diff options
Diffstat (limited to '25457-tei')
| -rw-r--r-- | 25457-tei/25457-tei.tei | 10505 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 25457-tei/images/023-1.png | bin | 0 -> 953 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 25457-tei/images/023-2.png | bin | 0 -> 3728 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 25457-tei/images/061.png | bin | 0 -> 1827 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 25457-tei/images/233.png | bin | 0 -> 6229 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 25457-tei/images/248.png | bin | 0 -> 9292 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 25457-tei/images/249.png | bin | 0 -> 697 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 25457-tei/images/250.png | bin | 0 -> 2363 bytes |
8 files changed, 10505 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/25457-tei/25457-tei.tei b/25457-tei/25457-tei.tei new file mode 100644 index 0000000..56ae801 --- /dev/null +++ b/25457-tei/25457-tei.tei @@ -0,0 +1,10505 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?> + +<!DOCTYPE TEI.2 SYSTEM "http://www.gutenberg.org/tei/marcello/0.4/dtd/pgtei.dtd" [ + +<!ENTITY u5 "http://www.tei-c.org/Lite/"> + +]> + +<TEI.2 lang="en"> +<teiHeader> + <fileDesc> + <titleStmt> + <title>Manhood of Humanity.</title> + <author><name reg="Korzybski, Alfred">Alfred Korzybski</name></author> + </titleStmt> + <editionStmt> + <edition n="1">Edition 1</edition> + </editionStmt> + <publicationStmt> + <publisher>Project Gutenberg</publisher> + <date>May 13, 2008</date> + <idno type="etext-no">25457</idno> + <availability> + <p>This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and + with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it + away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg + License online at www.gutenberg.org/license</p> + </availability> + </publicationStmt> + <sourceDesc> + <bibl> + Created electronically. + </bibl> + </sourceDesc> + </fileDesc> + <encodingDesc> + </encodingDesc> + <profileDesc> + <langUsage> + <language id="en"></language> + <language id="la"></language> + </langUsage> + </profileDesc> + <revisionDesc> + <change> + <date value="2008-05-13">May 13, 2008</date> + <respStmt> + <name> + Produced by Greg Weeks, La Monte H.P. Yarrol, David King, and the Online + Distributed Proofreading Team at <http://www.pgdp.net/>. + Page-images available at + <http://www.pgdp.net/projects/projectID44bc319688a10/> + </name> + </respStmt> + <item>Project Gutenberg TEI edition 1</item> + </change> + </revisionDesc> +</teiHeader> + +<pgExtensions> + <pgStyleSheet> + .boxed { x-class: boxed } + .shaded { x-class: shaded } + .rules { x-class: rules; rules: all } + .indent { margin-left: 2 } + .bold { font-weight: bold } + .italic { font-style: italic } + .sc { font-variant: small-caps } + .figure { text-align: center; page-float: 'htb' } + .center { text-align: center } + </pgStyleSheet> + + <pgCharMap formats="txt.iso-8859-1"> + <char id="U0x2014"> + <charName>mdash</charName> + <desc>EM DASH</desc> + <mapping>--</mapping> + </char> + <char id="U0x2003"> + <charName>emsp</charName> + <desc>EM SPACE</desc> + <mapping> </mapping> + </char> + <char id="U0x2026"> + <charName>hellip</charName> + <desc>HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS</desc> + <mapping>...</mapping> + </char> + </pgCharMap> +</pgExtensions> + +<text lang="en"> + <front> + <div> + <divGen type="pgheader" /> + </div> + <div> + <divGen type="encodingDesc" /> + </div> + + <div rend="page-break-before: always"> + <p rend="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center; bold">Manhood Of Humanity</p> + <p rend="font-size: large; text-align: center">The Science and Art of</p> + <p rend="font-size: x-large; text-align: center">Human Engineering</p> + <p rend="font-size: large; text-align: center">By</p> + <p rend="font-size: x-large; text-align: center">Alfred Korzybski</p> + <p rend="text-align: center">New York</p> + <p rend="text-align: center">E. P. Dutton & Company</p> + <p rend="text-align: center">681 Fifth Avenue</p> + <p rend="text-align: center">1921</p> + </div> + <div rend="page-break-before: always"> + <head>Contents</head> + <divGen type="toc" /> + </div> + </front> +<body> + +<pb n="vii"/><anchor id="Pgvii"/> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head>Acknowledgement</head> + +<p> +The author and the publishers acknowledge with gratitude +the following permissions to make use of copyright +material in this work: +</p> + +<p> +Messrs. D. C. Heath & Company, for permission to quote +from <q>Unified Mathematics,</q> by Louis C. Karpinski, Harry +Y. Benedict and John W. Calhoun. +</p> + +<p> +Messrs. G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York