthbymonthandyearbyyearofworldproduction,worldneeds andworldtransport.Suchagreatcentralorganizationofeconomicsciencewouldnecessarilyproduce direction;itwouldindicatewhathadbestbedonehere,there,andeverywhere,solvegeneraltangles, examine,approveandinitiatefreshmethodsandarrangethetransitionalprocessfromoldtonew.It wouldnotbeanorganizationofwill,imposingitswilluponareluctantorrecalcitrantrace;itwouldbe adirection,justasamapisadirection. Amapimposesnowillonanyone,breaksnooneintoitspolicy.Andyetweobeyourmaps. Thewilltohavethemapfull,accurate,anduptodate,andthedeterminationtohaveitsindications respected,wouldhavetopervadethewholecommunity.Tonourishandsustainthatwillmustbethe tasknotofanyparticularsocialoreconomicdivisionofthecommunity,butofthewholebodyofright mindedpeopleinthatcommunity.Theorganizationandpreservationofthatpowerofwillisthe primaryundertaking,therefore,ofaworldrevolutionaimingatuniversalpeace,welfareandhappy activity.Andthroughthatwillitwillproduceasthecentralorganthebrainofthemoderncommunity,a greatencyclopdicorganization,keptconstantlyuptodateandgivingapproximateestimatesand directionsforallthematerialactivitiesofmankind. Theolderandstillprevalentconceptionofgovernmentisbullying,isthebreakinginandsubjugationof thesubject,totheGod,orking,orlordsofthecommunity.Willbending,theovercomingofthe recalcitrantjuniorandinferior,wasanessentialprocessintheestablishmentofprimitivesocieties,and itstraditionstillrulesoureducationandlaw.Nodoubttheremustbeanecessaryaccommodationofthe normalhumanwilltoeveryformofsociety;nomanisinnatelyvirtuous;butcompulsionandrestraint arethefrictionofthesocialmachineand,otherthingsbeingequal,thelesscompulsivesocial arrangementsare,themorewillingly,naturally,andeasilytheyareaccepted,thelesswastefulofmoral effortandthehappierthatcommunitywillbe.Theidealstate,otherthingsbeingequal,isthestatewith thefewestpossiblenumberofwillfightsandwillsuppressions.Thismustbeaprimaryconsideration inarrangingtheeconomic,biological,andmentalorganizationoftheworldcommunityatwhichwe aim. Wehaveadvancedtheopinionthatthecontrolofpopulationpressureispracticablewithoutanyviolent conflictwithhumannature,thatgivenaproperatmosphereofknowledgeandintention,thereneedbe farlesssuppressionofwillinrelationtoproductionthanprevailstoday.Inthesameway,itispossible thatthegeneraleconomiclifeofmankindmaybemadeuniversallysatisfactorythattheremaybean abundanceoutofallcomparisongreaterthantheexistingsupplyofthingsnecessaryforhumanwell
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being,freedom,andactivity,withnotmerelynotmore,butinfinitelylesssubjugationandenslavement thannowoccurs.Manisstillbuthalfbornoutoftheblindstruggleforexistence,andhisnaturestill partakesoftheinfinitewastefulnessofhismotherNature.Hehasstilltolearnhowtopricethe commoditieshecovetsintermsofhumanlife.Heisindeedonlybeginningtorealizethatthereis anythingtobelearntinthatmatter.Hewasteswillandhumanpossibilityextravagantlyinhiscurrent economicmethods. Weknownowadaysthatthenineteenthcenturyexpendedagreatwealthofintelligenceuponabarren controversybetweenIndividualismandSocialism.Theyweretreatedasmutuallyexclusive alternatives,insteadofbeingquestionsofdegree.Humansocietyhasbeenisandalwaysmustbean intricatesystemofadjustmentsbetweenunconditionallibertyandthedisciplinesandsubordinationsof cooperativeenterprise.Affairsdonotmovesimplyfromamoreindividualisttoamoresocialiststate orviceversa;theremaybeareleaseofindividualinitiativegoingonhereandstandardizationor restraintincreasingthere.Personalpropertynevercanbesociallyguaranteedastheextremer individualistsdesired,norcanitbeabolishedastheextremersocialistsproposed.Propertyisnot robbery,asProudhonasserted;itistheprotectionofthingsagainstpromiscuousandmainlywasteful use.Propertyisnotnecessarilypersonal.Insomecasespropertymayrestrictorforbidauseofthings thatcouldbegenerallyadvantageous,anditmaybeandisfrequentlyunfairinitsassignmentof initiative,buttheremedyforthatisnotanabolitionbutarevisionofproperty.Intheconcreteitisa formnecessaryforlibertyofactionuponmaterial,whileabstractedasmoney,whichisaliquidated generalizedformofproperty;itisaticketforindividuallibertyofmovementandindividualchoiceof reward. Theeconomichistoryofmankindisahistoryoftheoperationoftheideaofproperty;itrelatesthe conflictoftheunlimitedacquisitivenessofegoisticindividualsagainsttheresentmentofthe disinheritedandunsuccessfulandthefarlesseffectiveconsciousnessofageneralwelfare.Moneygrew outofasystemofabstractingconventionsandhasbeensubjectedtoagreatvarietyofrestrictions, monopolizations,andregulations.Ithasneverbeenanaltogetherlogicaldevice,andithaspermitted themostextensiveandcomplexdevelopmentsofcredit,debt,anddispossession.Allthese developmentshavebroughtwiththemcharacteristicformsofmisuseandcorruption.Thestoryis intricate,andthetangleofrelationships,ofdependence,ofpressure,ofinterception,ofmisdirected services,cripplingembarrassments,andcrushingobligationsinwhichwelivetodayadmitsofnosuch simpleandgeneralsolutionsasmanyexponentsofsocialism,forexample,seemtoconsiderpossible. Butthethoughtandinvestigationsofthepastcenturyorsohavemadeitclearthataclassificationof property,accordingtothenatureoftherightsexercisableandaccordingtotherangeofownership involved,mustbethebasisofanysystemofsocialjusticeinthefuture. Certainthings,theocean,theair,rarewildanimals,mustbethecollectivepropertyofallmankindand cannotbealtogethersafeuntiltheyaresoregarded,anduntilsomeconcretebodyexiststoexercise theseproprietaryrights.Whatevercollectivecontrolexistsmustprotecttheseuniversalproperties,the seafromderelicts,thestrangeshythingsofthewildfromexterminationbythehunterandthefoolish collector.Theextinctionofmanybeautifulcreaturesisoneofthepenaltiesourworldispayingforits sluggishnessindevelopingacollectivecommonrule.Andtherearemanystaplethingsandgeneral needsthatnowalsodemandaunifiedcontrolinthecommoninterest.Therawmaterialoftheearth shouldbeforall,nottobemonopolizedbyanyacquisitiveindividualoracquisitivesovereignstate,
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andnottobewithheldfromexploitationforthegeneralbenefitofanychanceclaimstoterritorial priorityofthisorthatbackwardorbargainingpersonortribe. Inthepast,mostoftheseuniversalconcernshavehadtobelefttothecompetitiveenterpriseofprofit seekingindividualsbecausetherewereasyetnocollectivitiesorganizedtothepitchofabilityneeded todevelopandcontroltheseconcerns,butsurelynobodyinhissensesbelievesthatthesupplyand distributionofstaplecommoditiesabouttheearthbyirresponsiblepersonsandcompaniesworking entirelyformonetarygainisthebestpossiblemethodfromthepointofviewoftheraceasawhole.The landoftheearth,allutilizablenaturalproducts,havefallenverylargelyundertherulesandusagesof personalpropertybecauseinthepastthatwastheonlyrecognizedandpracticableformof administrativeproprietorship.Thedevelopmentbothofextensiveproprietarycompaniesandof governmentdepartmentswitheconomicfunctionshasbeenamatterofthelastfewcenturies,the development,thatistosay,ofcommunal,moreorlessimpersonalownership,anditisonlythrough thesedevelopmentsthattheideaoforganizedcollectivityofproprietorshiphasbecomecredible. Eveninquitemodernstateenterprisesthereisatendencytorecalltherleofthevigilant,jealous,and primitivepersonalproprietorinthefictionofownershipbyHisMajestytheKing.InGreatBritain,for example,GeorgiusRexisstilldimlysupposedtohoveroverthePostmasterGeneralofhisPostOffice, approve,disapprove,andcallhimtoaccount.ButthePostalUnionoftheworldwhichsteersa registeredletterfromChiletoNorwayorfromIrelandtoPekinisalmostcompletelydivorcedfromthe conventionofanindividualowner.Itworks;itiscriticizedwithoutaweormalice.Exceptforthe stealingandsteamingofletterspractisedbythepoliticalpoliceofvariouscountries,itworksfairlywell. Andtheonlyforcebehindittokeepitworkingwellistheconsciouscommonsenseofmankind. Butwhenwehavestipulatedforthereplacementofindividualprivateownershipbymorehighly organizedformsofcollectiveownership,subjecttofreecriticismandresponsibletothewholerepublic ofmankind,inthegeneralcontrolofseaandland,inthegetting,preparation,anddistributionofstaple productsandintransport,wehavereallynamedallthepossiblegeneralizationsofconcreteownership thatthemostsocialisticofcontemporarieswillbedisposedtodemand.Andifweaddtothatthe necessarymaintenanceofamoneysystembyacentralworldauthorityuponabasisthatwillmake moneykeepfaithwiththeworkerwhoearnsit,andrepresentfromfirsttolastforhimthevaluein staplecommoditieshewasgiventounderstanditwastohave,andifweconceivecreditadequately controlledinthegeneralinterestbyasocializedworldbankingorganization,weshallhavedefinedthe entirerealmfromwhichindividualpropertyandunrestrictedindividualenterprisehavebeen excluded.Beyondthat,thescienceofsocialpsychologywillprobablyassureusthatthebestworkwill bedonefortheworldbyindividualsfreetoexploittheirabilitiesastheywish.Iftheindividual landownerormineralownerdisappearsaltogetherfromtheworld,hewillprobablybereplacedover largeareasbytenantswithconsiderablesecurityoftenure,byhouseholdersandbylicenseesunder collectiveproprietors.Itwillbethepractice,therecognizedbestcourse,toallowthecultivatortoprofit asfullyaspossiblebyhisownindividualproductivityandtoleavethehouseholdertofashionhis houseandgardenafterhisowndesire. Suchintheverybroadesttermsisthecharacteroftheworldcommonwealtowardswhichthemodern imaginationismoving,sofarasitsdirectionandeconomiclifeareconcerned.Theorganizationof collectivebodiescapableofexercisingthesewiderproprietorships,whichcannotbeproperlyusedin thecommoninterestbyuncorrelatedindividualowners,isthepositivepracticalproblembeforethe
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intelligentportionofmankindtoday.Thenatureofsuchcollectivebodiesisstillaseriesofopen questions,evenuponsuchpointsaswhethertheywillbeelectedbodiesorgroupsderivingtheir authorityfromothersanctions.Theirscopeandmethodsofoperation,theirrelationstooneanotherand tothecentralbureauofintelligence,remainalsotobedefined.Butbeforeweconcludethisessaywe maybeabletofindprecisionsforatleastthebeginningofsuchdefinition. Nineteenthcenturysocialisminitsvariousforms,includingthehighlyinduratedformulaeof communism,hasbeenaseriesofprojectsfortheestablishmentofsuchcollectivecontrols,forthemost partverysketchyprojectsfromwhichthenecessaryfactorofasoundpsychologicalanalysiswasalmost completelywanting.Primarilymovementsofprotestandrevoltagainsttheblazinginjusticesarisingout oftheselfishlyindividualisticexploitationofthenewandmoreproductivetechnicalandfinancial methodsoftheeighteenthandnineteenthcenturies,theyhavebeenapttogobeyondthelimitsof reasonablesocializationintheirdemandsandtominimizeabsurdlythedifficultiesanddangersof collectivecontrol.Indignationandimpatienceweretheirrulingmoods,andiftheyconstructedlittle theyexposedmuch.Wearebetterabletomeasurethemagnitudeofthetaskbeforeusbecauseofthe clearancesandlessonsachievedbythesepioneermovements.
IX NOSTABLEUTOPIAISNOWCONCEIVABLE
ThisunifiedworldtowardswhichtheOpenConspiracywoulddirectitsactivitiescannotbepicturedfor thereaderasanystaticandstereotypedspectacleofhappiness.Indeed,onemaydoubtifsuchathingas happinessispossiblewithoutsteadilychangingconditionsinvolvingcontinuallyenlargingand exhilaratingopportunities.Mankind,releasedfromthepressureofpopulation,thewasteofwarfareand theprivatemonopolizationofthesourcesofwealth,willfacetheuniversewithagreatandincreasing surplusofwillandenergy.Changeandnoveltywillbetheorderoflife;eachdaywilldifferfromits predecessorinitsgreatamplitudeofinterest.Lifewhichwasonceroutine,endurance,andmischance willbecomeadventureanddiscovery.Itwillnolongerbetheold,oldstory. Wehavestillbarelyemergedfromamongtheanimalsintheirstruggleforexistence.Weliveonlyinthe earlydawnofhumanselfconsciousnessandinthefirstawakeningofthespiritofmastery.Webelieve thatthepersistentexplorationofouroutwardandinwardworldsbyscientificandartisticendeavour willleadtodevelopmentsofpowerandactivityuponwhichatpresentwecansetnolimitsnorgiveany certainform. Ourantagonistsareconfusionofmind,wantofcourage,wantofcuriosityandwantofimagination, indolence,andspendthriftegotism.ThesearetheenemiesagainstwhichtheOpenConspiracyarrays itself;thesearethejailersofhumanfreedomandachievement.
X THEOPENCONSPIRACYISNOTTOBETHOUGHTOFASASINGLE ORGANIZATION;ITISACONCEPTIONOFLIFEOUTOFWHICHEFFORTS, ORGANIZATIONS,ANDNEWORIENTATIONSWILLARISE

