proposed roads to freedom(通往自由之路)-第29章
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worthy to be so called。 The multiplication of such individuals would be an
achievement of the very minutest value； and if Socialism were merely to
bestow upon all the kind of life and outlook which is now enjoyed by the
more apathetic among the well…to…do； it would offer little that could
inspire enthusiasm in any generous spirit。
‘‘The true role of collective existence；'' says M。 Naquet；＇57＇'' 。 。 。 is to
learn； to discover； to know。 Eating； drinking； sleeping； living； in a word； is
a mere accessory。 In this respect； we are not distinguished from the brute。
Knowledge is the goal。 If I were condemned to choose between a
humanity materially happy； glutted after the manner of a flock of sheep in
a field； and a humanity existing in misery； but from which emanated； here
and there； some eternal truth； it is on the latter that my choice would fall。''
＇57＇ ‘‘L'Anarchie et le Collectivisme；'' p。 114。
This statement puts the alternative in a very extreme form in which it
is somewhat unreal。 It may be said in reply that for those who have had the
leisure and the opportunity to enjoy ‘‘eternal truths'' it is easy to exalt their
importance at the expense of sufferings which fall on others。 This is true；
but； if it is taken as disposing of the question； it leaves out of account the
importance of thought for progress。 Viewing the life of mankind as a
whole； in the future as well as in the present； there can be no question that
a society in which some men pursue knowledge while others endure great
poverty offers more hope of ultimate good than a society in which all are
sunk in slothful comfort。 It is true that poverty is a great evil； but it is not
true that material prosperity is in itself a great good。 If it is to have any
real value to society； it must be made a means to the advancement of those
higher goods that belong to the life of the mind。 But the life of the mind
does not consist of thought and knowledge alone； nor can it be completely
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healthy unless it has some instinctive contact； however deeply buried； with
the general life of the community。 Divorced from the social instinct；
thought； like art； tends to become finicky and precious。 It is the position of
such art and thought as is imbued with the instinctive sense of service to
mankind that we wish to consider； for it is this alone that makes up the life
of the mind in the sense in which it is a vital part of the life of the
community。 Will the life of the mind in this sense be helped or hindered by
Socialism？ And will there still be a sufficient spur to progress to prevent a
condition of Byzantine immobility？
In considering this question we are； in a certain sense； passing outside
the atmosphere of democracy。 The general good of the community is
realized only in individuals； but it is realized much more fully in some
individuals than in others。 Some men have a comprehensive and
penetrating intellect； enabling them to appreciate and remember what has
been thought and known by their predecessors； and to discover new
regions in which they enjoy all the high delights of the mental explorer。
Others have the power of creating beauty； giving bodily form to
impalpable visions out of which joy comes to many。 Such men are more
fortunate than the mass； and also more important for the collective life。 A
larger share of the general sum of good is concentrated in them than in the
ordinary man and woman； but also their contribution to the general good is
greater。 They stand out among men and cannot be wholly fitted into the
framework of democratic equality。 A social system which would render
them unproductive would stand condemned； whatever other merits it
might have。
The first thing to realizethough it is difficult in a commercial ageis
that what is best in creative mental activity cannot be produced by any
system of monetary rewards。 Opportunity and the stimulus of an
invigorating spiritual atmosphere are important； but； if they are presented；
no financial inducements will be required； while if they are absent；
material compensations will be of no avail。 Recognition； even if it takes
the form of money； can bring a certain pleasure in old age to the man of
science who has battled all his life against academic prejudice； or to the
artist who has endured years of ridicule for not painting in the manner of
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his predecessors； but it is not by the remote hope of such pleasures that
their work has been inspired。 All the most important work springs from an
uncalculating impulse； and is best promoted； not by rewards after the
event； but by circumstances which keep the impulse alive and afford scope
for the activities which it inspires。 In the creation of such circumstances
our present system is much at fault。 Will Socialism be better？
I do not think this question can be answered without specifying the
kind of Socialism that is intended： some forms of Socialism would； I
believe； be even more destructive in this respect than the present capitalist
regime； while others would be immeasurably better。 Three things which a
social system can provide or withhold are helpful to mental creation： first；
technical training； second； liberty to follow the creative impulse； third； at
least the possibility of ultimate appreciation by some public； whether large
or small。 We may leave out of our discussion both individual genius and
those intangible conditions which make some ages great and others sterile
in art and sciencenot because these are unimportant； but because they are
too little understood to be taken account of in economic or political
organization。 The three conditions we have mentioned seem to cover most
of what can be SEEN to be useful or harmful from our present point of
view； and it is therefore to them that we shall confine ourselves。
1。 Technical Training。Technical training at present； whether in
science or art； requires one or other of two conditions。 Either a boy must
be the son of well…to…do parents who can afford to keep him while he
acquires his education； or he must show so much ability at an early age as
to enable him to subsist on scholarships until he is ready to earn his living。
The former condition is； of course； a mere matter of luck； and could not be
preserved in its present form under any kind of Socialism or Communism。
This loss is emphasized by defenders of the present system； and no doubt
it would be； to same extent； a real loss。 But the well…to…do are a small
proportion of the population； and presumably on the average no more
talented by nature than their less fortunate contemporaries。 If the
advantages which are enjoyed now by those few among them who are
capable of good work in science or art could be extended； even in a
slightly attenuated form； to all who are similarly gifted； the result would
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almost infallibly be a gain； and much ability which is now wasted would
be rendered fruitful。 But how is this to be effected？
The system of scholarships obtained by competition； though better
than nothing； is objectionable from many points of view。 It introduces the
competitive spirit into the work of the very young； it makes them regard
knowledge from the standpoint of what is useful in examinations rather
than in the light of its intrinsic interest or importance； it places a premium
upon that sort of ability which is displayed precociously in glib answers to
set questions rather than upon the kind that broods on difficulties and
remains for a time rather dumb。 What is perhaps worse than any of these
defects is the tendency to cause overwork in youth； leading to lack of
vigor and interest when manhood has been reached。 It can hardly be
doubted that by this cause； at present； many fine minds have their edge
blunted and their keenness destroyed。
State Socialism might easily universalize the system of scholarships
obtained by competitive examination； and if it did so it is to he feared that
it would be very harmful。 State Socialists at present tend to be enamored
of the systems which is exactly of the kind that every bureaucrat loves：
orderly； neat； giving a stimulus to industrious habits； and involving no
waste of a sort that could be tabulated in statistics or accounts of public
expenditure。 Such men will argue that free higher education is expensive
to the community； and only useful in the case of those who have
exceptional abilities； it ought； therefore； they will say； not to be given to
all； but only to those who will become more useful members of society
through receiving it。 Such arguments make a great appeal to what are
called ‘‘practical'' men； and the answers to them are of a sort which it is
difficult to render widely convincing。 Revolt against the evils of
competition is； however； part of the very essence of the Socialist's protest
against the existing order； and on this ground； if on no other； those who
favor Socialism may be summoned to look for some better solution。
Much the simplest solution； and the only really effective one； is to
make every kind of education free up to the age of twenty…one for all boys
and girls who desire it。 The majority will be tired of education before that
age； and will prefer to begin other work sooner； this will lead to a natural
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selection of those with strong interests in some pursuit