and London, for +permission to quote from <q>Organism as a Whole</q> and <q>Physiology +of the Brain,</q> by Jacques Loeb. +</p> + +<p> +Messrs. Harper & Brothers, for permission to quote from +<q>From the Life, Imaginary Portraits of Some Distinguished +Americans,</q> by Harvey O'Higgins. +</p> + +<p> +Messrs. D. Appleton & Company, for permission to quote +from <q>Corporation Finance,</q> by E. S. Mead. +</p> + +<p> +Messrs. J. B. Lippincott Company, for permission to +quote from <q>Forced Movements,</q> by Jacques Loeb. +</p> + +<p> +Princeton University Press, for permission to quote from +<q>Heredity and Environment,</q> by Edwin Grant Conklin. +</p> + +<p> +Columbia University Press, for permission to quote from +<q>The Human Worth of Rigorous Thinking,</q> by C. J. +Keyser. +</p> + +<p> +The Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research, for permission +to quote from <hi rend='italic'>The Journal of Experimental Medicine</hi>, +Vol. 27. +</p> + +<p> +The New School for Social Research, for permission to +quote from <q>An Outline of the History of the Western +European Mind,</q> by James Harvey Robinson. +</p> + +<p> +The Engineering Magazine Company, for permission to +quote from <q>Mastering Power Production,</q> by Walter N. +Polakov. +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n="ix"/><anchor id="Pgix"/> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head>Preface</head> + +<p> +This book is primarily a study of Man and ultimately +embraces all the great qualities and problems +of Man. As a study of Man it takes into consideration +<emph>all</emph> the characteristics which make Man what he +is. If some readers do note the absence of certain +expressions familiar to them, it does not mean that +the author does not feel or think as many other people—he +does—and very much so; but in this book +an effort has been made to approach the problem of +Man from a scientific-mathematical point of view, +and therefore great pains have been taken <emph>not</emph> to +use words insufficiently defined, or words with many +meanings. The author has done his utmost to use +such words as convey only the meaning intended, +and in the case of some words, such as <q>spiritual,</q> +there has been superadded the word <q>so-called,</q> not +because the author has any belief or disbelief in such +phenomena; there is no need for <emph>beliefs</emph> because some +such phenomena exist, no matter what we may think +of them or by what name we call them; but because +the word <q>spiritual</q> is not scientifically defined, and +every individual understands and uses this word in +a <emph>personal</emph> and private way. To be <hi rend='italic'>im</hi>personal the +<pb n="x"/><anchor id="Pgx"/> +author has had to indicate this element by adding +<q>so-called.</q> I repeat once again that this book is +not a <q>materialistic</q> or a <q>spiritualistic</q> book—it is +a study of <q>Man</q> and therefore does and <emph>should</emph> +include materialistic as well as spiritual phenomena +because only the complex of these phenomena constitutes +the complex of Man. +</p> + +<p> +The problem has not been approached from the +point of view of any private doctrine or creed, but +from a mathematical, an engineering, point of view, +which is impersonal and passionless. It is obvious +that to be able to speak about the great affairs of +Man, his spiritual, moral, physical, economic, social +or political status, it must first be ascertained what +Man is—what is his real nature and what are the +basic laws of his nature. If we succeed in finding +the laws of human nature, all the rest will be a comparatively +easy task—the ethical, social, economic +and political status of Man should be in accord with +the laws of his nature; then civilization will be a +human civilization—a permanent and peaceful one—not +before. +</p> + +<p> +It is useless to argue if electricity be <q>natural</q> or +<q><emph>super</emph>natural,</q> of <q>material</q> or of <q>spiritual</q> +origin. As a matter of fact we do not ask these +questions in studying electricity; we endeavor to find +out the natural laws governing it and in handling +live wires we do not argue or speculate about them—we +<pb n="xi"/><anchor id="Pgxi"/> +use rubber gloves, etc. It will be the same with +Man and the great affairs of Man—we have, first +of all, to know what Man is. +</p> + +<p> +Though this book has been written with scrupulous +care to avoid words or terms of vague meaning—and +though it often may seem coldly critical +of things metaphysical, it has not been written +with indifference to that great, perhaps the greatest, +urge of the human heart—the