Thisopenanddeclaredintentionofestablishingaworldorderoutofthepresentpatchworkof particularistgovernments,ofeffacingthemilitaristconceptionsthathavehithertogivengovernments
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theirtypicalform,andofremovingcreditandthebroadfundamentalprocessesofeconomiclifeoutof reachofprivateprofitseekingandindividualmonopolization,whichisthesubstanceofthisOpen Conspiracytowhichthemodernreligiousmindmustnecessarilyaddressitspracticalactivities,cannot failtoarouseenormousopposition.Itisnotacreativeeffortinaclearfield;itisacreativeeffortthatcan hardlystirwithoutattackingestablishedthings.Itistherepudiationofdrift,ofleavingthingsalone.It criticizeseverythinginhumanlifefromthetoptothebottomandfindseverythingnotgoodenough.It strikesattheuniversalhumandesiretofeelthatthingsareallright. Onemightconclude,anditwouldbeahasty,unsoundconclusion,thattheonlypeopletowhomwe couldlookforsympathyandanypassionateenergyinforwardingtherevolutionarychangewouldbe theunhappy,thediscontented,thedispossessed,andthedefeatedinlifesstruggle.Thisidealiesatthe rootoftheclasswardogmasoftheMarxists,anditrestsonanentirelycrudeconceptionofhuman nature.Thesuccessfulminorityissupposedtohavenoeffectivemotivebutadesiretoretainand intensifyitsadvantages.Aquiteimaginarysolidaritytothatendisattributedtoit,apreposterous,base classactivity.Ontheotherhand,theunsuccessfulmassproletariatissupposedtobecapableofa clearapprehensionofitsdisadvantages,andthemoreitisimpoverishedandembittered,theclearer mindeditbecomes,andthenearerdrawsitsuprising,itsconstructivedictatorship,andthe Millennium. NodoubtaconsiderableamountoftruthistobefoundinthistheoryoftheMarxistrevolution.Human beings,likeotheranimals,aredisposedtoremainwheretheircircumstancesaretolerableandtowant changewhentheyareuncomfortable,andsoagreatproportionofthepeoplewhoarewelloffwant littleornochangeinpresentconditions,particularlythosewhoaretoodulltobeboredbyan unprogressivelife,whileagreatproportionofthosewhoactuallyfeeltheinconveniencesofstraitened meansandpopulationpressure,do.Butmuchvastermassesoftherankandfileofhumanityare accustomedtoinferiorityanddispossession,theydonotfeelthesethingstotheextentevenofdesiring change,oreveniftheydofeeltheirdisadvantages,theystillfearchangemorethantheydisliketheir disadvantages.Moreover,thosewhoaresufficientlydistressedtorealizethatsomethingoughttobe doneaboutitaremuchmoredisposedtochildishandthreateningdemandsuponheavenandthe governmentforredressandvindictiveandpunitiveactionagainsttheenviedfortunatewithwhomthey happentobeinimmediatecontact,thantoanyreactiontowardssuchcomplex,tentative,disciplined constructiveworkasalonecanbetterthelotofmankind.InpracticeMarxismisfoundtoworkoutina readyresorttomalignantlydestructiveactivities,andtobesouncreativeastobepracticallyimpotentin thefaceofmaterialdifficulties.InRussia,whereinandabouttheurbancentres,atleastMarxismhas beenputtothetest,thedoctrineoftheWorkersRepublicremainsasaunifyingcant,atestoforthodoxy ofaslittlepracticalsignificancethereasthecommunismofJesusandcommunionwithChristin Christendom,whilebeneaththiscreedasmalloligarchywhichhasattainedpowerbyitsprofession doesitsobstinatebest,muchhamperedbythesuspicionandhostilityoftheWesternfinanciersand politicians,tocarryonaseriesofinterestingandvaryinglysuccessfulexperimentsinthesocializationof economiclife.HerewehavenoscopetodiscusstheN.E.P.andtheFiveYearPlan.Theyaredealtwith inTheWork,Wealth,andHappinessofMankind.NeitherwasproperlyCommunist.TheFiveYearPlanis carriedoutasanautocraticstatecapitalism.EachyearshowsmoreandmoreclearlythatMarxismand Communismaredivagationsfromthepathofhumanprogressandthatthelineofadvancemustfollow acoursemoreintricateandlessflatteringtothecommonimpulsesofournature. TheonemainstrandoftruthinthetheoryofsocialdevelopmentwovenbyMarxandEngelsisthat
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successful,comfortablepeoplearedisposedtodislike,obstructandevenresistactivelyanysubstantial changesinthecurrentpatchworkofarrangements,howevergreattheultimatedangersofthat patchworkmaybeortheprivationsandsufferingsofotherpeopleinvolvedinit.Theonemainstrand oferrorinthattheoryisthefacileassumptionthatthepeopleatadisadvantagewillbestirredto anythingmorethanchaoticanddestructiveexpressionsofresentment.Ifnowwerejecttheerrorand acceptthetruth,welosethedelusivecomfortofbeliefinthatmagicgiant,theProletariat,whowill dictate,arrange,restore,andcreate,butweclearthewayfortherecognitionofanliteofintelligent, creativemindedpeoplescatteredthroughthewholecommunity,andforastudyofthemethodof makingthiscreativeelementeffectiveinhumanaffairsagainstthemassiveoppositionsofselfishness andunimaginativeselfprotectiveconservatism. Now,certainclassesofpeoplesuchasthugsandburglarsseemtobeharmfultosocietywithouta redeemingpointaboutthem,andothers,suchasracecoursebookmakers,seemtoprovidetheminimum ofdistractionandentertainmentwithamaximumofmischief.Wilfulidlersareamereburthenonthe community.Othersocialclassesagain,professionalsoldiers,forexample,haveacertaintraditional honourablenesswhichdisguisestheessentiallyparasiticrelationshipoftheirservicestothedeveloping moderncommunity.Armiesandarmamentsarecancersproducedbythemalignantdevelopmentofthe patrioticvirusundermodernconditionsofexaggerationandmasssuggestion.Butsincethereare armiespreparedtoactcoercivelyintheworldtoday,itisnecessarythattheOpenConspiracyshould developwithinitselfthecompetencetoresistmilitarycoercionandcombatanddestroyarmiesthat standinthewayofitsemergence.Possiblythefirsttwotypeshereinstancedmaybecondemnedas classesandexcludedasclassesfromanyparticipationintheorganizedefforttorecasttheworld,but quiteobviouslythesoldiercannot.Theworldcommonwealwillneeditsownscientificmethodsof protectionsolongastherearepeoplerunningabouttheplanetwithflagsanduniformsandweapons, offeringviolencetotheirfellowmenandinterferingwiththefreemovementsofcommoditiesinthe nameofnationalsovereignty. Andwhenwecometothegeneralfunctioningclasses,landowners,industrialorganizers,bankers,and soforth,whocontrolthepresentsystem,suchasitis,itshouldbestillplainerthatitisverylargelyfrom theranksoftheseclasses,andfromtheirstoresofexperienceandtraditionsofmethod,thatthedirective forcesofthenewordermustemerge.TheOpenConspiracycanhavenothingtodowiththeheresythat thepathofhumanprogressliesthroughanextensiveclasswar. Letusconsider,forexample,howtheOpenConspiracystandstosuchacomplexofactivities,usages, accumulations,advantagesasconstitutesthebankingworld.Therearenodoubtmanybankersand manypracticesmbankingwhichmakeforpersonalorgroupadvantagetothegeneraldetriment.They forestall,monopolize,constrain,andextort,andsoincreasetheirriches.Andanotherlargepartofthat bankingworldfollowsroutineandestablishedusage;itiscarryingonandkeepingthingsgoing,andit isneitherinimicalnorconducivetothedevelopmentofaprogressiveworldorganizationoffinance.But thereremainsaresiduumoforiginalandintelligentpeopleinbankingorassociatedwithbankingor mentallyinterestedinbanking,whodorealizethatbankingplaysaveryimportant,interestingpartin theworldsaffairs,whoarecuriousabouttheirownintricatefunctionanddisposedtowardsascientific investigationofitsorigins,conditions,andfuturepossibilities.Suchtypesmovenaturallytowardsthe OpenConspiracy.Theirenquiriescarrytheminevitablyoutsidethebankershabitualfieldtoan examinationofthenature,drift,anddestinyoftheentireeconomicprocess.
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Nowthethemeoftheprecedingparagraphmightberepeatedwithvariationsthroughascoreof paragraphsinwhichappropriatemodificationswouldadaptittotheindustrialorganizer,themerchant andorganizeroftransport,theadvertiser,theretaildistributor,theagriculturalist,theengineer,the builder,theeconomicchemist,andanumberofothertypesfunctionalinthecontemporarycommunity. Inallweshoulddistinguishfirstlyabaseandharmfulsection,thenamediocresectionfollowing establishedusage,andlastly,anactive,progressivesectiontowhomweturnnaturallyfor developmentsleadingtowardstheprogressiveworldcommonwealofourdesires.Andouranalysis mightpenetratefurtherthanseparationintotypesofindividuals.Innearlyeveryindividualinstancewe shouldfindamixedcomposition,ahumanbeingoffluctuatingmoodsandconfusedpurposes, sometimesbase,sometimesdriftingwiththetideandsometimesalertandintellectuallyandmorally quickened.TheOpenConspiracymustbecontenttotakeafractionofaman,asitappealstofractionsof manyclasses,ifitcannotgethimaltogether. Thisideaofdrawingtogetheraproportionofallornearlyallthefunctionalclassesincontemporary communitiesinordertoweavethebeginningsofaworldcommunityoutoftheirselectionisafairly obviousoneandyetithasstilltowinpracticalrecognition.Manisamorbidlygregariousandpartisan creature;heisdeepinhisimmediatestrugglesandstandsbyhisownkindbecauseinsodoinghe defendshimself;theindustrialistisbestequippedtocriticizehisfellowindustrialist,buthefindsthe rootofallevilinthebanker;thewagesworkershiftstheblameforallsocialwrongsontheemploying class.Thereisanelementofexasperationinmosteconomicandsocialreactions,andthereishardlya reformingorrevolutionarymovementinhistorywhichisnotessentiallyanindiscriminateattackofone functioningclassortypeuponanother,ontheassumptionthattheattackedclassisentirelytoblamefor theclashandthattheattackingclassisselfsufficientinthecommonwealandcandispensewithits annoyingcollaborator.Aconsiderableelementofjusticeusuallyentersintosuchrecriminations.Butthe OpenConspiracycannotavailitselfoftheseclassanimositiesforitsdrivingforce.Itcanhave,therefore, nouniformmethodofapproach.Foreachclassithasaconceptionofmodificationanddevelopment, andeachclassitapproachesthereforeatadistinctiveangle.Someclasses,nodoubt,itwouldsupersede altogether;othersthescientificinvestigator,forexampleitmustregardasalmostwhollygoodand seekonlytomultiplyandempower,butitcannomoreadopttheprejudicesandextravagancesofany particularclassasitsbasisthanitcanadopttheclaimsofanyexistingstateorempire. WhenitisclearlyunderstoodthatthebindinglinksoftheOpenConspiracywehaveinmindarecertain broadgeneralideas,andthatexceptperhapsinthecaseofscientificworkerswehavenocurrentsetof attitudesofmindandhabitsofactivitywhichwecanturnoverdirectlyandunmodifiedtotheserviceof theconspiracy,weareinapositiontorealizethatthemovementwecontemplatemustfromtheoutset bediversifiedinitstraditionsandelementsandvariousinitsmethods.Itmustfightuponseveralfronts andwithmanysortsofequipment.Itwillhaveacommonspirit,butitisquiteconceivablethatbetween manyofitscontributoryfactorstheremaybeverywidegapsinunderstandingandsympathy.Itisno sortofsimpleorganization.
XI FORCESANDRESISTANCESINTHEGREATMODERNCOMMUNITIESNOW PREVALENT,WHICHAREANTAGONISTICTOTHEOPENCONSPIRACY.THE WARWITHTRADITION