craving for spiritual +truth—our yearning for the higher potentialities of +that which we call <q>mind,</q> <q>soul</q> and <q>spirit</q>—but +it has been written with the deep desire to find the +source of these qualities, their scientific significance +and a scientific proof of them, so that they may be +approached and studied by the best minds of the +world without the digressions, and misinterpretations +that are caused by the color and the confusion +of personal emotions; and if the book be read with +care, it will be seen that, though the clarifying definition +of the classes of life has been chiefly used in +the book for its great carrying power in the <emph>practical</emph> +world, its greatest help will ultimately be in guiding +the investigation, the right valuation and especially +the control and use of the higher human powers. +</p> + +<p> +In writing this book I have been not only introducing +new ideas and new methods of analysis, but +I have been using a tongue new to me. The original +manuscript was very crude and foreign in form, and +<pb n="xii"/><anchor id="Pgxii"/> +I am greatly indebted to various friends for their +patient kindness in correcting the many errors of my +poor English. +</p> + +<p> +I am also under great obligations to Walter +Polakov, Doctor of Engineering, for his exceedingly +helpful suggestions, not only in giving me a thorough +criticism from the point of view of the Engineer, but +also in devoting his energies to organizing the first +<q>Time-binding Club</q> where these problems have +been discussed and criticized, with great practical +results. +</p> + +<p> +To all those who have read and criticized the +manuscript or helped otherwise—Professors E. H. +Moore, C. J. Keyser, J. H. Robinson, Burges Johnson, +E. A. Ross, A. Petrunkevitch; and Doctors J. +Grove-Korski, Charles P. Steinmetz, J. P. Warbasse; +Robert B. Wolf, Vice-President of the American +Society of Mechanical Engineers; Champlain L. +Riley, Vice-President of the American Society of +Heating and Ventilating Engineers; Miss Josephine +Osborn; to the authors, L. Brandeis, E. G. Conklin, +C. J. Keyser, J. Loeb, E. S. Mead, H. O'Higgins, +W. Polakov, J. H. Robinson, R. B. Wolf, for their +kind permission to quote them, I wish to express my +sincere appreciation. +</p> + +<p> +I wish also to acknowledge the deepest gratitude +to my wife, formerly Mira Edgerly, who has found +in this discovery of the natural law for the human +<pb n="xiii"/><anchor id="Pgxiii"/> +class of life, the solution of her life long search, and +who, because of her interest in my work, has given +me incomparably inspiring help and valuable criticism. +It is not an exaggeration to state that except +for her steady and relentless work and <emph>her time, +which saved my time</emph>, this book could not have been +produced in such a comparatively short time. +</p> + +<p> +Mr. Walter Polakov of New York City, Industrial +Counsellor and Industrial Engineer in New +York City, has kindly consented at my request to act, +with my authority, as my representative to whom +any further queries should be addressed in my absence +from America. +</p> + +<p> +To all other friends who have helped in many personal +ways I express thankfulness, as I wish also to +thank John Macrae, Esq., the Vice-President of E. +P. Dutton & Co., for his unusual attitude toward +publishing the book. +</p> + +<ab> +A. K.<lb/> +<hi rend='italic'>January 17, 1921</hi><lb/> +<hi rend='italic'>New York City.</hi> +</ab> + +<pb n="001"/><anchor id="Pg001"/> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" level1="Chapter I. Introduction"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="Chapter I. Introduction"/> +<head>Chapter I. Introduction. +Method and Processes of Approach to a New Concept of Life</head> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p> +<q rend="pre">For a while he trampled with impunity on laws +human and divine but, as he was obsessed with the +delusion that two and two makes five, he fell, at last +a victim to the relentless rules of humble Arithmetic.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Remember, O stranger, Arithmetic is the first of +the sciences and the mother of safety.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend="sc">Brandeis.</hi> +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +It is the aim of this little book to point the way +to a new science and art—the science and art of +Human Engineering. By Human Engineering I +mean the science and art of directing the energies +and capacities of human beings to the advancement +of human weal. It need not be argued in these times +that the establishment of such a science—the science +of human welfare—is an undertaking of immeasurable +importance. No one can fail to see that its +importance is supreme. +</p> + +<p> +It is evident that, if such a science is to be established +it must be founded on ascertained facts—it +must accord with what is <emph>characteristic</emph> of Man—it +must be based upon a just conception of what Man +<pb n="002"/><anchor id="Pg002"/> +is—upon a right understanding of Man's place in +the scheme of Nature. +</p> + +<p> +No one need be told how indispensable it is to +have true ideas—just concepts—correct notions—of +the things with which we humans have to deal; +everyone knows for example, that to mistake solids +for surfaces or lines would wreck the science and +art of geometry; anyone knows that to confuse fractions +with whole numbers would wreck the science +and art of arithmetic; everyone knows that to mistake +vice for virtue would destroy the foundation of +ethics; everyone knows that to mistake a desert +mirage for a lake of fresh water does but lure the +fainting traveler to dire disappointment or death. +Now, it is perfectly clear that of all the things with +which human beings have to deal, the most important +by far is Man himself—humankind—men, women +and children. It follows that for us human beings +nothing else can be quite so important as a clear, true, +just, scientific concept of Man—a right understanding +of what we as human beings really are. For it +requires no great wisdom, it needs only a little reflection, +to see that, if we humans radically misconceive +the nature of man—if we regard man as being +something which he is not, whether it be something +higher than man or lower—we thereby commit an +error so fundamental and far reaching as to produce +<pb n="003"/><anchor id="Pg003"/> +every manner of confusion and disaster in individual +life, in community life and in the life of the race. +</p> + +<p> +The question we have, therefore, to consider first +of all is fundamentally: What is Man? What is a +man? What is a human being? What is the defining +or characteristic mark of humanity? To this +question two answers and only two have been given +in the course of the ages, and they are both of them +current to-day. One of the answers is biological—man +is an animal, a certain kind of animal; the other +answer is a mixture partly biological and partly +mythological or partly biological and partly philosophical—man +is a combination or <emph>union</emph> of animal +with something supernatural. An important part of +my task will be to show that both of these answers +are radically wrong and that, beyond all things else, +they are primarily responsible for what is dismal in +the life and history of humankind. This done, the +question remains: What is Man? I hope to show +clearly and convincingly that the answer is to be found +in the patent fact that human beings possess in varying +degrees a certain natural faculty or power or capacity +which serves at once to give them their appropriate +dignity as human beings and to discriminate them, +not only from the minerals and the plants but also +from the world of animals, this peculiar or characteristic +human faculty or power or capacity I shall +<pb n="004"/><anchor id="Pg004"/> +call the <emph>time-binding</emph> faculty or <emph>time-binding</emph> power +or <emph>time-binding</emph> capacity. What I mean by time-binding +will be clearly and fully explained in the course of +the discussion, and when it has been made clear, the +question—What Is Man?—will be answered by saying +that man is a being naturally endowed with time-binding +capacity—that a human being is a time-binder—that +men, women and children constitute the +time-binding class of life. +</p> + +<p> +There will then remain the great task of indicating +and in a measure sketching some of the important +ways in which the true conception of man as man +will transform our views of human society and the +world, affect our human conduct and give us a growing +body of scientific wisdom regarding the welfare +of mankind including all posterity. +</p> + +<p> +The purpose of this introductory chapter is to +consider certain general matters of a preliminary +nature—to indicate the spirit of the undertaking—to +provide a short course of approach and preparation—to +clear the deck, so to speak, and make ready +for action. +</p> + +<p> +There are two ways to slide easily through life: +Namely, to believe everything, or to doubt everything; +both ways save us from thinking. The majority +take the line of least resistance, preferring to +have their thinking done for them; they accept ready-made +individual, private doctrines as their own and +<pb n="005"/><anchor