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Wehavenowstatedbroadlybutplainlytheideaoftheworldcommonwealwhichistheobjectiveofthe OpenConspiracy,andwehavemadeapreliminaryexaminationofthecompositionofthatmovement, showingthatitmustbenecessarilynotaclassdevelopment,butaconvergenceofmanydifferentsorts ofpeopleuponacommonidea.Itsopeningtaskmustbetheelaboration,exposition,andpropagandaof thiscommonidea,asteadycampaigntorevolutionizeeducationandestablishamodernideologyin mensmindsand,arisingoutofthis,theincomparablyvastertaskoftherealizationofitsideas. Thesearetasksnottobedoneinvacuo;theyhavetobedoneinadenseworldofcrowding,incessant, passionate,uncoordinatedactivities,theworldofmarketandnewspaper,seedtimeandharvest,births, deaths,jails,hospitals,riots,barracksandarmymanoeuvres,falseprophetsandroyalprocessions, gamesandshows,fire,storm,pestilence,earthquake,war.Everydayandeveryhourthingswillbe happeningtohelporthwart,stimulateorundermine,obstructordefeatthecreativeefforttosetupthe worldcommonweal. Beforewegoontodiscusstheselectionandorganizationoftheseheterogeneousandmainlyreligious impulsesuponwhichwerestourhopesofagreaterlifeformankind,beforeweplanhowthese impulsesmaybegottogetherintoasystemofcoordinatedactivities,itwillbewelltoreviewthemain antagonisticforceswithwhich,fromitsveryinception,theOpenConspiracywillbeisnowinconflict. Tobeginwith,wewillconsidertheseforcesastheypresentthemselvesinthehighlydeveloped WesternEuropeanStatesoftodayandintheirAmericanderivatives,derivativeswhich,inspiteofthe factthatinmostcasestheyhavefaroutgrowntheirlandsoforigin,stillowealargepartoftheirsocial habitsandpoliticalconceptionstoEurope.AlltheseStatestouchupontheAtlanticoritscontributory seas;theyhaveallgrowntotheirpresentformsincethediscoveryofAmerica;theyhaveacommon traditionrootingintheideasofChristendomandagenericresemblanceofmethod.Economicallyand sociallytheypresentwhatisknownincurrentparlanceastheCapitalistsystem,butitwillrelieveusof aconsiderableloadofdisputatiousmatterifwecallthemheresimplytheAtlanticcivilizationsand communities. TheconsiderationoftheseAtlanticcivilizationsinrelationtothecomingworldcivilizationwillsuffice forthepresentchapter.Afterwardswewillconsiderthemodificationoftheforcesantagonistictothe OpenConspiracyastheydisplaythemselvesbeyondtheformalconfinesofthesenowdominantstates intheworldsaffairs,inthesocialsystemsweakenedandinjuredbytheirexpansion,andamongsuch lesshighlyorganizedcommunitiesasstillsurvivefrommanssavageandbarbaricpast. TheOpenConspiracyisnotnecessarilyantagonistictoanyexistinggovernment.TheOpenConspiracy isacreative,organizingmovementandnotananarchisticone.Itdoesnotwanttodestroyexisting controlsandformsofhumanassociation,buteithertosupersedeoramalgamatethemintoacommon worlddirectorate.Ifconstitutions,parliaments,andkingscanbedealtwithasprovisionalinstitutions, trusteesforthecomingofageoftheworldcommonweal,andinsofarastheyareconductedinthat spirit,theOpenConspiracymakesnoattackuponthem. Butmostgovernmentswillnotsetabouttheirbusinessasinanywayprovisionaltheyandtheir supportersinsistuponareverenceandobediencewhichrepudiateanypossibilityofsupersession. Whatshouldbeaninstrumentbecomesadivinity.Innearlyeverycountryoftheworldthereis,in deferencetothepretendednecessitiesofapossiblewar,avastdegradinganddangerouscultivationof loyaltyandmechanicalsubserviencetoflags,uniforms,presidents,andkings.Apresidentorkingwho
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doeshisappointedworkwellandrighteouslyisentitledtoasmuchsubservienceasabricklayerwho doeshisworkwellandrighteouslyandtonomore,butinsteadthereisasustainedendeavourtogive himtheprivilegesofanidolabovecriticismorreproach,andtheorganizedworshipofflagshas becomewithchangedconditionsofintercourseandwarfareanentirelyevilmisdirectionofthe gregariousimpulsesofourrace.Emotionandsentimentalityareevokedinthecauseofdisciplinesand cooperationsthatcouldquiteeasilybesustainedandthatarebettersustainedbyrationalconviction. TheOpenConspiracyisnecessarilyopposedtoallsuchimplacableloyalties,andstillmoresotothe aggressiveassertionandpropagandaofsuchloyalties.Whenthesethingstaketheformofsuppressing reasonablecriticismandforbiddingeventhesuggestionofotherformsofgovernment,theybecome plainlyantagoniststoanycomprehensiveprojectforhumanwelfare.Theybecomemanifestly,fromthe widerpointofview,seditious,andloyaltytokingandcountrypassesintoplaintreasontomankind. Almosteverywhere,atpresent,educationalinstitutionsorganizebarriersinthepathofprogress,and thereareonlythefeeblestattemptsatanycountereducationthatwillbreakupthesebarriers.Thereis littleornoefforttorestraintheaggressivenationalistwhenhewaveshisflagagainstthewelfareofour race,ortoprotectthechildrenoftheworldfromtheinfectionofhisenthusiasms.Andthislastisastrue nowoftheAmericansystemasitisofanyEuropeanState. Inthegreatmassofthemoderncommunitythereislittlemorethanafavourableacquiescencein patrioticideasandintheworshipofpatrioticsymbols,andthatisbasedlargelyonsuchtraining.These thingsarenotnecessarythingsforthegeneralityoftoday.Achangeofmentaldirectionwouldbe possibleforthemajorityofpeoplenowwithoutanyviolentdisorganizationoftheirintimatelivesor anyserioussocialoreconomicreadjustmentsforthem.Mentalinfectioninsuchcasescouldbe counteredbymentalsanitation.AmajorityofpeopleinEurope,andastilllargermajorityintheUnited StatesandtheotherAmericanRepublics,couldbecomecitizensoftheworldwithoutanyserious hindrancetotheirpresentoccupations,andwithanincalculablyvastincreaseoftheirpresentsecurity. Butthereremainsanetofspecialclassesineverycommunity,fromkingstocustomhouseofficers,far moredeeplyinvolvedinpatriotismbecauseitistheirtradeandtheirsourceofhonour,andpreparedin consequencewithaninstinctiveresistancetoanyreorientationofideastowardsabroaderoutlook.In thecaseofsuchpeoplenomentalsanitationispossiblewithoutdangerousandalarmingchangesin theirwayofliving.Forthemajorityofthesepatriotsbymetier,theOpenConspiracyunlocksthegates leadingfromafussyparadiseofeminence,respect,andprivilege,andmotionsthemtowardsan austerewildernesswhichdoesnotpresenteventhefaintestpromiseofacongenial,distinguishedlife forthem.Nearlyeverythinginhumannaturewilldisposethemtoturnawayfromthesegateswhich opentowardstheworldpeace,tobangtoandlockthemagainiftheycan,andtogrowthicketsas speedilyaspossibletoconcealthemandgetthemforgotten.Thesuggestionofbeingtrusteesina transitionwillseemtomostofsuchpeopleonlythecamouflageofanultimatedegradation. Fromsuchclassesofpatriotsbymetier,itismanifestthattheOpenConspiracycanexpectonly opposition.Itmaydetachindividualsfromthem,butonlybydeprivingthemoftheiressentialclass loyaltiesandcharacteristics.Theclassasaclasswillremainnonethelessantagonistic.Aboutroyal courtsandpresidentialresidences,indiplomatic,consular,military,andnavalcircles,andwherever peopleweartitlesanduniformsandenjoyprideandprecedencesbasedonexistingpolitical institutions,therewillbethecompletestgeneralinabilitytograsptheneedfortheOpenConspiracy. Thesepeopleandtheirwomankind,theirfriendsandconnections,theirservantsanddependents,are
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fortifiedbytimehonouredtraditionsofsocialusage,ofsentimentandromanticprestige.Theywill insistthattheyarerealityandCosmopolisadream.Onlyindividualsofexceptionalliveliness,rare intellectualpower,andinnatemoralforcecanbeexpectedtobreakawayfromtheantiprogressive habitssuchclassconditionsimposeuponthem. Thistangleoftraditionsandloyalties,ofinterestedtradesandprofessions,ofprivilegedclassesand officialpatriots,thiscomplexofhumanbeingsembodyingveryeasyandnaturalandtimehonoured ideasofeternalnationalseparationandunendinginternationalandclassconflict,isthemainobjective oftheOpenConspiracyinitsopeningphase.ThistanglemustbedisentangledastheOpenConspiracy advances,anduntilitislargelydisentangledandclearedupthatOpenConspiracycannotbecome anythingverymuchmorethanadesireandaproject. Thistangleofnecessarypatriots,asonemaycallthem,isdifferentinitsnature,lessintricateand extensiveproportionallyintheUnitedStatesandtheStatesofLatinAmerica,thanitisintheold Europeancommunities,butitisnonethelessvirulentinitsactiononthataccount.Itisonlyrecently thatmilitaryandnavalserviceshavebecomeimportantfactorsinAmericansociallife,andthereally vitalizingcontactoftheinterestedpatriotandtheStatehashithertocentredmainlyuponthecustom houseandtheconcession.InsteadofamellowandromanticloyaltytokingandcountrytheAmerican thinkssimplyofAmericaandhisflag. TheAmericanexaggerationofpatriotismbeganasaresistancetoexploitationfromoverseas.Evenwhen politicalandfiscalfreedomwerewon,therewasalongphaseofindustrialandfinancialdependence. TheAmericanshabitsofmind,inspiteofhisrecentrealizationoftheenormouspowerandrelative prosperityoftheUnitedStatesandoftheexpandingpossibilitiesoftheirSpanishandPortuguese speakingneighbours,arestilllargelyselfprotectiveagainstanowimaginaryEuropeanperil.Forthe firstthreequartersofthenineteenthcenturythepeopleoftheAmericancontinent,andparticularlythe peopleoftheUnitedStates,felttheindustrialandfinancialascendancyofGreatBritainandhada reasonablefearofEuropeanattacksupontheircontinent.Agrowingtideofimmigrantsofuncertain sympathythreatenedtheirdearesthabits.Flagworshipwasimposedprimarilyasarepudiationof Europe.EuropenolongerloomsoverAmericawithoverpoweringintimations,Americanindustriesno longerhaveanypracticaljustificationforprotection,Americanfinancewouldbehappierwithoutit,but thepatrioticinterestsaresoestablishednowthattheygoonandwillgoon.NoAmericanstatesman whoventurestobecosmopolitaninhisutteranceandoutlookislikelytoescapealtogetherfromthe raucousattentionsofthepatrioticjournalist. Wehavesaidthatthecomplexofclassesinanycountryinterestedinthecurrentmethodofgovernment issustainedbytraditionsandimpelledbyitsnatureandconditionstoprotectitselfagainstexploratory criticism.Itisthereforeunabletoescapefromtheformsofcompetitiveandmilitantnationalismin whichitwasevolved.Itcannot,withoutgravedangerofenfeeblement,changeanysuchinnateform.So thatwhileparallelcomplexesofpatrioticclassesarefoundingreaterorlessintricacygroupedaboutthe flagsandgovernmentsofmostexistingstates,thesecomplexesarebytheirnatureobligedtoremain separate,nationalist,andmutuallyantagonistic.Youcannotexpectaworldunionofsoldiersor diplomatists.Theirexistenceandnaturedependupontheideathatnationalseparationisrealand incurable,andthatwar,inthelongrun,isunavoidable.Theirconceptionsofloyaltyinvolvean antagonismtoallforeigners,eventoforeignersofexactlythesametypesasthemselves,andmakefora continualcampaignofannoyances,suspicions,andprecautionstogetherwithageneralpropaganda,
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affectingallotherclasses,ofthenecessityofaninternationalantagonismthatcreepspersistently towardswar. Butwhilethemethodsofprovokingwaremployedbythepatrioticclassesaretraditional,modern sciencehasmadeanewandenormouslymorepowerfulthingofwarfareand,astheGreatWarshowed, eventhemostconservativegeneralsonbothsidesareunabletopreventthegiganticinterventionsofthe mechanicianandthechemist.Sothatasituationisbroughtaboutinwhichthemilitaristelementis unabletofightwithoutthesupportofthemodernindustrialorganizationandtheacquiescenceofthe greatmassofpeople.Weareconfrontedthereforeatthepresenttimewiththeparadoxicalsituationthat apatriotictraditionsustainsinpowerandauthoritywarlikeclasseswhoarequiteincapableofcarrying onwar.Theotherclassestowhichtheymustgoforsupportwhenthedisasterofwarisactually achievedareclassesdevelopedunderpeaceconditions,whichnotonlyhavenopositiveadvantagein war,butmust,asawhole,suffergreatdislocation,discomfort,destruction,anddistressfromwar.Itisof primaryimportancetherefore,totheformallydominantclassesthatthesenewsocialmassesandpowers shouldremainundertheswayoftheoldsocial,sentimental,andromantictraditions,andequally importantisittotheOpenConspiracythattheyshouldbereleased. Herewebringintoconsiderationanothergreatcomplexofpersons,interests,traditionstheworldof education,thevariousreligiousorganizations,and,beyondthese,theramifying,indeterminateworldof newspapersandotherperiodicals,books,thedrama,art,andalltheinstrumentsofpresentationand suggestionthatmouldopinionanddirectaction.Thesumoftheoperationsofthiscomplexwillbe eithertosustainortodemolishtheoldnationalistmilitantascendancy.Itseasiestimmediatecourseisto acceptit.Educationalorganizationsonthataccountarenowlargelyaconservativeforceinthe community;theyareinmostcasesdirectlycontrolledbyauthorityandboundofficiallyaswellas practicallytorespectcurrentfearsandprejudices.Itevokesfewerdifficultiesforthemiftheylimitand mouldratherthanreleasetheyoung.Theschoolmastertends,therefore,toacceptandstandardizeand stereotype,evenintheliving,progressivefieldsofscienceandphilosophy.Eventhereheisabrakeon theforwardmovement.ItisclearthattheOpenConspiracymusteithercontinuallydisturbandrevivify himorelsefranklyantagonizehim.Universitiesalsostrugglebetweenthehonourablepastonwhich theirprestigerests,andtheneedofadaptationtoaworldofenquiry,experiment,andchange.Itisan openquestionwhethertheseparticularorganizationsofintellectualprestigeareofanyrealvalueinthe livingworld.Amodernworldplanneddenovowouldprobablyproducenothinglikeacontemporary university.Modernresearch,onemayargue,wouldbestimulatedratherthaninjuredbycomplete detachmentfromthelingeringmediaevalismofsuchinstitutions,theirentanglementwithadolescent education,andtheirancientandcontagiousconceptionsofprecedenceandhonour. Ordinaryreligiousorganizations,again,existforselfpreservationandarepronetofollowratherthan directthecurrentsofpopularthought.Theyarekeptalive,indeed,byrevivalismandnewdepartures whichattheoutlettheyareapttoresist,astheCatholicChurch,forinstance,resistedtheFranciscan awakening,buttheirformaldispositionisconservative.Theysaytoreligiousdevelopment,thusfarand nofarther. Here,inschool,college,andchurch,areactivitiesofthoughtandinstructionwhich,generallyspeaking, draguponthewheelsofprogress,butwhichneednotnecessarilydoso.Aschoolmastermaybe original,stimulating,andcreative,andifheisfortunateandagoodfighterhemayevenachieve considerableworldlysuccess;universityteachersandinvestigatorsmaystrikeoutuponnewlinesand
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yetescapedestructionbytheolderdons.Universitiescompeteagainstotheruniversitiesathomeand abroadandcannotaltogetheryieldtotheforcesofdullnessandsubservience.Theymustmaintaina certaindifferencefromvulgaropinionandacertainreputeofintellectualvirility. Aswepassfromthemoreorganizedtothelessorganizedintellectualactivities,wefindconservative influencedeclininginimportance,andafreerplayforthecreativedrive.Freshnessisaprimary conditionofjournalistic,literary,andartisticsuccess,andorthodoxyhasnothingnewtosayordo.But thedesireforfreshnessmaybesatisfiedalltooreadilybymerelyextravagant,superficial,and incoherentinventions. Theinfluenceofthisoldtraditionalnationalistsocialandpoliticalhierarchywhichblocksthewaytothe newworldisnot,however,exertedexclusivelythroughitscontroloverschoolsanduniversities.Noris thatindeeditsmorepowerfulactivity.WouldthatitwereThereisalsoadirect,lessdefinedcontactof theoldorderwiththenascentpowers,thatplaysafarmoreeffectivepartindelayingthedevelopment ofthemodernworldcommonweal.Necessarilytheoldorderhasdeterminedtheestablishedwayoflife, whichis,atitsbest,large,comfortable,amusing,respected.Itpossessesalltheentrancesandexitsand allthecontrolsoftheestablisheddailyround.Itisabletoexact,anditdoesexact,almostwithout design,manyconformities.Therecanbenoveryamplesociallife,therefore,forthosewhoare conspicuouslydissentient.Againtheoldorderhasacompleteprovisionforthegrowth,welfare,and advancementofitschildren.Itcontrolsthefountsofhonourandselfrespect;itprovidesamappedout worldofbehaviour.Thenewinitiativesmaketheirappearancehereandthereintheformofisolated individuals,hereaninventor,thereaboldorganizeroravigorousthinker.Apartfromhisspecificwork theinnovatingtypefindsthathemustfallinwithestablishedthingsorhiswomenfolkwillbe ostracized,andhewillbedistressedbyasenseofisolationeveninthemidstofsuccessfulactivities. Themoreintenselyheinnovatesinparticular,themorelikelyishetobetoobusytoseekoutkindred soulsandorganizeanewsociallifeingeneral.Thenewthingsandideas,evenwhentheyarise abundantly,arisescatteredandunorganized,andtheoldordertakestheminitsnet.Americafor examplebothonitsLatinandonitsEnglishspeakingsideisinmanywaysatriumphoftheoldorder overthenew. MenlikeWinwoodReadethoughtthattheNewWorldwouldbeindeedanewworld.Theyidealized itsapparentemancipations.Butasthemoresuccessfulofthetoilingfarmersandtradersofrepublican Americaroseonebyonetoaffluence,leisure,andfreedom,itwasfarmoreeasyforthemtoadoptthe polishedandpreparedsocialpatternsandusagesofEuropethantoworkoutanewcivilizationin accordancewiththeirequalitarianprofessions.YetthereremainsagapintheiradaptedSociety.Henry James,thatacuteobserverofsubtlesocialflavours,haspointedoutthepeculiarheadlessnessofsociallife inAmericabecauseoftheabsenceofcourtfunctionstogoontoandjustifytheassemblingand dressing.ThesociallifehasimitatedthepreparationfortheCourtwithoutanypoliticaljustification.In EuropetheassimilationofthewealthyEuropeanindustrialistandfinancierbytheoldorderhasbeen parallelandnaturallymorelogicallycomplete.Hereallyhasfoundacourttogoonto.Hissocial schemewasstillundecapitateduntilkingdomsbegantochangeintorepublicsafter1917. Inthiswaythecomplexofclassesvitallyinvolvedintheoldmilitantnationalistorderismightily reinforcedbymuchlargermassesofimitativeandannexedandmoreorlessassimilatedrichandactive people.Thegreatindustrialisthasmarriedthedaughterofthemarquisandhasacoupleofsonsinthe Guardsandadaughterwhoisaprincess.ThemoneyoftheAmericanLeeds,fleeingfromthesocial
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futilityofitslandoforigin,helpedbolsterupamischievousmonarchyinGreece.Thefunctionaland privatelivesofthenewmenarethusatwarwithoneanother.Therealinterestsofthegreatindustrialist orfinancierlieincosmopolitanorganizationandthematerialdevelopmentoftheworldcommonweal, buthiswomenfolkpinflagsalloverhim,andhissonsarepreparedtosacrificethemselvesandallhis businesscreationsforthesakeoftritesplendoursandRuritanianromance. Butjustsofarasthegreatbusinessorganizeriscapableandcreative,sofarishelikelytorealizeand resentthepriceinfrustrationthattheoldorderobligeshimtopayforamusement,socialinterest,and domesticpeaceandcomfort.TheOpenConspiracythreatenshimwithnoeffacement;itmayeven appearwithanairofrelease.Ifhehadwomenwhowereinterestedinhisbusinessaffairsinsteadof womenwhohadtobeamused,andifherealizedintimethepractical,intellectual,andmoralkidnapof sonsanddaughtersbytheoldorderthatgoeson,hemightpassquiteeasilyfromacquiescenceto antagonism.Butinthisrespecthecannotasinglehanded.Thisisasocialandnotanindividual operation.TheOpenConspiracy,itisclear,mustincludeinitsactivitiesagreatfightforthesoulsof economicallyfunctionalpeople.ItmustcarveoutaSocietyofitsownfromSociety.Onlybythecreation ofanewandbettersociallifecanitresistthemanyadvantagesandattractionsoftheold. Thisconstantgravitationbacktotraditionalusesonthepartofwhatmightbecomenewsocialtypes appliesnotmerelytobigpeoplebuttosuchsmallpeopleasarereallyfunctionalinthemodern economicscheme.Thehavenosociallifeadaptedtotheirneweconomicrelationships,andtheyforced backuponthemethodsofbehaviourestablishedforwhatwereroughlytheiranaloguesintheoldorder ofthings.Thevarioussortsofmanagersandforemeninbigmodernconcerns,forexample,carryon waysoflivingtheyhavetakenreadymadefromthestewards,tradesmen,tenantry,andupperservants ofanaristocraticterritorialsystem.Theyreleasethemselvesandarereleasedalmostinspiteof themselves,slowly,generationbygeneration,fromhabitsofsocialsubserviencethatarenolonger necessarynorconvenientinthesocialprocess,acquireanofficialprideinthemselvesandtakeonnew conceptionsofresponsibleloyaltytoascheme.Andtheyfindthemselvesundersuggestionsofclass aloofnessandsuperioritytothegeneralmassoflesscardinalworkers,thatareoftenunjustifiableunder newconditions.Machineryandscientificorganizationhavebeenandstillarerevolutionizing productiveactivitybytheprogressiveeliminationoftheunskilledworker,thehack,themeretoiler.But thesocialorganizationofthemoderncommunityandthemutualdeportmentoftheassociatedworkers leftoverafterthiseliminationarestillhauntedbythetraditionofthelord,themiddleclasstenant,and theservilehind.Thedevelopmentofselfrespectandmutualrespectamongthemassofmodern functionalworkersisclearlyanintimateconcernoftheOpenConspiracy. AvastamountofmoralforcehasbeenwastedinthepasthundredyearsbytheantagonismofLabour toCapital,asthoughthisweretheprimaryissueinhumanaffairs.Butthisneverwastheprimary issue,anditissteadilyrecedingfromitsformerimportance.Theancientcivilizationsdidactuallyrest uponabroadbasisofslaveryandserfdom.Humanmusclewasamainsourceofenergyrankingwith sun,wind,andflood.Butinventionanddiscoveryhavesochangedtheconditionsunderwhichpower isdirectedandutilizedthatmusclebecomeseconomicallysecondaryandinessential.Wenolonger wanthewersofwoodanddrawersofwater,carriersandpickandspademen.Wenolongerwantthat breedingswarmofheftysweatybodieswithoutwhichtheformercivilizationscouldnothaveendured. Wewantwatchfulandunderstandingguardiansanddriversofcomplexdelicatemachines,whichcan bemishandledandbrutalizedandspoiltalltooeasily.Thelessdisposedthesemastersofourmachines aretoinordinatemultiplication,themoreroomandfoodintheworldfortheiramplerlives.Eventothe
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lowestlevelofafullymechanicalizedcivilizationitisrequiredthatthehumanelementshouldbe select.Inthemodernworld,crowdsareasurvival,andtheywillpresentlybeananachronism,and crowdpsychologythereforecannotsupplythebasisofaneworder.Itisjustbecauselabouris becomingmoreintelligent,responsible,andindividuallyefficientthatitisbecomingmoreaudibleand impatientinsocialaffairs. Itisjustbecauseitisnolongermereganglabour,andisbecomingmoreandmoreintelligentco operationindetail,thatitnowresentsbeingtreatedasaserf,housedlikeaserf,fedlikeaserf,and herdedlikeaserf,anditsprideandthoughtsandfeelingsdisregarded.Labourisinrevoltbecauseasa matteroffactitis,intheancientandexactsenseoftheword,ceasingtobelabouratall. Themoreprogressiveelementsofthedirectiveclassesrecognizethis,but,aswehaveshown,thereare formidableforcesstilltendingtomaintaintheoldsocialattitudeswhenarrogancebecametherulerand thecommonmanacceptedhisservilestatus.Acontinualresistanceisofferedbylargesectionsofthe prosperousandadvantagedtothelargerclaimsofthemodernizedworker,andinresponsetherising anddifferentiatingworkersdevelopanangryantagonismtothesedirectiveclasseswhichallow themselvestobecontrolledbytheirconservativeandreactionaryelements.Moreover,theincreasing relativeintelligenceofthelabourmasses,theunprecedentedimaginativestimulationtheyexperience, thecontinuallymorewidespreadrealizationoftheavailablefreedomsandcomfortsandindulgences thatmightbeandarenotsharedbyallinamodernstate,developarecalcitrancewhereoncetherewas littlebutfatalisticacquiescence.Anobjectiontodirectionandobligation,alwaysmutelypresentinthe toilingmultitudesincetheeconomiclifeofmanbegan,becomesarticulateandactive.Itisthetasteof freedomthatmakeslabourdesiretobefree.Thisseriesoffrictionsisaquiteinevitableaspectofsocial reorganization,butitdoesnotconstituteaprimaryantagonismintheprocess. Theclasswarwasinventedbytheclasses;itisanaturaltraditionoftheupperstrataoftheoldorder.It wassouniversallyunderstoodthattherewasnoneedtostateit.Itisimplicitinnearlyalltheliterature oftheworldbeforethenineteenthcenturyexcepttheBible,theKoran,andothersequelae.Theclass waroftheMarxistismerelyapoorsnobbishimitation,atuquoque,apathetic,stupid,indignant reversalofandretorttotheoldarrogance,apatheticupwardarrogance. TheseconflictscutacrossratherthanopposeorhelptheprogressivedevelopmenttowhichtheOpen Conspiracydevotesitself.Labour,awakened,enquiring,andindignant,isnotnecessarilyprogressive;if theordinaryundistinguishedworkerisnolongertobedrivenasabeastofburthen,hehaswhichalso goesagainstthegraintobeeducatedtoashighalevelofcooperativeefficiencyaspossible.Hehasto workbetter,evenifheworksformuchshorterhoursandunderbetterconditions,andhisworkmustbe subordinatedworkstill;hecannotbecomeenmassesoleownerandmasterofaschemeofthingshedid notmakeandisincapableofdirecting.YetthisistheambitionimplicitinanexclusivelyLabour movement.EithertheLabourrevolutionaryhopestocadgetheservicesofexceptionalpeoplewithout acknowledgmentorreturnonsentimentalgrounds,orhereallybelievesthatanyoneisascapableas anyoneelseifnotmoreso.Theworkeratalowlevelmaybeflatteredbydreamsofclassconscious massdominionfromwhichallsenseofinferiorityisbanished,buttheywillremaindreams.Thedeep instinctivejealousyofthecommonplaceindividualforoutstandingqualityandnovelinitiativemaybe organizedandturnedtosabotageanddestruction,masqueradingasandaspiringtobeanewsocial order,butthatwillbeablindalleyandnottheroadofprogress.Ourhopeforthehumanfuturedoes notlieincrowdpsychologyandtheindiscriminatingruleofuniversaldemocracy.
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TheOpenConspiracycanhavelittleuseformereresentmentsasadrivingforcetowardsitsends;it startswithaproposalnottoexaltthelabourclassbuttoabolishit,itssustainingpurposeistothrow drudgesoutofemploymentandeliminatetheineptanditisfarmorelikelytoincursuspicionand distrustinthelowerranksofthedevelopingindustrialorderoftodaythantowinsupportthere.There, justaseverywhereelseinthechangingsocialcomplexesofourtime,itcanappealonlytothe exceptionallyunderstandingindividualwhocanwithoutpersonalhumiliationconsiderhispresent activitiesandrelationshipsasprovisionalandwhocan,withouttakingoffence,endureasearching criticisingofhispresentqualityandmodeofliving.
XII THERESISTANCESOFTHELESSINDUSTRIALIZEDPEOPLESTOTHEDRIVE OFTHEOPENCONSPIRACY