id="Pg005"/> +follow them more or less blindly. Every generation +looks upon its own creeds as true and permanent and +has a mingled smile of pity and contempt for the +prejudices of the past. For two hundred or more +generations of our historical past this attitude has +been repeated two hundred or more times, and unless +we are very careful our children will have the same +attitude toward us. +</p> + +<p> +There can be no doubt that humanity belongs to +a class of life which to a large extent determines its +own destinies, establishes its own rules of education +and conduct, and thus influences every step we are +free to take within the structure of our social system. +But the power of human beings to determine their +own destinies is limited by natural law, Nature's law. +It is the counsel of wisdom to discover the laws of +nature, including the laws of human nature, and then +to live in accordance with them. The opposite is +folly. +</p> + +<p> +A farmer must know the natural laws that govern +his wheat, or corn, or cow, as otherwise he will not +have satisfactory crops, or the quality and abundance +of milk he desires, whereas the knowledge of these +laws enables him to produce the most favorable conditions +for his plants and animals, and thereby to +gain the desired results. +</p> + +<p> +Humanity must know the natural laws for humans, +otherwise humans will not create the conditions and +<pb n="006"/><anchor id="Pg006"/> +the customs that regulate human activities which will +make it possible for them to have the most favorable +circumstances for the fullest human development in +life; which means the release of the maximum natural-creative +energy and expression in mental, moral, +material and spiritual and all the other great fields +of human activities, resulting in happiness in life and +in work—collectively and individually—because the +conditions of the earning of a livelihood influence and +shape all our mental processes and activities, the +quality and the form of human inter-relationship. +</p> + +<p> +Every human achievement, be it a scientific discovery, +a picture, a statue, a temple, a home or a +bridge, has to be conceived in the mind first—the +plan thought out—before it can be made a reality, +and when anything is to be attempted that involves +any number of individuals—methods of coordination +have to be considered—the methods which have +proven to be the best suited for such undertakings +are engineering methods—the engineering of <emph>an idea</emph> +toward a complete <emph>realization</emph>. Every engineer has +to know the materials with which he has to work +and the natural laws of these materials, as discovered +by observation and experiment and formulated by +mathematics and mechanics; else he can not calculate +the forces at his disposal; he can not compute the +resistance of his materials; he can not determine the +capacity and requirements of his power plant; in +<pb n="007"/><anchor id="Pg007"/> +short, he can not make the most profitable use of his +resources. Lately in all industries and particularly +during the late World War, which was itself a +gigantic industrial process, another factor manifested +itself and proved to be of the utmost importance: +namely, the human factor, which is not material but +is mental, moral, psychological. It has been found +that maximum production may be attained when and +only when the production is carried on in conformity +with certain psychological laws, roughly determined +by the analysis of human nature. +</p> + +<p> +Except for productive human labor, our globe is +too small to support the human population now upon +it. Humanity must produce or perish. +</p> + +<p> +Production is essentially a task for engineers; it +essentially depends upon the discovery and the application +of natural laws, including the laws of +human nature. It is, therefore, not a task for old +fashioned philosophical speculation nor for barren +metaphysical reasoning <hi rend='italic'>in vacuo</hi>; it is a scientific +task and involves the coordination and cooperation +of all the sciences. This is why it is an engineering +task. +</p> + +<p> +For engineering, rightly understood, is the coordinated +sum-total of human knowledge gathered +through the ages, with mathematics as its chief instrument +and guide. Human Engineering will +embody the theory and practice—the science and +<pb n="008"/><anchor id="Pg008"/> +art—of all engineering branches united by a common +aim—the understanding and welfare of mankind. +</p> + +<p> +Here I want to make it very clear that mathematics +is not what many people think it is; it is not +a system of mere formulas and theorems; but as +beautifully defined by Professor Cassius J. Keyser, +in his book <hi rend='italic'>The Human Worth of Rigorous Thinking</hi> +(Columbia University Press, 1916), mathematics +is the science of <q>Exact thought or rigorous +thinking,</q> and one of its distinctive characteristics +is <q>precision, sharpness, completeness of definitions.