Sofar,inouraccountingofthepowers,institutions,dispositions,types,andclasseswhichwillbe naturallyopposedtotheOpenConspiracy,wehavesurveyedonlysuchterritoryinthedomainofthe futureworldcommonwealasisrepresentedbythecomplex,progressive,highlyindustrialized communities,basedonaprecedinglandlordsoldier,tenant,townmerchant,andtradesmansystem,of theAtlantictype.Thesecommunitieshavedevelopedfarthestinthedirectionofmechanicalization,and theyaresomuchmoreefficientandpowerfulthattheynowdominatetherestoftheworld.India,China, Russia,Africapresentmlangesofsocialsystems,throwntogether,outpaced,overstrained,shattered, invaded,exploited,andmoreorlesssubjugatedbythefinance,machinery,andpoliticalaggressionsof theAtlantic,Baltic,andMediterraneancivilization.Inmanywaystheyhaveanairofassimilating themselvestothatcivilization,evolvingmoderntypesandclasses,andabandoningmuchoftheir distinctivetraditions.ButwhattheytakefromtheWestismainlythenewdevelopments,thematerial achievements,ratherthanthesocialandpoliticalachievements,that,empoweredbymoderninventions, havewontheirwaytoworldpredominance.TheymayinitiateEuropeannationalismtoacertainextent; forthemitbecomesaconvenientformofselfassertionagainstthepressureofarealizedpracticalsocial andpoliticalinferiority;butthedegreetowhichtheywillorcantakeoverthesocialassumptionsand habitsofthelongestablishedEuropeanAmericanhierarchyisprobablyveryrestricted.Their nationalismwillremainlargelyindigenous;thesocialtraditionsinwhichtheywilltrytomakethenew materialforcessubservientwillbetraditionsofanOrientallifewidelydifferentfromtheoriginallifeof Europe.TheywillhavetheirownresistancestotheOpenConspiracy,therefore,buttheywillbe differentresistancesfromthosewehavehithertoconsidered.Theautomobileandthewirelessset,the harvesterandsteelconstructionbuilding,willcometothejunglerajahandtheheadhunter,theBrahmin andtheIndianpeasant,withaparallelandyetdissimilarmessagetotheonetheybroughttheBritish landownerorthecornandcattlefarmersoftheArgentineandtheMiddleWest.Alsotheymaybe expectedtoevokedissimilarreactions.Toanumberofthefiner,moreenergeticmindsofthese overshadowcommunitieswhichhavelaggedmoreorlessillthematerialadvancestwhichthispresent ascendancyofwesternEuropeandAmericaisdue,theOpenConspiracymaycomewithaneffectof immenseinvitationAtonesteptheymaygofromthesinkingvesseloftheirantiquatedorder,across theirpresentconquerors,intoabrotherhoodofworldrulersTheymayturntotheproblemofsavingand adaptingallthatisrichanddistinctiveoftheirinheritancetothecommonendsoftherace.Buttothe lessvigorousintelligencesofthisouterworld,thenewprojectoftheOpenConspiracywillseemno betterthananewformofWesternenvelopmentandtheywillfightamightyliberationasthoughitwere afurtherenslavementtotheEuropeantradition.TheywillwatchtheOpenConspiracyforanysignsof
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conscioussuperiorityandracialdisregard.NecessarilytheywillrecognizeitasaproductofWestern mentalityandtheymaywellbetemptedtoregarditasanelaborationandorganizationofcurrent dispositionsratherthantheevolutionofanewphasewhichwillmakenodiscriminationatlastbetween theeffetetraditionsofeitherEastorWest.Theirsuspicionswillbesustainedanddevelopedbythe clumsyandmuddleheadedpoliticalandeconomicaggressionsofthecontemporarypoliticaland businesssystems,suchastheyare,oftheWest,nowinprogress.Behindthatcloudofaggression Westernthoughthasnecessarilyadvanceduponthem.Itcouldhavegottotheirattentioninnoother way. PartlytheseresistancesandcriticismsofthedecadentcommunitiesoutsidetheAtlanticcapitalist systemwillbeaimed,notatthedevelopingmethodsofthecomingworldcommunity,butatthe Europeantraditionsandrestrictionsthathaveimposedthemselvesuponthesemethods,andsofarthe clashoftheEastandWestmaybefoundtosubservetheaimsoftheOpenConspiracy.Intheconflictof oldtraditionsandintheconsequentdeadlocksliesmuchhopeforthedirectacceptanceofthegroupsof ideascentringupontheOpenConspiracyOneofthemostinterestingareasofhumanityinthisrespect isthegreatsystemofcommunitiesundertheswayorinfluenceofSovietRussia.Russiahasneverbeen completelyincorporatedwiththeEuropeansystem;shebecameajustpassableimitationofawestern Europeanmonarchyintheseventeenthandeighteenthcenturies,andtalkedatlastofconstitutionsand parliamentsbuttherealityofthatvastempireremainedanAsiaticdespotism,andtheEuropeanmask wasaltogethersmashedbythesuccessiverevolutionsof1917.Theensuingsystemisagovernment presidingoveranenormousextentofpeasantsandherdsmen,byadisciplinedassociationprofessing thefaithanddogmasofMarx,asinterpretedandqualifiedbyLeninandStalin. Inmanywaysthisgovernmentisanoveltyofextraordinaryinterest.Itlaboursagainstenormous difficultieswithinitselfandwithout.Flungamazinglyintoapositionoftremendouspower,its intellectualflexibilityisgreatlyrestrictedbytheurgentmilitantnecessityformentalunanimityanda consequentrepressionofcriticism.Itfindsitselfseparated,intellectuallyandmorally,byanenormous gapfromtheilliteratemillionsoverwhichitrules.Moreopenperhapstoscientificandcreative conceptionsthananyothergovernment,andcertainlymorewillingtoexperimentandinnovate,its enterpriseisstarvedbytheeconomicdepletionofthecountryintheGreatWarandbythetechnicaland industrialbackwardnessofthepopulationuponwhichitmustdrawforitspersonnel.Moreover,it struggleswithinitselfbetweenconceptsofamodernscientificsocialorganizationandavague anarchisticdreaminwhichtheStateistodisappear,andanemancipatedproletariat,breedingand expectoratingfreely,fillsthevistasoftimeforevermore.Thetraditionoflongyearsofhopeless oppositionhastaintedtheworldpolicyoftheMarxistcultwithamischievousandirritatingqualitythat focusesuponittheanimosityofeverygovernmentinthedominantAtlanticsystem.Marxismneverhad anybutthevaguestfanciesabouttherelationofonenationtoanother,andthenewRussian government,forallitscosmopolitanphrases,ismoreandmoreplainlytheheirtotheobsessionsof TsaristImperialism,usingtheCommunistparty,asothercountrieshaveusedChristianmissionaries,to maintainapropagandistgovernmenttoforwarditsschemes.Nevertheless,theSovietgovernmenthas maintaineditselfformorethantwelveyears,anditseemsfarmorelikelytoevolvethantopersist.Itis quitepossiblethatitwillevolvetowardstheconceptionsoftheOpenConspiracy,andinthatcase RussiamaywitnessonceagainaconflictbetweennewideasandOldBelievers.SofartheCommunist partyinMoscowhasmaintainedaconsiderablepropagandaofideasintherestoftheworldand especiallyacrossitswesternfrontier.Manyoftheseideasarenowtriteandstale.Thetimemaybenot fardistantwhenthetideofpropagandawillflowinthereversedirection.Ithaspleasedthevanityofthe
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Communistpartytoimagineitselfconductingapropagandaofworldrevolution.Itsfatemaybeto developuponlinesthatwillmakeitsmoreintelligentelementseasilyassimilabletotheOpen Conspiracyforaworldrevolution.TheOpenConspiracyasitspreadsandgrowsmayfindaless encumberedfieldfortryingouttheeconomicdevelopmentsimplicitinitsconceptionsinRussiaand Siberiathananywhereelseintheworld. HoweverseverelytheguidingthemesandpracticalmethodsofthepresentSovietgovernmentinRussia maybecriticized,thefactremainsthatithasclearedoutofitswaymanyofthemainobstructive elementsthatwefindstillvigorousinthemorehighlyorganizedcommunitiesintheWest.Ithas liberatedvastareasfromthekindredsuperstitionsofmonarchyandtheneedforaprivateproprietary controlofgreateconomicinterests.AndithaspresentedbothChinaandIndiawiththeexciting spectacleofasocialandpoliticalsystemcapableofthrowingoffmanyofthemostcharacteristicfeatures oftriumphantWesternism,andyetholdingitsown.InthedayswhenJapanfaceduptomodern necessitiestherewerenomodelsforimitationthatwerenotcommunitiesoftheAtlantictypepervaded bythemethodsofprivatecapitalism,andinconsequencetheJapanesereconstitutedtheiraffairsona distinctlyEuropeanplan,adoptingaParliamentandbringingtheirmonarchy,socialhierarchy,and businessandfinancialmethodsintoageneralconformitywiththatmodel.Itisextremelydoubtful whetheranyotherAsiaticcommunitywillnowsetitselftoaparallelimitation,anditwillbethanks largelytotheRussianrevolutionthatthisbreakawayfromEuropeanizationhasoccurred. ButitdoesnotfollowthatsuchabreakawaywillnecessarilyleadmoredirectlytotheOpenConspiracy. IfwehavetofacealesshighlyorganizedsystemofinterestsandprejudicesinRussiaandChina,we havetodealwithavastlywiderignoranceandavastlymoreformidableanimalism.Russiaisalandof tensofmillionsofpeasantsruledoverbyalittlebandoftheintelligentsiawhocanbecountedonlyby tensofthousands.Itisonlythesefewscorethousandswhoareaccessibletoideasofworldconstruction, andtheonlyhopeofbringingtheRussiansystemintoactiveparticipationintheworldconspiracyis throughthatsmallminorityandthroughitseducationalrepercussiononthemyriadsbelow.Aswego eastwardfromEuropeanRussiatheproportionofsoundlypreparedintelligencetowhichwecan appealforunderstandingandparticipationdiminishestoanevenmoredismayingfraction.Eliminate thatfraction,andoneisleftfacetofacewithinchoatebarbarismincapableofsocialandpolitical organizationabovethelevelofthewarbossandthebrigandleader.Russiaitselfisstillbynomeans secureagainstadegenerativeprocessinthatdirection,andthehopeofChinastrugglingoutofit withoutsomeforcibledirectiveinterventionsisahopetowhichconstructiveliberalismclingswithvery littleassurance. WeturnbackthereforefromRussia,ChinaandthecommunitiesofCentralAsiatotheAtlanticworld.It isinthatworldalonethatsufficientrangeandamplitudeofthoughtanddiscussionarepossibleforthe adequatedevelopmentoftheOpenConspiracy.Inthesecommunitiesitmustbeginandforalongtime itsmainactivitieswillneedtobesustainedfromthesenecessarycentresofdiffusion.Itwilldevelop amidstincessantmentalStrife,andthroughthatstrifeitwillremainalive.Itisnosmallpartofthe practicalweaknessofpresentdaycommunismthatitattemptstocentreitsintellectuallifeandits directiveactivitiesinMoscowandsocutsitselfofffromthefreeandopendiscussionsoftheWestern world.MarxismlosttheworldwhenitwenttoMoscowandtookoverthetraditionsofTsarismas ChristianitylosttheworldwhenitwenttoRomeandtookoverthetraditionsofCaesar.Entrenchedin Moscowfromsearchingcriticism,theMarxistideologymaybecomemoreandmoredogmaticand unprogressive,repeatingitssacredcredoandissuingitsdisregardedorderstotheproletariatofthe
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world,andsostayineffectivelycrystallizeduntiltherisingtideoftheOpenConspiracysubmerges, dissolvesitafresh,andincorporateswhateveritfindsassimilable. India,likeJapan,iscutofffromthemainbodyofAsiaticaffairs.ButwhileJapanhasbecomeaformally Westernizednationalityinthecomityofsuchnations,Indiaremainsaworldinitself.Inthatone peninsulanearlyeverytypeofcommunityistobefound,fromthetribeofjunglesavages,througha greatdiversityofbarbaricandmediaevalprincipalities,tothechildandwomensweatingfactoriesand thevigorousmoderncommercialismofBombay.OveritalltheBritishimperialismprevails,a constrainingandrestraininginfluence,keepingthepeace,checkingepidemics,increasingthefood supplybyirrigationandthelike,andmakinglittleornoefforttoevokeresponsestomodernideas. BritaininIndiaisnopropagandistofmodernferments:allthosearelefttheothersideofSuez.InIndia theBritonisarulerasfirmandselfassuredanduncreativeastheRoman.Theoldreligiousandsocial traditions,thecomplexcustoms,castes,tabus,andexclusionsofastrangelymixedbutunamalgamated community,thoughalittlediscreditedbythisforeignpredominance,stillholdmensminds.Theyhave been,sotospeak,pickledinthepreservativeoftheBritishraj. TheOpenConspiracyhastoinvadetheIndiancomplexinconflictwiththeprejudicesofbothrulerand governed.IthastohopeforindividualbreachesinthedullRomanismoftheadministration:herea genuineeducationist,hereacreativecivilservant,hereanofficialtouchedbythedistantstirofthe livinghomeland;andithastotrytobringthesetypesintoacooperativerelationshipwithafinenative scholarhereoranactivemindedprinceorlandownerorindustrialistthere.Astheoldmethodsof passengertransportaresupersededbyflying,itwillbemoreandmoredifficulttokeepthestirofthe livinghomelandoutofeithertheconsciousnessoftheofficialhierarchyortheknowledgeofthe recalcitrantnative. VerysimilartoIndianconditionsisthestateofaffairsintheforeignpossessionsofFrance,thesame administrativeobstaclestotheOpenConspiracyabove,andbelowthesameresentfulsubordination, cutofffromthementalinvigorationofresponsibility.Withintheseareasofrestraint,Indiaanditslesser, simplerparallelsinNorthAfrica,SyriaandtheFarEast,theregoesonarapidincreaseoflowgrade population,undersizedphysicallyandmentally,andretardingthemechanicaldevelopmentof civilizationbyitsstandingofferofcheaplabourtotheunscrupulousentrepreneur,andpossiblefeeble insurrectionarymaterialtotheunscrupulouspoliticaladventurer.Itisimpossibletoestimatehow slowlyorhowrapidlytheknowledgeandideasthathavecheckedtherateofincreaseofalltheAtlantic populationsmaybediffusedthroughtheselessalertcommunities. WemustcompleteoursurveyoftheresistancesagainstwhichtheOpenConspiracyhastoworkbya fewwordsabouttheNegroworldandtheregionsofforestandjungleinwhichbarbaricandeven savagehumanlifestillescapestheinfectionofcivilization.Itseemsinevitablethatthedevelopmentof modernmeansofcommunicationandtheconquestoftropicaldiseasesshouldendingivingaccess everywheretomodernadministrationandtoeconomicmethods,andeverywheretheincorporationof theformerwildernessinthemoderneconomicprocessmeansthedestructionofthematerialbasis,the freehunting,thefreeaccesstothesoil,ofsuchbarbaricandsavagecommunitiesasstillprecariously survive.Theduskypeoples,whowereformerlythelordsofthesestillimperfectlyassimilateareas,are becomingexploitedworkers,slaves,serfs,huttaxpayers,labourerstoacasteofwhiteimmigrants.The spiritoftheplantationbroodsoveralltheselands.TheNegroinAmericadiffersonlyfromhis subjugatedbrotherinSouthAfricaorKenyaColonyinthefactthathealso,likehiswhitemaster,isan
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immigrant.ThesituationinAfricaandAmericaadjustsitselfthereforetowardsparallelconditions,the chiefvariationbeingintherelativeproportionsofthetworacesandthedetailsofthemethodsbywhich blacklabourismadetoservewhiteends. Intheseblackandwhitecommunitieswhichareestablishingthemselvesinallthosepartsoftheearth whereoncetheblackwasnative,orinwhichasubtropicalclimateisfavourabletohisexistenceatalow levelofsocialdevelopment,thereisandthereisboundtobeformanyyearstocomemuchracial tension.Thesteadyadvanceofbirthcontrolmaymitigatethebiologicalfactorsofthistensionlateron, andageneralameliorationofmannersandconductmayeffacethatdispositiontopersecutedissimilar types,whichmanshareswithmanyothergregariousanimals.Butmeanwhilethistensionincreasesand avastmultitudeoflivesisstrainedtotragicissues. Toexaggeratethedangersandevilsofmiscegenationisaweaknessofourtime.Maninterbreedswith allhisvarietiesandyetdeludeshimselfthatthereareracesofoutstandingpurity,theNordic,the Semitic,andsoforth.Thesearephantomsoftheimagination.Therealityismoreintricate,less dramatic,andgripslesseasilyuponthemind;thephantomsgriponlytoowellandincitetoterrible suppressions.Changesinthenumberofhalfbreedsandintheproportionofwhiteandcolouredare changesofatemporarynaturethatmaybecomecontrollableandrectifiableinafewgenerations.But untilthislevelofcivilizationisreached,untilthecolourofamansskinorthekinksinawomanshair ceasetohavethevalueofshibbolethsthatinvolveeducational,professional,andsocialextinctionor survival,ablackandwhitecommunityisboundtobecontinuallypreoccupiedbyastandingfeudtoo intimateandpersuasivetopermitofanylongviewsoftheworldsdestiny. Wecometotheconclusionthereforethatitisfromthemorevigorous,varied,andlessseverely obsessedcentresoftheAtlanticcivilizationsinthetemperatezone,withtheirabundantfacilitiesfor publicationanddiscussion,theirtraditionsofmentallibertyandtheirimmensevarietyofinteracting freetypes,thatthemainbeginningsoftheOpenConspiracymustdevelop.Fortherestoftheworld,its propaganda,findingbutpoornourishmentinthelocalconditions,mayretainamissionaryqualityfor manyyears.
XIII RESISTANCESANDANTAGONISTICFORCESINOURCONSCIOUSAND UNCONSCIOUSSELVES

Wehavedealtintheprecedingtwochapterswithgreatclassesandassemblagesofhumanbeingsas,in themass,likelytobemoreorlessantagonistictotheOpenConspiracy,andithasbeendifficultinthose chapterstoavoidtheimplicationthatwe,somesortofcircleroundthewriter,werealooffromthese obstructiveandhostilemultitudes,andourselvesentirelyidentifiedwiththeOpenConspiracy.But neitherarethesemultitudessodefinitelyagainst,northosewhoarewithussoentirelyfor,theOpen Conspiracytoestablishaworldcommunityasthewriter,inhisdesireforclearnessandcontrastand withanalltoohumandispositionperhapstowardsplainegocentredcombativeissues,hasbeenledto represent.Thereisnowe,andtherecanbenowe,inpossessionoftheOpenConspiracy. TheOpenConspiracyisinpartialpossessionofus,andweattempttoserveit.ButtheOpenConspiracy isanaturalandnecessarydevelopmentofcontemporarythoughtarisinghere,there,andeverywhere. TherearedoubtsandsympathiesthatweighonthesideoftheOpenConspiracyinnearlyeveryone,and
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notoneofusbutretainsmanyimpulses,habits,andideasinconflictwithourgeneraldevotion, checkingandlimitingourservice. Letusthereforeinthischapterceasetodiscussclassesandtypesandconsidergeneralmental tendenciesandreactionswhichmovethroughallhumanity. Inouropeningchapterswepointedoutthatreligionisnotuniversallydistributedthroughouthuman society.Andofnoonedoesitseemtohavecompletepossession.Itseizesuponsomeofusandexalts usforonehournowandthen,foradaynowandthen;itmayleaveitsafterglowuponourconductfor sometime;itmayestablishrestraintsandhabitualdispositions;sometimesitdominatesuswithbut briefintermissionsthroughlongspells,andthenwecanbesaintsandmartyrs.Inallourreligious phasesthereappearsadesiretoholdthephase,tosubduetherestofourlifetothestandardsand exigenciesofthatphase.Ourquickenedintelligencesetsitselftoageneralanalysisofourconductand totheproblemofestablishingcontrolsoverourunilluminatedintervals. Andwhenthereligiouselementsinthemindsetthemselvestosuchselfanalysis,andattempttoorder andunifythewholebeinguponthisbasisoftheserviceandadvancementoftherace,theydiscoverfirst agreatseriesofindifferentmoods,whereintheresistancetothoughtandwordfortheOpenConspiracy ismerelypassiveandinthenatureofinertia.Thereisawholeclassofstatesofmindwhichmaybe broughttogetherundertheheadofeverydayism.Thedinnerbellandtheplayingfields,thecinema andthenewspaper,theweekendvisitandthefactorysiren,ahostofsuchexpectantthingscallstoa vastmajorityofpeopleinourmodernworldtostopthinkingandgetbusywiththeinterestinhand,and soontothenext,withoutathoughtforthegeneralframeanddramainwhichthesemomentaryand personalincidentsareset.Wearedrivenalongthesemarkedandestablishedroutesandturnedthis wayorthatbytheaccidentsofupbringing,ofrivalriesandloves,ofchanceencountersandvivid experiences,anditisrarelyformanyofus,andneverforsome,thatthephasesofbroadreflectionand selfquestioningarise.Formanypeoplethereligiouslifenow,asinthepast,hasbeenaquitedesperate efforttowithdrawsufficientattentionandenergyfromthefloodofeventstogetsomesortofgrasp,and keepwhatevergripiswon,upontherelationsoftheselftothewhole.Farmorerecoilinterrorfrom suchapossibilityandwouldstrugglestrenuouslyagainstsolitudeinthedesert,solitudeunderthe stars,solitudeinasilentroomorindeedanyoccasionforcomprehensivethought. Buttheinstinctandpurposeofthereligioustypeistokeepholduponthecomprehensivedrama,andat theheartofallthegreatreligionsoftheworldwefindaparalleldispositiontoescapeinsomemanner fromtheaimlessdriveandcompulsionofaccidentandeveryday.Escapeisattemptedeitherby withdrawalfromthepresenceofcrowdingcircumstanceintoamysticalcontemplationandaustere retirement,orwhatismoredifficultanddesperateandreasonablebyimposingthemightystandards ofenduringissuesuponthewholemassoftransitoryproblemswhichconstitutetheactualbusinessof life.Wehavealreadynotedhowthemodernmindturnsfromretreatasarecognizablemethodof religion,andfacessquarelyuptothesecondalternative.Thetumultoflifehastobemetandconquered. Aimmustprevailovertheaimless.Remaininginnormallifewemustyetkeepourwillsandthoughts alooffromnormallifeandfixeduponcreativeprocesses.Howeverbusiedwemaybe,however challenged,wemustyetsavesomethingofourbestmentalactivityforselfexaminationandkeep ourselvesalertagainsttheendlesstreacherieswithinthatwouldtripusbackintoeverydayismand disconnectedresponsestothestimulioflife. Religionsinthepast,thoughtheyhavebeenapttogiveapreferencetotherenunciationofthings
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mundane,havesoughtbyaconsiderablevarietyofexpedientstopreservethefaithofthosewhom chanceordutystillkeptinnormalcontactwiththeworld.Itwouldprovidematerialforaninteresting studytoenquirehowitsorganizationstodothishaveworkedinthepastandhowfartheymaybe imitatedandparalleledintheprogressivelifeofthefuture.Allthewidereachingreligionswhichcame intoexistenceinthefivecenturiesbeforeandthefivecenturiesafterChristhavemadegreatuseof periodicmeetingsformutualreassurance,ofsacredbooks,creeds,fundamentalheartsearchings,of confession,prayer,sacraments,seasonsofwithdrawal,meditation,fasting,andprayer.Dothese methodsmarkaphaseintheworldsdevelopment,oraretheystilltobeconsideredavailable? Thispointstoaverydifficulttangleofpsychologicalproblems.Thewriterinhisearlierdraftofthis bookwrotethatthemodernreligiousindividualleads,spirituallyspeaking,alifeofextremewasteful anddangerousisolation.Hestillfeelsthatistrue,butherealizesthattheinventionofcorrectivedevices isnotwithinhisrange.HecannotpictureasecularMassnorcongregationssinginghymnsaboutthe OpenConspiracy.Perhapsthemodernsoulintroublewillresorttothepsychoanalystsinsteadofthe confessional;inwhichcaseweneedtoprayforbetterpsychoanalysts. Canthemodernmindworkinsocieties?Maythedailypaperbeslowlyusurpingthefunctionsof morningprayer,adailymentalreminderoflargethings,withmorevividnessand,atpresent,lower standards?Oneofthemostdistressfulfactsofthespreadofeducationinthenineteenthcenturywasthe unscrupulousexploitationofthenewreadingpublicbyagroupoftrashdealerswhogrewrichand mightyintheprocess.Isthepopularpublisherandnewspaperproprietoralwaystoremainatrash dealer?Orarewetosee,inthefuture,publicationstakingattimessomeoralloftheinfluenceof revivalistmovements,andparticularnewspapersrisingtothetaskofsustainingacommonfaithina gatheringsectionofthepublic? Themoderntempleinwhichweshallgotomeditatemaybeamuseum;themodernreligioushouse anditsreligiouslifemaybearesearchorganization.TheOpenConspiratormustseetoitthatthe museumsshowtheirmeaningplain.Theremaybenotonlyliteraturepresently,butevenplays,shows, andmusic,tosubservenewideasinsteadoftradingupontradition. Itisplainthattoreadandbemovedbygreatideasandtoformgoodresolutionswithnosubsequent remindersandmoralstocktakingisnoenoughtokeeppeopleinthewayoftheOpenConspiracy.The relapsetoeverydayismistooeasy.ThecontemporaryOpenConspiratormayforget,andhehasnothing toremindhim;hemayrelapse,andhewhearnoreproachtowarnhimofhisrelapse.Nowherehashe recordedvow.Everydayhasendlesswaysofjustifyingthereturnofthebelievertosceptical casualness.Itiseasytopersuadeoneselfthatoneistakinglifeoroneselftooseriously.Themindis veryselfprotective;hasadispositiontoabandontoogreatortoofarreachinganeffortandreturnto thingsindisputablywithinitsscope.Wehaveaninstinctivepreferenceforthinkingthingsareallright; weeconomizeanxiety;defendthedelusionsthatwecanworkwith,eventhoughwehalfrealizetheyare nomorethatdelusions.Weresentthewarningvoice,thecriticalquestionthatrobsouractivitiesof assurance.Oureverydaymoodsnotonlytheantagonistsofourreligiousmoods,buttheyresentall outwardappealstoourreligiousmoods,andtheywelcomeeveryhelpagainstreligiousappeals.We passveryreadilyfromthemerelydefensivetothedefensiveaggressive,andfromrefusingtohearthe wordthatmightstirourconsciencestoavigorousefforttosuppressitsutterance. Churches,religiousorganizations,trytokeeptherevivifyingphaseandusagewhereitmaystrikeupon thewaningorslumberingfaithoftheconvert,butmodernreligionasyethasnosuchorganized
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rebinders.Theycannotbeimprovised.Crudeattemptstosupplytheneededcorrectiveofconductmay dolessgoodthanharm.Eachoneofusforhimselfmustdowhathecantokeephishighresolveinmind andprotecthimselffromthesnareofhisownmoodsoffatigueorinadvertency. Butthesepassiveandactivedefencesofcurrentthingswhichoperateinandthroughourselves,andfind suchreadysympathyandassistanceintheworldaboutus,thesemassiveresistancesystems,areonly thebeginningofourtaleoftheforcesantagonistictotheOpenConspiracythatlurkinourcomplexities. Menarecreatureswithotherfaultsquitebeyondandoutsideourcommondispositiontobestupid, indolent,habitual,anddefensive.Notonlyhaveweactivecreativeimpulses,butalsoacutely destructiveones.Manisajealousanimal.Inyouthandadolescenceegotismisextravagant.Itisnatural forittobeextravagant,then,andthereisnohelpforit.Agreatnumberofusatthatstagewouldrather notseeabeautifulorwonderfulthingcomeintoexistencethenhaveitcomeintoexistencedisregarding us.Somethingofthatjealousmalice,thatselfassertiveruthlessness,remainsinallofusthroughoutlife. Athisworstmancanbeanexceedinglycombative,malignant,mischievousandcruelanimal.Noneof usarealtogetherabovethepossibilityofsuchphases.WhenweconsidertheoppositionstotheOpen Conspiracythatoperateinthenormalpersonality,weappreciatethesoundnessofthecatechismwhich instructsustorenouncenotonlythetrivialworldandtheheavyflesh,buttheactiveandmilitantdevil. Tomakeisalongandwearisomebusiness,withmanyarrestsanddisappointments,buttobreakgives aninstantthrill.Weallknowsomethingofthedelightofthebang.ItiswellfortheOpenConspiratorto askhimselfattimeshowfarheisinlovewiththedreamofaworldinorder,andhowfarheisdrivenby hatredofinstitutionsthatboreorhumiliatehim.Hemaybenomorethanarevengefulincendiaryinthe maskofaconstructiveworker.Howsafeishe,then,fromthereactiontosomefreshhumiliation?The OpenConspiracywhichisnowhisrefugeandvindicationmaypresentlyfailtogivehimthe compensationhehassought,mayofferhimnobetterthanaminorrle,maydisplayIrritatingand incomprehensiblepreferences.Andforagreatnumberofthingsinovertantagonismtothegreataimof theOpenConspiracy,hewillstillfindwithinhimselfnotsimplyacquiescencebutsympathyanda genuineifinconsistentadmiration.Theretheyare,waitingforhisphaseofdisappointment.Backhe maygototheoldloveswithanewanimusagainstthegreaterscheme.Hemaybegladtobequitof prigsandhumbugs,andbackamongthegoodfellowshipofnothinginparticular. Manhasprancedasoldierinrealityandfancyforsomanygenerationsthatfewofuscanaltogether releaseourimaginationsfromthebrilliantpretensionsofflags,empire,patriotism,andaggression. Businessmen,especiallyinAmerica,seemtofeelasortofgloryincallingeventheundersellingand overadvertisingofrivalenterprisesfighting.Pillvendorsandpublicdepartmentscanhavetheir wars,theirheroisms,theirdesperatemischiefs,andsogetthatNapoleonicfeeling.Theworldandour reveriesarefullofthesentimentalities,thefalsegloriesandloyaltiesoftheoldcombativetraditions, trailingafterthem,astheydo,somuchworthandvirtueinadulledandstupefiedcondition.Itis difficulttoresistthefinegravity,thehighselfrespect,theexamplesofhonourandgoodstyleinsmall things,thatthemilitaryandnavalservicescanpresenttous,forallthattheyarenownomorethan noxiousparasitesuponthenascentworldcommonweal.InFrancenotawordmaybesaidagainstthe army;inEngland,againstthenavy.TherewillbemanyOpenConspiratorsatfirstwhowillscarcely daretosaythatwordeventothemselves. Butalltheseobsoletevaluesandattitudeswithwhichourmindsarecumberedmustbeclearedoutif thenewfaithistohavefreeplay.Wehavetoclearthemoutnotonlyfromourownmindsbutfromthe
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mindsofotherswhoaretobecomeourassociates.Thefinerandmorepicturesquetheseobsolescent loyalties,obsolescentstandardsofhonour,obsolescentreligiousassociations,mayseemtous,themore thoroughlymustweseektoreleaseourmindsandthemindsofthoseaboutusfromthemandcutoffall thoughtofareturn. Wecannotcompromisewiththesevestigesoftheancientorderandbefaithfulservantsofthenew. Whateverweretainofthemwillcomebacktolifeandgrowagain.Itisnogoodtooperateforcancer unlessthewholegrowthisremoved.Leaveacrownaboutandpresentlyyouwillfinditbeingwornby someoneresolvedtobeaking.Keepthenameandimageofagodwithoutadistinctmuseumlabeland soonerorlateryouwilldiscoveraworshipperonhiskneestoitandbeluckynottofindahuman sacrificeuponthealtar.Waveaflaganditwillwrapaboutyou.Ofyourselfevenmorethanofthe communityisthistrue;thesecanbenohalfmeasures.Youhavenotyetcompletedyourescapetothe OpenConspiracyfromthecitiesoftheplainwhileitisstillpossibleforyoutotakeasinglebackward glance.
XIV THEOPENCONSPIRACYBEGINSASAMOVEMENTOFDISCUSSION, EXPLANATION,ANDPROPAGANDA

Anewandhappierworld,aworldcommunity,isawakening,withinthebodyoftheoldorder,tothe possibilityofitsemergence.Ourphrase,theOpenConspiracyismerelyanameforthatawakening. Tobeginwith,theOpenConspiracyisnecessarilyagroupofideas. Itisasystemofmodernideaswhichhasbeengrowingtogetherinthelastquarterofthecentury,and particularlysincethewar.Itisthereactionofarapidlyprogressingbiologicalconceptionoflifeandof enlargedhistoricalrealizationsupontheneedsandurgenciesofthetimes.Inthisbookweare attemptingtodefinethissystemandtogiveitthisprovisionalname.Essentiallyatfirstitisa disseminationofthisnewideologythatmustoccur.Thestatementmustbetriedoverandspreadbefore awideningcircleofpeople. SincetheideaoftheOpenConspiracyrestsuponandarisesoutofasynthesisofhistorical,biological, andsociologicalrealizations,wemaylookfortheserealizationsalreadyinthecaseofpeoplewith soundknowledgeinthesefields;suchpeoplewillbepreparedforacquiescencewithoutany explanatorywork;thereisnothingtosetouttothembeyondthesuggestionthatitistimetheybecame activelyconsciousofwheretheystand.TheyconstitutealreadytheOpenConspiracyinanunorganized solution,andtheywillnotsomuchadhereasadmittothemselvesandotherstheirstateofmind.They willsay,Weknewallthat.Directlywepassbeyondthatcomparativelyrestrictedworld,however,we findthatwehavetodealwithpartialknowledge,withdistortedviews,orwithblankignorance,and thatarevisionandextensionofhistoricalandbiologicalideasandaConsiderableelucidationof economicmisconceptionshavetobeundertaken.Suchpeoplehavetobebroughtuptodatewiththeir information. IhavetoldalreadyhowIhaveschemedoutagroupofwritingstoembodythenecessaryideasofthe newtimeinaformadaptedtothecurrentreadingpublic;IhavemadeasortofprovisionalBible,soto speak,forsomefactorsatleastintheOpenConspiracy.Itisanearlysketch.Asthecurrentreading publicchanges,allthisworkwillbecomeobsolescentsofarasitspresentformandmethodgo.Butnot
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sofarasitssubstantialmethodgoes.ThatIbelievewillremain. Ultimatelythisdevelopingmassofbiological,historical,andeconomicinformationandsuggestion mustbeincorporatedingeneraleducationiftheOpenConspiracyistocometoitsown.Atpresentthis propagandahastogoonamongadolescentsandadultsbecauseofthebackwardnessandpolitical conservatismofexistingeducationalorganizations.Mostrealmoderneducationnowisdoneinspiteof theschoolsandtocorrectthemisconceptionsestablishedbytheschools.Butwhatwillbeginasadult propagandamustpassintoakulturkampftowinoureducationalmachineryfromreactionandthe conservationofoutwornideasandattitudestothecauseofworldreconstruction.TheOpenConspiracy itselfcanneverbeimprisonedandfixedintheformofanorganization,buteverywhereOpen Conspiratorsshouldbeorganizingthemselvesforeducationalreform. Andalsowithintheinfluenceofthiscomprehensiveprojecttherewillbeallsortsofgroupingsforstudy andprogressiveactivity.Onecanpresupposetheformationofgroupsoffriends,offamilygroups,of studentsandemployeesorothersortsofpeople,meetingandconversingfrequentlyinthecourseof theirnormaloccupations,whowillexchangeviewsandfindthemselvesinagreementuponthisideaof aconstructivechangeoftheworldastheguidingformofhumanactivities. Fundamentallyimportantissuesuponwhichunanimitymustbeachievedfromtheoutsetare: Firstly,theentirelyprovisionalnatureofallexistinggovernments,andtheentirelyprovisionalnature, therefore,ofallloyaltiesassociatedtherewith; Secondly,thesupremeimportanceofpopulationcontrolinhumanbiologyandthepossibilityitaffords usofareleasefromthepressureofthestruggleforexistenceonourselves;and Thirdly,theurgentnecessityofprotectiveresistanceagainstthepresenttraditionaldrifttowardswar. Peoplewhodonotgraspthevitalsignificanceofthesetestissuesdonotreallybegintounderstandthe OpenConspiracy.Groupscomingintoagreementuponthesematters,andupontheirgeneral interpretationofhistory,willbeinapositiontoseekadherents,enlargethemselves,andattemptto establishcommunicationandcooperationwithkindredgroupsforcommonends.Theycantakeupa varietyofactivitiestodevelopasenseandhabitofcombinedactionandfeeltheirwaytogreater enterprises. WehaveseenalreadythattheOpenConspiracymustbeheterogeneousinorigin.Itsinitialgroupings andassociationswillbeofnouniformpattern.Theywillbeofaverydifferentsize,averageage,social experience,andinfluence.Theirparticularactivitieswillbedeterminedbythethings.Theirdiverse qualitiesandinfluenceswillexpressthemselvesbydiverseattemptsatorganization,eacheffectiveinits ownsphere.Agroupormovementofstudentsmayfinditselfcapableoflittlemorethanselfeducation andpersonalpropaganda;ahandfulofmiddleclasspeopleinsmalltownmayfinditssmallresources fullyengagedatfirstinsuchthingsas,forexample,seeingthatdesirableliteratureisavailableforsale orinlocalpubliclibrary,protectingbooksandnewsvendorsfromsuppression,orinfluencinglocal teachers.Mostparentsofschoolchildrencanpressfortheteachingofuniversalhistoryandsound biologyandprotestagainsttheinculcationofaggressivepatriotism.Thereismuchscopeforthesingle individualinthisdirection.Ontheotherhand,agroupofamplerexperienceandresourcesmay undertaketheprinting,publication,anddistributionofliterature,andexerciseconsiderableinfluence
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uponpublicopinioninturningeducationintherightdirection.TheLeagueofNationsmovement,the BirthControlmovement,andmostradicalandsocialistsocieties,arefieldsintowhichOpen Conspiratorsmaygotofindadherentsmorethanhalfpreparedfortheirwideroutlook.TheOpen Conspiracyisafullerandamplermovementintowhichtheseincompleteactivitiesmustnecessarily mergeasitsideatakespossessionofmensimaginations. Fromtheoutset,theOpenConspiraywillsetitsfaceagainstmilitarism.Thereisaplainpresentneedfor theorganizationnow,beforewarcomesagain,ofanopenandexplicitrefusaltoserveinanywarorat mosttoserveinwar,directlyorindirectly,onlyaftertheissuehasbeenfullyandfairlysubmittedto arbitration.Thetimeforaconscientiousobjectiontowarserviceismanifestlybeforeandnotafterthe onsetofwar.Peoplewhohavebytheirsilenceacquiescedinabelligerentforeignpolicyrightuptothe onsetofwar,havelittletocomplainofiftheyarethencompelledtoserve.Andarefusaltoparticipate withonescountryinwarfareisapreposterouslyincompletegestureunlessitisroundedoffbythe deliberateadvocacyofaworldpax,aworldeconomiccontrol,andarestrainedpopulation,suchasthe ideaoftheOpenConspiracyembodies. Theputtinguponrecordofitsmembersreservationofthemselvesfromanyorallofthemilitary obligationsthatmaybethrustuponthecountrybyilitaryanddiplomaticeffort,mightveryconceivably bethefirstconsiderableovertactofmanyOpenConspiracygroups.Itwouldsupplythepractical incentivetobringmanyofthemtogetherinthefirstplace.Itwouldnecessitatethecreationofregional ornationaladhoc committeesfortheestablishmentofacollectivelegalandpoliticaldefensiveforthis dissentfromcurrentmilitantnationalism.ItwouldbringtheOpenConspiracyveryearlyoutofthe provinceofdiscussionintothefieldofpracticalconflict.Itwouldfromtheoutsetinvestitwithavery necessaryqualityofpresentapplicability. Theanticipatoryrepudiationofmilitaryservice,sofarasthislastmaybeimposedbyexisting governmentsintheirfactitiousinternationalrivalries,neednotnecessarilyinvolveadenialoftheneed ofmilitaryactiononbehalfoftheworldcommonwealforthesuppressionofnationalistbrigandage,nor needitpreventthemilitarytrainingofOpenConspirators.Itissimplythepracticalformofassertion thatthenormalmilitantdiplomacyandwarfareofthepresenttimeareoffencesagainstcivilization, processesinthenatureofbrigandage,sedition,andcivilwar,andthatseriousmencannotbeexpected toplayanythingbutarleofdisapproval,nonparticipation,oractivepreventiontowardsthem.Our loyaltytoourcurrentgovernment,wewouldintimate,issubjecttoitssaneandadultbehaviour. Theseeducationalandpropagandistgroupsdrawingtogetherintoanorganizedresistancetomilitarism andtotheexcessivecontrolofindividualsbythemakeshiftgovernmentsoftoday,constituteatmost onlytheearliestandmoreelementarygradeoftheOpenConspiracy,andwewillpresentlygoonto considerthemorespecializedandconstructiveformsitseffortmustevoke.Beforedoingso,however, wemaysayalittlemoreaboutthestructureandmethodofthesepossibleinitiatorygroupings. Sincetheyareboundtobedifferentandmiscellaneousinform,size,quality,andability,anyearly attemptstoorganizethemintocommongeneralactionorevenintoregularcommongatheringsaretobe deprecated.Thereshouldbemanytypesofgroups.Collectiveactionhadbetterforatimeperhapsfora longtimebeundertakennotthroughthemergingofgroupsbutthroughtheformationofadhoc associationsfordefinitelyspecializedends,allmakingforthenewworldcivilization.Open Conspiratorswillcomeintotheseassociationstomakeacontributionverymuchaspeoplecomeinto limitedliabilitycompanies,thatistosaywithasubscriptionandnotwiththeirwholecapital.A
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comprehensiveorganizationattemptingfromthefirsttocoverallactivitieswouldnecessarilyrestupon andpromoteoneprevalentpatternofactivityandhamperorestrangethemoreoriginalandinteresting forms.Itwoulddevelopaprematureorthodoxy,itwouldceasealmostatoncetobecreative,andit wouldbegintoformacrustoftradition.Itwouldbecomeanchylosed.Withthedreadfulexamplesof ChristianityandCommunismbeforeus,wemustinsistthattheideaoftheOpenConspiracyever becomingasingleorganizationmustbedismissedfromthemind.Itisamovement,yes,asystemof purposes,butitsendisafreeandliving,ifunified,world. AttheutmostsevenbroadprinciplesmaybestatedasdefiningtheOpenConspiracyandholdingit together.Anditispossibleevenofthese,one,theseventh,maybe,ifnottoorestrictive,atleast unnecessary.Tothewriteritseemsunavoidablebecauseitissointimatelyassociatedwiththat continualdyingoutoftraditionuponwhichourhopesforanunencumberedandexpandinghuman futurerest. (1)Thecompleteassertion,practicalaswellastheoretical,oftheprovisionalnatureofexisting governmentsandofouracquiescenceinthem; (2)Theresolvetominimizebyallavailablemeanstheconflictsofthesegovernments,theirmilitantuse ofindividualsandproperty,andtheirinterferenceswiththeestablishmentofaworldeconomicsystem; (3)Thedeterminationtoreplaceprivate,localornationalownershipofatleastcredit,transport,and stapleproductionbyaresponsibleworlddirectorateservingthecommonendsoftherace; (4)Thepracticalrecognitionofthenecessityforworldbiologicalcontrols,forexample,ofpopulation anddisease; (5)Thesupportofaminimumstandardofindividualfreedomandwelfareintheworld;and (6)Thesupremedutyofsubordinatingthepersonalcareertothecreationofaworlddirectoratecapable ofthesetasksandtothegeneraladvancementofhumanknowledge,capacity,andpower; (7)Theadmissiontherewiththatourimmortalityisconditionalandliesintheraceandnotinour individualselves.
XV EARLYCONSTRUCTIVEWORKOFTHEOPENCONSPIRACY
InsuchtermswemaysketchthepracticableandpossibleopeningphaseoftheOpenConspiracy. Wedonotpresentitasamovementinitiatedbyanyindividualorradiatingfromanyparticularcentre. Inthisbookwearenotstartingsomething;wearedescribingandparticipatinginsomethingwhichhas started.Itarisesnaturallyandnecessarilyfromthepresentincreaseofknowledgeandthebroadening outlookofmanymindsthroughouttheworld,andgraduallyitbecomesconsciousofitself.Itis reasonablethereforetoanticipateitsappearanceallovertheworldinsporadicmutuallyindependent groupingsandmovements,andtorecognizenotonlythattheywillbeextremelyvarious,butthatmany ofthemwilltrailwiththemracialandregionalhabitsandcharacteristicswhichwillonlybeshakenoff asitscosmopolitancharacterbecomesimperativelyevident.
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ThepassagefromthepartialanticipationsoftheOpenConspiracythatalreadyaboundeverywhereto itscompleteandcompletelyselfconsciousstatementmaybemadebyalmostimperceptibledegrees. Todayitmayseemnomorethanavisionaryidea;tomorrowitmayberealizedasaworldwideforce ofopinionandwill.PeoplewillpasswithnogreatinconsistencyfromsayingthattheOpenConspiracy isimpossibletosayingthatithasalwaysbeenplainandcleartothem,thattothisfashiontheyhave shapedtheirlivesaslongastheycanremember. Initsopeningphase,inthedayofsmallthings,quiteminoraccidentsmayhelpordelaytheclear definitionandpopularizationofitsmainideas.Thechangingpatternofpubliceventsmaydisperseor concentrateattentionuponit,oritmaywintheearlyadherenceofmenofexceptionalresources,energy, orability.Itisimpossibletoforetellthespeedofitsadvance.Itsdevelopmentmaybeslowerorfaster, directordevious,butthelogicofaccumulatingrealizationsthrustsitforward,willpersistinthrustingit on,andsoonerorlateritwillbediscovered,consciousandpotent,theworkingreligionofmostsane andenergeticpeople. Meanwhileoursupremevirtuesmustbefaithandpersistence. SofarwehaveconsideredonlytwoofthemainactivitiesoftheOpenConspiracy,theonebeingits propagandaofconfidenceinthepossibleworldcommonweal,andtheotheritsimmediatepractical attempttosystematizeresistancetomilitantandcompetitiveimperialismandnationalism.Butsuch thingsaremerelyitsgroundworkundertakings;theydonomorethanclearthesiteandmakethe atmospherepossibleforitsorganizedconstructiveefforts. Directlyweturntothat,weturntoquestionsofspecialknowledge,specialeffort,andspecial organization. Letusconsiderfirstthegeneraladvancementofscience,theprotectionandsupportofscientific research,andthediffusionofscientificknowledge.Thesethingsfallwithinthenormalschemeofduty forthemembersoftheOpenConspiracy.Theworldofscienceandexperimentistheregionoforiginof nearlyallthegreatinitiativesthatcharacterizeourtimes;theOpenConspiracyowesitsinspiration,its existence,itsformanddirectionentirelytothechangesofconditiontheseinitiativeshavebrought about,andyetalargenumberofscientificworkersliveoutsidethesphereofsympathyinwhichwe mayexpecttheOpenConspiracytomaterialize,andcollectivelytheirpoliticalandsocialinfluence uponthecommunityisextraordinarilysmall.Havingregardtotheimmensityofitscontributionsand theincalculablevalueofitspromisetothemoderncommunity,scienceresearch,thatis,andthe diffusionofscientificknowledgeisextraordinarilyneglected,starved,andthreatenedbyhostile interference.Thisislargelybecausescientificworkhasnostrongunifyingorganizationandcannotin itselfdevelopsuchanorganization. Scienceisahardmistress,andthefirstconditionofsuccessfulscientificworkisthatthescientificman shouldsticktohisresearch.Theworldofscienceisthereforeinitself,atitscore,amiscellanyof specialists,oftenveryungraciousspecialists,and,ratherthanofferhimhelpandcooperation,itcallsfor understanding,tolerance,andservicefromthemanofgeneralintelligenceandwiderpurpose.The companyofscientificmenislesslikeahostofguidingangelsthanlikeaswarmofmarvellousbees endowedwithstingswhichmustbehivedandcherishedandmultipliedbytheOpenConspiracy. ButsosoonaswehavetheOpenConspiracyatwork,puttingitsplainlyandofferingitsdeveloping
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ideasandactivitiestothosemostpreciouslypreoccupiedmen,thenreasonably,whenitinvolvesno specialtroubleforthem,whenitisthelineofleastresistanceforthem,theymaybeexpectedtofallin withitsconvenientandhelpfulaimsandfindinitwhattheyhavehithertolacked,acommonsystemof politicalandsocialconceptstoholdthemtogether. Whenthatstageisreached,weshallbesavedsuchspectaclesofintellectualprostitutionasthelast GreatWaroffered,whenmenofsciencewereherdedblinkingfromtheirlaboratoriestocurseone anotheruponnationalistlines,andwhenafterthewarstupidandwickedbarriersweresetuptothefree communicationofknowledgebytheexclusionofscientificmenofthisorthatnationalityfrom internationalscientificgatherings.TheOpenConspiracymusthelpthemanofsciencetorealize,whatat presenthefailsmostastonishinglytorealize,thathebelongstoagreatercomitythananykingor presidentrepresentstoday,andsopreparehimforbetterbehaviourinthenextseasonoftrial. Theformationofgroupsin,andnotonlyin,butaboutandinrelationto,thescientificworld,whichwill addtothosefirstmainactivitiesoftheOpenConspiracy,propagandaandpacificism,aspecialattention totheneedsofscientificwork,maybeenlargeduponwithadvantagehere,becauseitwillillustrate quitetypicallytheideaofaspecialworkcarriedoninrelationtoageneralactivity,whichisthesubject ofthissection. TheOpenConspiracyextendsitsinvitationtoallsortsandconditionsofmen,buttheserviceof scientificprogressisforthoseonlywhoarespeciallyequippedorwhoaresufficientlyinterestedto equipthemselves.Forscientificworkthereisfirstofallagreatneedofendowmentandthesettingupof laboratories,observatories,experimentalstations,andthelike,inallpartsoftheworld.Numbersof menandwomencapableofscientificworkneverachieveitforwantofthestimulusofopportunity affordedbyendowment.Fewcontrivetocreatetheirownopportunities.Theessentialmanofscienceis veryrarelyanablecollectororadministratorofmoney,andanyhow,thedetailedworkoforganization isagravecalluponhisspecialmentalenergy.Butmanymencapableofabroadandintelligent appreciationofscientificwork,butnotcapableofthepeculiarintensitiesofresearch,havethegiftof extractingmoneyfromprivateandpublicsources,anditisforthemtousethatgiftmodestlyand generouslyinprovidingtheframeworkforthosemoreespeciallyendowed. Andthereisalreadyasteadilyincreasingneedfortheproperstorageandindexingofscientificresults, andeveryfreshworkerenhancesit.Quiteaconsiderableamountofscientificworkgoesfruitlessoris needlesslyrepeatedbecauseofthegrowingvolumeofpublication,andmenmakediscoveriesinthe fieldofrealityonlytolosethemagaininthelumberroomofrecord.Hereisasecondlineofactivityto whichtheOpenConspiratorwithascientificbiasmaydirecthisattention. Athirdlineistheliaisonworkbetweenthemanofscienceandthecommonintelligentman;the promotionofpublicationswhichwilleitherstatethesubstance,implicationsandconsequencesofnew workinthevulgartongue,or,ifthatisimpossible,trainthegeneralrunofpeopletothenewidioms andtechnicalitieswhichneedtobeincorporatedwiththevulgartongueifitisstilltoserveitsendsasa meansofintellectualintercourse. Throughspecialadhoc organizations,societiesforthepromotionofResearch,forResearchDefence,for WorldIndexing,forthetranslationofScientificPapers,fortheDiffusionofNewKnowledge,thesurplus energiesofagreatnumberofOpenConspiratorscanbedirectedtoentirelycreativeendsandanew worldsystemofscientificworkbuiltup,withinwhichsuchdearoldinstitutionsastheRoyalSocietyof
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London,thevariousEuropeanAcademiesofScienceandthelike,nowovergrownandinadequate,can maintaintheirvenerableprideinthemselves,theirmellowingprestige,andtheirdistinguished exclusiveness,withouttheirpresentprivilegeofinflictingcrampingslightsandrestrictionsuponthe moreabundantscientificactivitiesoftoday. Soinrelationtoscienceandherethewordisbeingusedinitsnarroweracceptedmeaningforwhatis oftenspokenofaspurescience,thesearchforphysicalandbiologicalrealities,uncomplicatedbymoral, social,andpracticalconsiderationsweevokeaconceptionoftheOpenConspiracyasproducing groupsofsociallyassociatedindividuals,whoengageprimarilyinthegeneralbasicactivitiesofthe ConspiracyandadheretoandpromotethesevenbroadprinciplessummarizedattheendofChapter Fourteen,butwhoworkalsowiththelargerpartoftheirenergies,throughinternationaland cosmopolitansocietiesandinamultitudeofspecialways,fortheestablishmentofanenduringand progressiveworldorganizationofpureresearch.Theywillhavecometothisspecialworkbecausetheir distinctivegifts,theirinclinations,theirpositionsandopportunitieshaveindicateditastheirs. NowaveryparallelsystemofOpenConspiracygroupsisconceivable,inrelationtobusinessand industriallife.Itwouldnecessarilybeavastlybulkierandmoreheterogeneoussystemofgroups,but otherwisetheanalogyiscomplete.Hereweimaginethosepeoplewhosegifts,inclinations,positions andopportunitiesasdirectors,workers,orassociatesgivethemanexceptionalinsightintoand influenceintheprocessesofproducinganddistributingcommodities,canalsobedrawntogetherinto groupswithintheOpenConspiracy.Butthesegroupswillbeconcernedwiththehugeandmore complicatedproblemsoftheprocessesbywhichevennowthesmallisolatedindividualadventuresin productionandtradingthatconstitutedtheeconomiclifeofformercivilizations,aregivingplaceto larger,betterinstructed,betterplannedindustrialorganizations,whoseoperationsandcombinations becomeatlastworldwide. Theamalgamationsandcombinations,thesubstitutionoflargescalebusinessformultitudesofsmall scalebusinesses,whicharegoingonnow,goonwithallthecrueltyanddisregardsofanaturalprocess. Ifamanistoprofitandsurvive,theseunconsciousblunderingswhichnowstaggertowardsbutwhich mayneverattainworldorganizationmuchbewatched,controlled,mastered,anddirected.As uncertaintydiminishes,thequalityofadventureandtheamountofwastediminishalso,andlarge speculativeprofitsarenolongerpossibleorjustifiable.Thetransitionfromspeculativeadventureto organizedforesightinthecommoninterest,inthewholeworldofeconomiclife,isthesubstantialtask oftheOpenConspiracy.Anditisthesespeciallyinterestedandequippedgroups,andnotthe movementasawhole,whichmaybestbegintheattackuponthesefundamentalreadjustments. ThevariousSocialistmovementsofthenineteenthandearliertwentiethcenturieshadthisincommon, thattheysoughttoreplacetheprivateownerinmostoralleconomicinterestsbysomevaguely apprehendedpublicowner.This,followingthedemocraticdispositionofthetimes,wascommonly conceivedofasanelectedbody,amunicipality,theparliamentarystateorwhatnot.Therewere municipalsocialists,nationalizingsocialists,imperialsocialists.InthemysticteachingsoftheMarxist, thecollectiveownerwastobethedictatorshipoftheproletariat.Productionforprofitwasdenounced. Thecontemporarymindrealizestheevilsofproductionforprofitandoftheindiscriminatescrambling ofprivateownershipmorefullythaneverbefore,butithasacompleterrealizationandacertain accumulationofexperienceinthedifficultiesoforganizingthatlargerownershipwedesire.Private ownershipmaynotbealtogetherevilasaprovisionalstage,evenifithasnomoreinitsfavourthanthe
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abilitytotranscendpoliticalboundaries. MoreoverandhereagainthedemocraticprepossessionsofthenineteenthcenturycomeintheSocialist movementssoughttomakeeverysingleadherentareformerandapropagandistofeconomicmethods. Inordertodoso,itwasnecessarytosimplifyeconomicprocessestothecrudityofnurserytoys,andthe intricateinterplayofwillanddesireinenterprise,normalemployment,anddirection,inquestionsof ownership,wages,credit,andmoney,wasreducedtoachildishfableofsurplusvaluewickedly appropriated.TheOpenConspiracyisnotsomuchasocialismasamorecomprehensiveoffspring whichhaseatenandassimilatedwhateverwasdigestibleofitssocialistforbears.Itturnstobiologyfor guidancetowardstheregulationofquantityandacontrolleddistributionofthehumanpopulationof theworld,anditjudgesallthesubsidiaryaspectsofpropertyandpaybythecriterionofmostefficient productionanddistributioninrelationtotheindicationsthusobtained. Theseeconomicgroups,then,oftheOpenConspiracy,whichmaycomeindeedtobealargepartofthe OpenConspiracy,willbeworkinginthatvasttaskofeconomicreconstructionwhichfromthepointof viewoftheoldersocialismwasthesoletaskbeforemankind.Theywillbeconductingexperimentsand observingprocessesaccordingtotheiropportunities.Throughadhoc societiesandjournalstheywillbe comparingandexaminingtheirmethodsandpreparingreportsandclearinformationforthemovement atlarge.Thewholequestionofmoneyandmonetarymethodsinourmoderncommunities,so extraordinarilydisregardedinsocialistliterature,willbeexaminedundertheassumptionthatmoneyis thetokenofthecommunitysobligation,directorindirect,toanindividual,andcredititspermissionto dealfreelywithmaterial. Thewholepsychologyofindustryandindustrialrelationshipneedstoberevisedandrestatedinterms ofthecollectiveefficiencyandwelfareofmankind.Andjustasfarascanbecontrived,thecounseland theconfidencesofthosewhonowdirectgreatindustrialandfinancialoperationswillbeinvoked.The firstspecialtaskofabanker,orabankclerkforthatmatter,whojoinstheOpenConspiracy,willbeto answerthequestions:Whatisabank?Whatareyougoingtodoaboutit?Whathavewetodo aboutit?Thefirstquestionstoamanufacturerwillbe:Whatareyoumakingandwhy?andWhatare youandwetodoaboutit?InsteadofthecrudeproposalstoexpropriateandtakeoverbytheState oftheprimitivesocialism,theOpenConspiracywillbuildupanencyclopdicconceptionofthe moderneconomiccomplexasalabyrinthinepseudosystemprogressivelyeliminatingwasteand workingitswayalongmultitudinouschannelstowardsunity,towardsclarityofpurposeandmethod, towardsabundantproductivityandefficientsocialservice. LetuscomebacknowforaparagraphorsototheordinaryadherenttotheOpenConspiracy,the adherentconsiderednotinrelationtohisspecialaptitudesandservices,butinrelationtothemovement asawholeandtothosespecialconstructiveorganizationsoutsidehisownfield.Itwillbehisdutyto keephismindintouchwiththeprogressingconceptsofthescientificworksofarasheisableandwith thelargerissuesoftheeconomicreconstructionthatisafoot,totakehiscuesfromthespecialgroups andorganizationsengageduponthatwork,andtohelpwherehefindshisopportunityandwhenthere isacalluponhim.ButnoadherentoftheOpenConspiracycanremainmerelyandcompletelyan ordinaryadherent.TherecanbenopawnsinthegameoftheOpenConspiracy,nocannonfodderinits war.Aspecialactivity,quiteasmuchasageneralunderstanding,isdemandedfromeveryonewho lookscreativelytowardsthefutureofmankind. Wehaveinstancedfirstthefineanddistinctiveworldorganizationofpurescience,andthenthehuge
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massivemovementtowardscooperatingunityofaimintheeconomiclife,untilatlasttheproduction anddistributionofstaplenecessitiesisapprehendedasoneworldbusiness,andwehavesuggested thatthislattermovementmaygraduallypervadeandincorporateaverygreatbulkofhumanactivities. Butbesidesthisfinecurrentandthisgreattorrentofevolvingactivitiesandrelationshipstherearealsoa veryconsiderablevarietyofothergreatfunctionsinthecommunitytowardswhichOpenConspiracy groupsmustdirecttheirorganizingenquiriesandsuggestionsintheircommonintentionofultimately assimilatingalltheconfusedprocessesoftodayintoaworldcommunity. Forexample,theremustbeaseriesofgroupsinclosetouchatoneendwithbiologicalscienceandatthe otherwiththecomplexofeconomicactivity,whowillbeconcernedspeciallywiththepractical administrationofthebiologicalinterestsoftherace,fromfoodplantsandindustrialproductsto pestilencesandpopulation.Andanotherseriesofgroupswillgathertogetherattentionandenergyto focusthemupontheeducationalprocess.Wehavealreadypointedoutthatthereisastrongdisposition towardsconservatisminnormaleducationalinstitutions.Theypreservetraditionsratherthandevelop them.Theyarelikelytosetupaconsiderableresistancetothereconstructionoftheworldoutlookupon thethreefoldbasisdefinedinChapterFourteen.Thisresistancemustbeattackedbyspecialsocieties,by theestablishmentofcompetingschools,byhelpandpromotionforenlightenedteachers,and,wherever theattackisincompletelysuccessful,itmustbesupplementedbytheenergeticdiffusionofeducational literatureforadults,uponmodernlines.Theforcesoftheentiremovementmaybemobilizedina varietyofwaystobringpressureuponreactionaryschoolsandinstitutions. Asetofactivitiescorrelatedwithmostofthedirectlycreativeoneswillliethroughexistingpoliticaland administrativebodies.ThepoliticalworkoftheOpenConspiracymustbeconductedupontwolevels andbyentirelydifferentmethods.Itsmainpoliticalidea,itspoliticalstrategy,istoweaken,efface, incorporate,orsupersedeexistinggovernments.Butthereisalsoatacticaldiversionofadministrative powersandresourcestoeconomicandeducationalarrangementsofamoderntype.Becauseacountry oradistrictisinconvenientasadivisionanddestinedtoultimateabsorptioninsomemore comprehensiveandeconomicalsystemofgovernment,thatisnoreasonwhyitsadministrationshould notbebroughtmeanwhileintoworkingcooperationwiththedevelopmentoftheOpenConspiracy. FreeTradenationalisminpowerisbetterthanhightariffnationalism,andpacificistpartyliberalism betterthanaggressivepartypatriotism. Thisevokestheanticipationofanotherseriesofgroups,agroupineverypossiblepoliticaldivision, whosetaskitwillbetoorganizethewholestrengthoftheOpenConspiracyinthatdivisionasan effectivevotingoragitatingforce.Inmanydivisionsthismightsoonbecomeasufficientlyconsiderable blocktoaffecttheattitudesandpledgesofthenationalpoliticians.Theorganizationofthesepolitical groupsintoprovincialornationalconferencesandsystemswouldfollowhardupontheirappearance. Intheirprogrammestheywouldbeguidedbymeetingsanddiscussionswiththespecificallyeconomic, educational,biological,scientificandculturalgroups,buttheywouldalsoformtheirownspecial researchbodiestoworkouttheincessantproblemsoftransitionbetweentheoldtypeoflocallycentred administrationsandadevelopingworldsystemofpoliticalcontrols. IntheprecedingchapterwesketchedthefirstpracticablefirstphaseoftheOpenConspiracyasthe propagandaofagroupofinterlockingideas,apropagandaassociatedwithpacificistaction.Inthe presentchapterwehavegivenaschemeofbranchingandamplifyingdevelopment.Inthisscheme,this schemeofthesecondphase,weconceiveoftheOpenConspiracyasconsistingofagreatmultitudeand
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varietyofoverlappinggroups,butnowallorganizedforcollectivepolitical,social,andeducationalas wellaspropagandistaction.Theywillrecognizeeachothermuchmoreclearlythantheydidatfirst,and theywillhaveacquiredacommonname. Thegroups,however,almostallofthem,willstillhavespecificworkalso.Somewillbeorganizinga soundersettingforscientificprogress,someexploringnewsocialandeducationalpossibilities,many concentrateduponthisorthatphaseinthereorganizationoftheworldseconomiclife,andsoforth.The individualOpenConspiratormaybelongtooneormoregroupsandinadditiontotheadhoc societies andorganizationswhichthemovementwillsustain,oftenincooperationwithpartiallysympathetic peoplestilloutsideitsranks. ThecharacteroftheOpenConspiracywillnowbeplainlydisplayed.Itwillhavebecomeagreatworld movementaswidespreadandevidentassocialismorcommunism.Itwillhavetakentheplaceofthese movementsverylargely.Itwillbemorethantheywere,itwillbefranklyaworldreligion.Thislarge, looseassimilatorymassofmovements,groups,andsocietieswillbedefinitelyandobviously attemptingtoswallowuptheentirepopulationoftheworldandbecomethenewhumancommunity.
XVI EXISTINGANDDEVELOPINGMOVEMENTSWHICHARECONTRIBUTORY TOTHEOPENCONSPIRACYANDWHICHMUSTDEVELOPACOMMON CONSCIOUSNESS.THEPARABLEOFPROVINDERISLAND

Asuggestionhasalreadybeenmadeinanearlierchapterofthisessaywhichmayperhapsbeexpanded herealittlemore.Itisthattherealreadyexistintheworldaconsiderablenumberofmovementsin industry,inpoliticallife,insocialmatters,ineducation,whichpointinthesamedirectionastheOpen Conspiracyandareinspiredbythesamespirit.Itwillbeinterestingtodiscusshowfarsomeofthese movementsmaynotbecomeconfluentwithothersandbyamereprocessoflogicalcompletionidentify themselvesconsciouslywiththeOpenConspiracyinitsentirety. Consider,forexample,themovementforascientificstudyandcontrolofpopulationpressure,known popularlyastheBirthControlmovement.Byitself,assumingexistingpoliticalandeconomic conditions,thismovementlaysitselfopentothechargeofbeingnobetterthanaschemeofrace suicide.Ifapopulationinsomeareaofhighcivilizationattemptstorestrictincrease,organizeits economiclifeuponmethodsofmaximumindividualproductivity,andimposeorderandbeautyupon itsentireterritory,thatregionwillbecomeirresistiblyattractivetoanyadjacentfesteringmassoflow grade,highlyreproductivepopulation.Thecheaphumanityoftheonecommunitywillmakeaconstant attackupontheother,affordingfacileservility,prostitutes,toilers,handlabour.Tariffsagainstsweated products,restrictionofimmigration,tensionsleadingatlasttoawarofdefensivemassacreare inevitable.Theconquestofanilliterate,hungry,andincontinentmultitudemaybealmostasdisastrous asdefeatfortheselecterrace.Indeed,onefindsthatindiscussionthepropagandistsofBirthControl admitthattheirprojectmustbeuniversalordysgenic.Butyetquiteanumberofthemdonotfollowup theseadmissionstotheirlogicalconsequences,producethelinesandcontinuethecurvesuntilthe completeformoftheOpenConspiracyappears.ItwillbethebusinessoftheearlyOpenConspiracy propagandiststomakethemdoso,andtoinstallgroupsandrepresentativesateverypossiblepointof vantageinthismovement.
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Andsimilarlythenowverynumerousassociationsforworldpeacehaltinalarmontheedgeoftheir ownimplications.WorldPeaceremainsavastaspirationuntilthereissomesubstituteforthepresent competitionofstatesformarketsandrawmaterial,andsomerestraintuponpopulationpressure. LeagueofNationsSocietiesandallformsofpacificistorganizationareeitherfutileorinsincereuntil theycomeintolinewiththecomplementarypropositionsoftheOpenConspiracy. ThevariousSocialistmovementsagainarepartialprojectsprofessingatpresenttobeselfsufficient schemes.Mostoftheminvolveapretencethatnationalandpoliticalforcesareintangiblephantoms,and thattheprimaryissueofpopulationpressurecanbeignored.Theyproduceonewoollyschemeafter anotherfortransferringthepropertyinthis,that,ortheothereconomicplantandinterestfrombodiesof shareholdersandcompanypromoterstogangsofpoliticiansorsyndicatesofworkerstobesteeredto efficiency,itwouldseem,bypillarsofcloudbydayandpillarsoffirebynight.Thecommunistparty hastrainedawholegenerationofdisciplestobelievethattheoverthrowofavaguelyapprehended Capitalismisthesimplesolutionofallhumandifficulties.Nomovementeversucceededso completelyinsubstitutingphrasesforthought.InMoscowcommunismhastrampledCapitalism underfootforteneventfulyears,andstillfindsalltheproblemsofsocialandpoliticalconstruction beforeit. ButassoonastheSocialistorCommunistcanbegottorealizethathisrepudiationofprivate monopolizationisnotacompleteprogrammebutjustapreliminaryprinciple,heisripefortheampler conceptsofthemodernoutlook.TheOpenConspiracyisthenaturalinheritorofsocialistand communistenthusiasms;itmaybeincontrolofMoscowbeforeitisincontrolofNewYork. TheOpenConspiracymayachievethemoreorlesscompleteamalgamationofalltheradicalimpulses intheAtlanticcommunityoftoday.Butitsscopeisnotconfinedtothevarietyofsympathetic movementswhicharebroughttomindbythatloosewordradical.Inthepastfiftyyearsorso,while SocialistsandCommunistshavebeendenouncingthecurrentprocessesofeconomiclifeinthesame invariablephrasesandwiththesameundiscriminatinganimosity,theseprocesseshavebeen undergoingtheprofoundestandmostinterestingchanges.Whilesocialistthoughthasrecitedits phrases,withwittyratherthansubstantialvariations,athousandtimesasmanycleverpeoplehavebeen busyuponindustrial,mercantileandfinancialprocesses.TheSocialiststillreiteratesthatthisgreater bodyofintelligencehasbeenmerelyseekingprivategain,whichhasjustasmuchtruthinitasis necessarytomakeitanintoxicatinglie.Everywherecompetitivebusinesseshavebeengivingwayto amalgamatedenterprises,marchingtowardsmonopoly,andpersonallyownedbusinessesto organizationssolargeastoacquiremoreandmorethecharacterofpubliclyresponsiblebodies.In theoryinGreatBritain,banksareprivatelyowned,andrailwaytransportisprivatelyowned,andthey arerunentirelyforprofitinpracticetheirprofitmakingisausterelyrestrainedandtheirproceedings areallthemoresensitivetopublicwelfarebecausetheyareoutsidethedirectcontrolofparty politicians. Nowthistransformationofbusiness,trading,andfinancehasbeensomultitudinousandsorapidasto bestilllargelyunconsciousofitself.Intelligentmenhavegonefromcombinationtocombinationand extendedtheirrange,yearbyyear,withoutrealizinghowtheiractivitieswereenlargingthemto conspicuousnessandresponsibility.Economicorganizationisevennowonlydiscoveringitselfforwhat itis.Ithasacceptedincompatibleexistinginstitutionstoitsowngreatinjury.Ithasbeenpatrioticand brokenitsshinsagainstthetariffwallsitspatriotismhasraisedtohamperitsownmovementsithas
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beenimperialandfounditselftaxedtothelimitsofitsendurance,controlledbyantiquatedmilitary andnavalexperts,andcrippledaltogether.Theyounger,morevigorousintelligencesinthegreat businessdirectoratesoftodayarebeginningtorealizetheuncompletedimplicationsoftheirenterprise. Adaywillcomewhenthegentlemenwhoaretryingtocontroltheoilsuppliesoftheworldwithout referencetoanythingelseexceptasasubsidiaryfactorintheirgamewillbeconsideredtobequaint characters.TheendsofBigBusinessmustcarryBigBusinessintotheOpenConspiracyjustassurelyas everyothercreativeandbroadlyorganizingmovementiscarried. NowIknowthattoallthisurgingtowardsaunificationofconstructiveeffort,agreatnumberofpeople willbedisposedtoareplywhichwill,Ihope,belesspopularinthefuturethanitisatthepresenttime. Theywillassumefirstanexpressionofgreatsagacity,anelderlyair.Then,smilinggently,theywillask whetherthereisnotsomethingpreposterouslyambitiousinlookingattheproblemoflifeasonewhole. Isitnotwisertoconcentrateourforcesonmorepracticablethings,toattemptonethingatatime,notto antagonizethewholeorderofestablishedthingsagainstourpoordesires,tobegintentatively,torefrain fromputtingtoogreatastrainuponpeople,totrusttothegrowingcommonsenseoftheworldtoadjust thisorthatlineofprogresstothegeneralschemeofthings.Farbetteraccomplishsomethingdefinite hereandtherethanchallengeageneralfailure.Thatis,theydeclare,howreformersandcreativethings havegoneoninthepast;thatishowtheyaregoingonnow;muddlingforwardinamildandconfused andpartiallysuccessfulway.Whynottrustthemtogoonlikethat?Leteachmandohisbitwitha completedisregardofthelogicalinterlockingofprogressiveefforttowhichIhavebeendrawing attention. NowImustconfessthat,popularasthisstyleofargumentis,itgivesmesotediousafeelingthatrather thanargueagainstitingeneraltermsIwillresorttoaparable.Iwillrelatethestoryofthepigon ProvinderIsland. Therewas,youmustunderstand,onlyonepigonProvinderIsland,andHeavenknowshowitgotthere, whetheritescapedandswamashoreorwasputashorefromsomevesselsuddenlyconvertedto vegetarianism,Icannotimagine.Atfirstitwastheonlymammalthere.Butlateronthreesailorsanda verysmallbutobservantcabinboywerewreckedthere,andaftersubsistingforatimeonshellfishand rootstheybecameawareofthispig.Andsimultaneouslytheybecameawareofanearlyintolerable cravingforbacon.Theeldestofthethreesailorsbegantothinkofahamhehadmetinhisboyhood,a beautifulhamforwhichhisfatherhadhadthecavingknifespeciallysharpened;thesecondofthethree sailorsdreamedrepeatedlyofaroastloinofporkhehadeatenathissisterswedding,andthethirds mindranonchitterlingsIknownotwhy.Theysatabouttheirmeagrefireandconferredandexpatiated uponthesethingsuntiltheirmouthswateredandtheshellfishturnedtowaterwithinthem.What dreamscametothecabinboyareunknown,foritwastheircustomtodiscouragehisconfidences.Buthe satapartbroodingandwasatlastmovedtospeech.Letushuntthatoldpig,hesaid,andkillit. Nowitmayhavebeenbecauseitwasthehabitofthesesailorstodiscouragethecabinboyandkeep himinhisplace,butanyhow,forwhateverreasonitwas,allthreesailorssetthemselveswithoneaccord toopposethatproposal. Whospokeofkillingthepig?saidtheeldestsailorloudly,lookingroundtoseeifbyanychancethe pigwaswithinhearing.Whospokeofkillingthepig?Yourethesortofsillyyoungdevilwhojumpsat ideasandhasntnosenseofdifficulties.WhatIsaidwasAM.AllIwantisjustaAmtogowithmyroots andseasalt.OneAm.TheLeftAm.Idontwanttherightone,andIdontproposetogetit.Ivegota
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senseofproportionandapropershareofhumour,andIknowmylimitations.Imasound,clear headed,practicalman.AmiswhatImafter,andifIcangetthat,ImpreparedtosayQuitsandletthe restofthepigalone.WhosforjoiningmeinaLeftAmUntasimplereasonableLeftAmUntjusttoget OneLeftAm? Nobodyansweredhimdirectly,butwhenhisvoicediedaway,thenextsailorinorderofsenioritytook upthetale.ThatBoy,hesaid,willdieofSwelledEd,andIpityhim.Myideaistofollowupthepig andgetholdofaloinchop.Justsimplyaloinchop.Aloinchopisgoodenoughforme.Itsfeasible. MuchmorefeasiblethanagreatAm.Hereweare,wevegotnogun,wevegotnowoodofasortto makebowsandarrows,wevegotnothingbutourclaspknives,andthatpigcanrunlikeEll.Its ridiculoustothinkofkillingthatpig.Butifonedidnttroublehim,ifonekindofgotintohisconfidence andcreptnearhimandjustquietlyandinsidiouslywentforhisloinjustsortofasifonewastickling himonemightgetaloinchopalmostbeforeheknewofit. Thethirdsailorsatcrumpledupanddowncastwithhisleanfingerstangledinhisshockofhair. Chitterlings,hemurmured,chitterlings.Idontevenwanttothinkofthepig. Andthecabinboypursuedhisownideasinsilence,forhedeemeditunwisetoprovokehiselders further. Ontheselinesitwasthethreesailorssetaboutthegratifyingoftheirtasteforpork,eachinhisownway, separatelyandsanelyandmodestly.Andeachhadhisreward.Thefirstsailor,afterweeksofpatience, gotwithinarmslengthofthepigandsmackedthatcovetedlefthamloudandgood,andfeltsuccess wasnear.Theothertwoheardthesmackandthegruntofdismayhalfamileaway.Butthepig,ind stateofastonishment,carriedthehamoffoutofreach,thereandthen,andthatwasascloseasthefirst sailorevergottohisobjective.Theroastloinhunterdidnobetter.Hecameuponthepigasleepundera rockoneday,andjumpedupontheveryloinhedesired,butthepigbithimdeeplyandseptically,and displayedsomuchresentmentthatthequestionofachopwasdroppedforthwithandneveragain broachedbetweenthem.Andthereafterthearmofthesecondsailorwasbandagedandswelledupand wentfrombadtoworse.Andasforthethirdsailor,itisdoubtfulwhetherheevengotwindofa chitterlingfromthestarttothefinishofthisparable.Thecabinboy,pursuingnotionsofhisown,madea pitfallforthewholepig,butastheothersdidnothelphim,andashewasanexcessivelysmallthough shrewdcabinboy,itwasafeebleandinsufficientpitfall,andallitcaughtwasthehunterofchitterlings, whowaswanderingdistraught.Afterwhichthehunterofchitterlings,becameahunterofcabinboys, andthecabinboyslife,forallhisshrewdness,wasprecariousandunpleasant.Hesleptonlyinsnatches andlearnedthefullbitternessofinsightmisunderstood. WhenatlastashipcametoProvinderIslandandtookoffthethreemenandthecabinboy,thepigwas stillbaconintactandquitegayandcheerful,andallfourcastawayswereinaveryemaciatedcondition becauseatthatseasonoftheyearshellfishwererare,andediblerootswerehardtofind,andthepig wasverymuchclevererthantheywereinfindingthemanddiggingthemupletalonedigestingthem. Fromwhichparableitmaybegatheredthatapartialenterpriseisnotalwayswiserormorehopeful thanacomprehensiveone. Andinthesamemanner,withmyselfintherleofthatminutebutobservantcabinboy,Iwouldsustain thepropositionthatnoneofthesemovementsofpartialreconstructionhasthesoundcommonsense
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qualityitssupporterssuppose.Allthesemovementsareworthwhileiftheycanbetakenintotheworld widemovement;allinisolationarefutile.Theywillbeoverlaidandlostinthegeneraldrift.Thepolicy ofthewholehogisthebestone,thesanestone,theeasiest,andthemosthopeful.Ifsufficientmenand womenofintelligencecanrealizethatsimpletruthandgiveuptheirlivestoit,mankindmayyet achieveacivilizationandpowerandfullnessoflifebeyondourpresentdreams.Iftheydonot, frustrationwilltriumph,andwar,violence,andadrivellingwasteoftimeandstrengthanddesire,more disgustingeventhanwar,willbethelotofourracedownthroughtheagestoitsemaciatedand miserableend. Forthislittleplanetofoursisquiteoffthecourseofanyrescueships,ifthewillinourspeciesfails.
XVII THECREATIVEHOME,SOCIALGROUP,ANDSCHOOL:THEPRESENT WASTEOFIDEALISTICWILL

Humansocietybeganwiththefamily.Thenaturalhistoryofgregariousnessisahistoryofthe establishmentofmutualtolerationamonghumananimals,sothatalitteroraherdkeepstogether insteadofbreakingup.Itisinthefamilygroupthattherestraints,disciplines,andselfsacrificeswhich makehumansocietypossiblewereworkedoutandourfundamentalprejudicesestablished,anditisin thefamilygroup,enlargedperhapsinmanyrespects,andmoreandmoreresponsivetocollectivesocial influences,thatoursociallifemustberelearnt,generationaftergeneration. NowineachgenerationtheOpenConspiracy,untilitcandevelopitsownreproductivemethods,must remainaminoritymovementofintelligentconverts.Aunifiedprogressiveworldcommunitydemands itsowntypeofhomeandtraining.Itneedstohaveitsfundamentalconceptsfirmlyestablishedinas manymindsaspossibleandtoguarditschildrenfromtheinfectionoftheoldracialandnational hatredsandjealousies,oldsuperstitionsandbadmentalhabits,andbaseinterpretationsoflife.Fromits outsettheOpenConspiracywillbesettingitselftoinfluencetheexistingeducationalmachinery,butfor alongtimeitwillfinditselfconfrontedinschoolandcollegebypowerfulreligiousandpolitical authoritiesdeterminedtosetbackthechildrenatthepointorevenbehindthepointfromwhichtheir patentsmadetheirescape.Atbest,theliberalismofthestatecontrolledschoolswillbeacompromise. Originallyschoolsandcollegesweretransmittersoftraditionandconservativeforces.Sotheyremainin essencetothisday. Organizedteachinghasalwaysaimed,andwillalwaystendtoguide,train,anddirect,themind.The problemofreconstructingeducationsoastomakeitareleasinginsteadofabindingprocesshasstillto besolved.Duringtheearlyphasesofitsstruggle,therefore,theOpenConspiracywillbeobligedto adoptacertainsectarianismofdomesticandsociallifeintheinterestsofitschildren,toexperimentin noveleducationalmethodsandeducationalatmospheres,anditmayeveninmanycaseshaveto considerthegroupingofitsfamiliesandtheestablishmentofitsownschools.Inmanymodern communities,theEnglishspeakingstates,forexample,thereisstilllibertytoestablisheducational companies,runningschoolsofaspecialtype.Ineverycountrywherethatrightdoesnotexistithastobe foughtfor. ThereliesagreatworkforvariousgroupsoftheOpenConspiracy.Successfulschoolswouldbecome laboratoriesofeducationalmethodsandpatternsfornewstateschools.Necessarilyforatime,butwe
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mayhopeunconsciously,theOpenConspiracychildrenwillbecomeasociallite;fromtheirfirst consciousmomentstheywillbegintothinkandtalkamongclearheadedpeoplespeakingdistinctly andbehavingfrankly,anditwillbeawasteandlosstoputthembackforthescholasticstageamong theirmentallyindistinctandmorallymuddledcontemporaries.Aphasewhentherewillbeaspecial educationalsystemfortheOpenConspiracyseems,therefore,tobeindicated.Itschildrenwilllearnto speak,draw,think,computelucidlyandsubtly,andintotheirvigorousmindstheywilltakethebroad conceptsofhistory,biology,andmechanicalprogress,thebasisofthenewworld,naturallyandeasily. Meanwhile,thosewhogrowupoutsidetheadvancingeducationalfrontieroftheOpenConspiracywill nevercomeunderthefullinfluenceofitsideas,ortheywillgetholdofthemonlyafteraseverestruggle againstamassofmisrepresentationsandelaboratelyinstilledprejudices.Anadolescentandadult educationalcampaign,toundothefixationsandsuggestionsofthenormalconservativeandreactionary schoolsandcolleges,isandwilllongremainanimportantpartoftheworkoftheOpenConspiracy. Always,aslongasIcanremember,therehavebeenadisputeandinvidiouscomparisonsbetweenthe oldandtheyoung.Theyoungfindtheoldpreyuponandrestrainthem,andtheoldfindtheyoung shallow,disappointing,andaimlessinvividcontrasttotheirrevisedmemoriesoftheirownearlydays. Thepresenttimeisoneinwhichtheseperennialaccusationsflowerwithexceptionalvigour.Butthere doesseemtobesometruthinthestatementthatthefacilitiestolivefrivolouslyaregreaternowthan theyhaveeverbeenforoldandyoungalike.Forexample,inthegreatmoderncommunitiesthatemerge nowfromChristendom,thereisawidespreaddispositiontoregardSundayasmerelyaholiday.But thatwascertainlynottheoriginalintentionofSunday.Aswehavenotedalreadyinanearlierchapter,it wasadaydedicatedtothegreaterissuesoflife.Nowgreatmultitudesofpeopledonotevenpretendto setasideanytimeatalltothegreaterissuesoflife.Thegreaterissuesareneglectedaltogether.The churchesareneglected,andnothingofaunifyingorexaltingsorttakestheirplace. Whatthecontemporaryseniortellshisjuniortodayisperfectlycorrect.Inhisownyouth,noserious impulseofhiswenttowaste.Hewasnotdistractedbyathousandgaybutpettytemptations,andthe localreligiouspowers,whatevertheyhappenedtobe,seemedtobelieveinthemselvesmoreandmade amorecomprehensiveattackuponhisconscienceandimagination.Nowtheoldfaithsaredamagedand discredited,andthenewandgreaterone,whichistheOpenConspiracy,takesshapeonlygradually.A decadeorsoago,socialismpreacheditsconfidenthopes,andpatriotismandimperialpridesharedits attractionfortheevergraveandpassionatewillofemergentyouth.Nowsocialismanddemocracyare underrevisionandtheflagsthatoncewavedsobravelyreekofpoisongas,arestiffwithbloodand mudandshamefulwithexposeddishonesties.Youthiswhatyouthhasalwaysbeen,eagerforfine interpretationsoflife,capableofsplendidresolves.Ithasnonaturaldispositiontowardstheshallow andconfusedlife.Itsdemandaseveris,WhatamItodowithmyself?Butitcomesupoutofits childhoodtodayintoaworldofruthlessexposuresandcynicalpretensions.Weareallalittleashamed ofearnestness.Thepasttenyearshaveseentheshyandpowerfulidealismofyouthatalossand dismayedandashamedasperhapsithasneverbeenbefore.Itisintheworldstill,butmasked,hiding evenfromitselfinawhirlofsmallexcitementsandfutile,defiantdepravities. Theoldflagsandfaithshavelosttheirmagicfortheintelligenceoftheyoung;theycancommanditno more;itisinthemightyrevolutiontowhichtheOpenConspiracydirectsitselfthattheyouthof mankindmustfinditssoul,ifeveritistofinditssoulagain.
XVIII
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PROGRESSIVEDEVELOPMENTOFTHEACTIVITIESOFTHEOPEN CONSPIRACYINTOAWORLDCONTROLANDCOMMONWEAL:THE HAZARDSOFTHEATTEMPT

WehavenowsketchedoutintheseBluePrintsthemethodsbywhichtheconfusedradicalismand constructiveforcesofthepresenttimemay,can,andprobablywillbedrawntogetheraboutacoreof modernizedreligiousfeelingintoonegreatandmultifariouscreativeeffort.Awayhasbeenshownby whichthiseffortmaybedevelopedfromamerepropagandistcampaignandamerelyresistantprotest againstcontemporarymilitarismintoanorganizedforeshadowinginresearch,publicity,and experimentineducational,economic,andpoliticalreconstructions,ofthatPaxMundiwhichhasbecome alreadythetantalizeddesireofgreatmultitudesthroughouttheworld.Theseforeshadowingsand reconstructionswillignoreandtranscendthepoliticalboundariesoftoday.Theywillcontinually becomemoresubstantialasprojectpassesintoattemptandperformance.Inphaseafterphaseandat pointafterpoint,therefore,theOpenConspiracywillcometogripswiththepowersthatsustainthese boundaries. Anditwillnotbemerelytopographicalboundariesthatwillbepassed.TheOpenConspiracywillalso bedissolvingandrepudiatingmanyexistingrestrictionsuponconductandmanysocialprejudices.The OpenConspiracyproposestoendandshowshowanendmaybeputtothathugesubstratumof underdeveloped,undereducated,subjugated,exploited,andfrustratedlivesuponwhichsuch civilizationastheworldhasknownhithertohasrested,anduponwhichmostofoursocialsystemsstill rest. Wheneverpossible,theOpenConspiracywilladvancebyilluminationandpersuasion.Butithasto advance,andevenfromtheoutset,whereitisnotallowedtoilluminateandpersuade,itmustfight.Its firstfightswillprobablybefortherighttospreaditssystemofideasplainlyandclearlythroughoutthe world. Thereis,Isuppose,aflavouroftreasonabouttheassumptionthatanyestablishedgovernmentis provisional,andaqualityofimmoralityinanycriticismofacceptedmoralstandards.Stillmoreisthe proposal,madeevenintimesofpeace,toresistwarleviesandconscriptionanoffenceagainstabsolute conceptionsofloyalty.ButtheamplerwisdomofthemodernAtlanticcommunities,alreadytouchedby premonitionsofchangeandfuturity,hascontinuallyenlargedthecommonlibertiesofthoughtforsome generations,anditisdoubtfuliftherewillbeanyseriousresistancetothedisseminationoftheseviews andtheearlyorganizationoftheOpenConspiracyinanyoftheEnglishspeakingcommunitiesor throughouttheBritishEmpire,intheScandinaviancountries,orinsuchliberalmindedcountriesas Holland,Switzerland,republicanGermanyorFrance.France,inthehastyyearsafterthewar,submitted tosomerepressivelegislationagainstthediscussionofbirthcontrolorhostilecriticismofthemilitarist attitude;butsuchacheckuponmentalfreedomisaltogethercontrarytotheclearandopenqualityof theFrenchmind;inpracticeithasalreadybeeneffectivelyrepudiatedbysuchwritersasVictor Margueritte,anditisunlikelythattherewillbeanyeffectivesuppressionoftheopeningphasesofthe OpenConspiracyinFrance. Thisgivesusalargeportionoftheexistingcivilizedworldinwhichmensmindsmaybereadjustedto theideathattheirexistinggovernmentsareinthepositionoftrusteesforthegreatergovernmentofthe comingage.Throughoutthesecommunitiesitisconceivablethatthestructurallinesoftheworld
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communitymaybematerializedandestablishedwithonlyminorstruggles,localboycotts,vigorous publiccontroversies,normallegislativeobstruction,socialpressure,andovertpoliticalactivities. Police,jail,expulsions,andsoforth,letaloneoutlawryandwarfare,mayscarcelybebroughtintothis struggleuponthehighcivilizedleveloftheAtlanticcommunities.Butwheretheyarebroughtin,the OpenConspiracy,tothebestofitsabilityandthefullextentofitsresources,mustbecomeafighting forceandorganizeitselfuponresistantlines. Nonresistance,therestrictionofactivitiestomoralsuasionisnopartoftheprogrammeoftheOpen Conspiracy.Inthefaceofunscrupulousoppositioncreativeideasmustbecomeaggressive,mustdefine theirenemiesandattackthem.Byitsownorganizationsorthroughthepoliceandmilitarystrengthof governmentsamenabletoitsideas,themovementisboundtofinditselffightingforopenroads,open frontiers,freedomofspeech,andtherealitiesofpeaceinregionsofoppression.TheOpenConspiracy restsuponadisrespectfornationality,andthereisnoreasonwhyitshouldtoleratenoxiousor obstructivegovernmentsbecausetheyholdtheirowninthisorthatpatchofhumanterritory.Itlies withinthepoweroftheAtlanticcommunitiestoimposepeaceupontheworldandsecureunimpeded movementandfreespeechfromendtoendoftheearth.ThisisafactonwhichtheOpenConspiracy mustinsist.TheEnglishspeakingstates,France,Germany,Holland,Switzerland,theScandinavian countries,andRussia,givenonlyanotveryextravagantfranknessofunderstandingbetweenthem,and acommondispositiontowardstheideasoftheOpenConspiracy,couldceasetoarmagainsteachother andstillexertenoughstrengthtoimposedisarmamentandarespectforhumanfreedomineverycorner oftheplanet.Itisfantasticpedantrytowaitforalltheworldtoaccedebeforealltheworldispacified andpoliced. Themostinconsistentfactorintheliberalandradicalthoughtoftodayisitsprejudiceagainstthe interferenceofhighlydevelopedmodernstatesintheaffairsoflessstableandlessadvancedregions. Thisisdenouncedasimperialism,andregardedascriminal.Itmayhaveassumedgrotesqueand dangerousformsunderthenowdecayingtraditionsofnationalcompetition,butasthemergerofthe Atlanticstatesproceeds,thepossibilityandnecessityofbringingareasofmisgovernmentanddisorder underworldcontrolincrease.Agreatwarlikethewarof19141918mayneverhappenagain.The commonsenseofmankindmaysufficetoavertthat.Butthereisstillmuchactualwarfarebefore mankind,onthefrontierseverywhere,againstbrigands,againstancientloyaltiesandtraditionswhich willbecomeatlastnobetterthanexcusesforbrigandageandobstructiveexaction.Alltheweightofthe OpenConspiracywillbeonthesideoftheworldorderandagainstthatsortoflocalindependence whichholdsbackitssubjectpeoplefromthecitizenshipofheworld. ButinthisbroadprospectoffarreachingpoliticalamalgamationsundertheimpulsesoftheOpen Conspiracylurkathousandantagonismsandadversechances,liketheunsuspectedgulleysandravines andthicketsinawideanddistantlandscape.Weknownotwhatunexpectedchasmsmaypresentlybe discovered.TheOpenConspiratormayrealizethatheisoneofanadvancingandvictoriousforceand stillfindhimselfoutnumberedandoutfoughtinhisownparticularcornerrofthebattlefield.Noone canyetestimatethepossiblestrengthofreactionagainstworldunification;noonecanforeseetheextent ofthedivisionsandconfusionsthatmayariseamongourselves.Theideasinthisbookmayspread aboutwithoutanyseriousresistanceinmostcivilizedcountries,buttherearestillgovernmentsunder whichthepersistentexpressionofsuchthoughtswillbedealtwithascrimesandbringmenandwomen toprison,torment,anddeath.Nevertheless,theymustbeexpressed.
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WhiletheOpenConspiracyisnomorethanadiscussionitmayspreadunopposedbecauseitis disregarded.Asamainlypassiveresistancetomilitarismitmaystillbetolerable.Butasitsknowledge andexperienceaccumulateanditsorganizationbecomemoreeffectiveandaggressive,asitbeginsto layhandsuponeducation,uponsocialhabits,uponbusinessdevelopments,asitproceedstotakeover theorganizationofthecommunity,itwillmarshalnotonlyitsownforcesbutitsenemies.Acomplexof interestswillfindthemselvesrestrainedandthreatenedbyit,anditmayeasilyevokethatmost dangerousofhumanmassfeelings,fear.Inwaysquiteunpredictableitmayraiseastormagainstitself beyondallourpresentimaginings.OurconceptionofanalmostbloodlessdominationoftheAtlantic communitiesmaybemerelytheconfidentdreamofathinkerwhosethoughtshaveyettobesquarely challenged. Wearenotevensureofthecommonpeace.AcrossthepathofmankindthestormofanotherGreatWar maybreak,bringingwithitforatimemorebrutalrepressionsandvasterinjurieseventhanits predecessor.ThescaffoldingsandworkshedsoftheOpenConspiracymayfareviolentlyinthat tornado.Therestorationofprogressmayseemanalmosthopelessstruggle. Itisnopartofmodernreligiontoincurneedlesshardshiporgooutofthewaytoseekmartyrdom.Ifwe candoourworkeasilyandhappily,soitshouldbedone.Buttheworkisnottobeshirkedbecauseit cannotbedoneeasilyandhappily.Thevisionofaworldatpeaceandliberatedforanunendinggrowth ofknowledgeandpoweriswortheverydangeroftheway.Andsinceinthisageofconfusionwemust liveimperfectlyandanyhowdie,wemayaswellsuffer,ifneedbe,anddieforagreatendasfornone. Neverhasthetranslationofvisionintorealitiesbeeneasysincethebeginningofhumaneffort.The establishmentoftheworldcommunitywillsurelyexactapriceandwhocantellwhatthatpricemay be?intoil,suffering,andblood.
XIX HUMANLIFEINTHECOMINGWORLDCOMMUNITY
ThenewlifethattheOpenConspiracystrugglestoachievethroughusforourraceisfirstalifeof liberations. Theoppressionofincessanttoilcansurelybeliftedfromeveryone,andthemiseriesduetoagreat multitudeofinfectionsanddisordersofnutritionandgrowthceasetobeapartofhumanexperience. Fewpeopleareperfectlyhealthynowadaysexceptforbriefperiodsofhappiness,buttheelationof physicalwellbeingwillsomedaybethecommonlotofmankind. Andnotonlyfromnaturalevilswillmanbelargelyfree.Hewillnotbeleftwithhissoultangled, hauntedbymonstrousandirrationalfearsandapreytomaliciousimpulse.Fromhisbirthhewill breathesweetnessandgenerosityandusehismindandhandscleanlyandexactly.Hewillfeelbetter, willbetter,thinkbetter,see,taste,andhearbetterthanmendonow.Hisundersoulwillnolongerbea mutinouscavernofilltreatedsuppressionsandofimpulsesrepressedwithoutunderstanding.Allthese releasesareplainlypossibleforhim.Theypassoutofhistormenteddesirenow,theyeludeandmock him,becausechance,confusion,andsqualorrulehislife.Allthegiftsofdestinyareoverlaidandlostto him.Hemuststillsuspectandfear.Notoneofusisyetasclearandfreeandhappywithinhimselfas mostmenwillsomedaybe.Beforemankindliestheprospectnotonlyofhealthbutofmagnanimity. WithinthepeaceandfreedomthattheOpenConspiracyiswinningforus,allthesegoodthingsthat
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escapeusnowmaybeensured.Agraverhumanity,stronger,morelovely,longerlived,willlearnand developtheeverenlargingpossibilitiesofitsdestiny.Forthefirsttime,thefullbeautyofthisworldwill berevealedtoitsunhurriedeyes.Itsthoughtswillbetoourthoughtsasthethoughtsofamantothe troubledmentalexperimentingofachild.Andallthebestofuswillbelivingoninthatamplerlife,as thechildandthethingsittriedandlearntstillliveintheman.Whenwewerechildren,wecouldnot thinkorfeelaswethinkandfeeltoday,buttodaywecanpeerbackandstillrecallsomethingofthe ignorancesandguessesandwildhopesofthesenighforgottenyears. Andsomankind,ourselvesstillliving,butdispersedandreconstructedagaininthefuture,willrecall withaffectionandunderstandingthedesperatewishesandtroubledeffortsofourpresentstate. Howfarcanweanticipatethehabitationsandways,theusagesandadventures,themighty employments,theeverincreasingknowledgeandpowerofthedaystocome?Nomorethanachildwith itsscribblingpaperanditsboxofbrickscanpictureormodeltheundertakingsofitsadultyears.Our battleiswithcrueltiesandfrustrations,stupid,heavyandhatefulthingsfromwhichweshallescapeat last,lesslikevictorsconqueringaworldthanlikesleepersawakingfromanightmareinthedawn.From anydream,howeverdismalandhorrible,onecanescapebyrealizingthatitisadream;bysaying,I willawake. TheOpenConspiracyistheawakingofmankindfromanightmare,aninfantilenightmare,ofthe struggleforexistenceandtheinevitabilityofwar.Thelightofdaythrustsbetweenoureyelids,andthe multitudinoussoundsofmorningclamourinourears.Atimewillcomewhenmenwillsitwithhistory beforethemorwithsomeoldnewspaperbeforethemandaskincredulously,Wasthereeversucha world?
THEEND
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WHAT ARE WE TO DO WITH OUR LIVES?

Project Gutenberg Australia

WHAT ARE WE TO DO WITH OUR LIVES?

WHAT ARE WE TO DO WITH OUR LIVES?

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X THEOPENCONSPIRACYISNOTTOBETHOUGHTOFASASINGLE ORGANIZATION;ITISACONCEPTIONOFLIFEOUTOFWHICHEFFORTS, ORGANIZATIONS,ANDNEWORIENTATIONSWILLARISE

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XI FORCESANDRESISTANCESINTHEGREATMODERNCOMMUNITIESNOW PREVALENT,WHICHAREANTAGONISTICTOTHEOPENCONSPIRACY.THE WARWITHTRADITION

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XII THERESISTANCESOFTHELESSINDUSTRIALIZEDPEOPLESTOTHEDRIVE OFTHEOPENCONSPIRACY

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XIII RESISTANCESANDANTAGONISTICFORCESINOURCONSCIOUSAND UNCONSCIOUSSELVES

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XIV THEOPENCONSPIRACYBEGINSASAMOVEMENTOFDISCUSSION, EXPLANATION,ANDPROPAGANDA

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XVI EXISTINGANDDEVELOPINGMOVEMENTSWHICHARECONTRIBUTORY TOTHEOPENCONSPIRACYANDWHICHMUSTDEVELOPACOMMON CONSCIOUSNESS.THEPARABLEOFPROVINDERISLAND

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