</q> +This quality alone is sufficient to explain why people +generally do not like mathematics and why even some +scientists bluntly refuse to have anything to do with +problems wherein mathematical reasoning is involved. +In the meantime, mathematical philosophy +has very little, if anything, to do with mere calculations +or with numbers as such or with formulas; it +is a philosophy wherein precise, sharp and rigorous +thinking is essential. Those who deliberately refuse +to think <q>rigorously</q>—that is mathematically—in +connections where such thinking is possible, commit +the sin of preferring the worse to the better; they +deliberately violate the supreme law of intellectual +rectitude. +</p> + +<p> +Here I have to make it clear that for the purpose +of Human Engineering the old concepts of matter, +space and time are sufficient to start with; they are +<pb n="009"/><anchor id="Pg009"/> +sufficient in much the same way as they have been +sufficient in the old science of mechanics. Figuratively +speaking Human Engineering is a higher order +of bridge engineering—it aims at the spanning of a +gap in practical life as well as in knowledge. The +old meanings of matter, space and time were good +enough to prevent the collapse of a bridge; the same +understanding of space and time as used in this book +will protect society and humanity from periodical +collapses. The old mechanics lead directly to such +a knowledge of the intrinsic laws governing the universe +as to suggest the new mechanics. Human +Engineering will throw a new light on many old +conceptions and will help the study and understanding +of matter, space and time in their relative meanings, +and perhaps will ultimately lead to an understanding +of their absolute meanings. +</p> + +<p> +Philosophy in its old form could exist only in the +absence of engineering, but with engineering in existence +and daily more active and far reaching, the old +verbalistic philosophy and metaphysics have lost their +reason to exist. They were no more able to understand +the <q>production</q> of the universe and life than +they are now able to understand or grapple with +<q>production</q> as a means to provide a happier existence +for humanity. They failed because their venerated +method of <q>speculation</q> can not <emph>produce</emph>, and +its place must be taken by mathematical thinking. +<pb n="010"/><anchor id="Pg010"/> +Mathematical reasoning is displacing metaphysical +reasoning. Engineering is driving verbalistic +philosophy out of existence and humanity gains +decidedly thereby. Only a few parasites and <q>speculators</q> +will mourn the disappearance of their old +companion <q>speculation.</q> The world of producers—the +predominating majority of human beings—will +welcome a philosophy of ordered thought and +production. +</p> + +<p> +The scientists, all of them, have their duties no +doubt, but they do not fully use their education if +they do not try to broaden their sense of responsibility +toward all mankind instead of closing themselves +up in a narrow specialization where they find +their pleasure. Neither engineers nor other scientific +men have any right to prefer their own personal +peace to the happiness of mankind; their place and +their duty are in the front line of struggling humanity, +not in the unperturbed ranks of those who keep +themselves aloof from life. If they are indifferent, +or discouraged because they feel or think that they +know that the situation is hopeless, it may be proved +that undue pessimism is as dangerous a <q>religion</q> +as any other blind creed. Indeed there is very little +difference in kind between the medieval fanaticism +of the <q>holy inquisition,</q> and modern intolerance +toward new ideas. All kinds of intellect must get +together, for as long as we presuppose the situation +<pb n="011"/><anchor id="Pg011"/> +to be hopeless, the situation will indeed be hopeless. +The spirit of Human Engineering does not know the +word <q>hopeless;</q> for engineers know that wrong +methods are alone responsible for disastrous results, +and that every situation can be successfully handled +by the use of proper means. The task of engineering +science is not only to know but to know how. Most +of the scientists and engineers do not yet realize that +their united judgment would be invincible; no system +or class would care to disregard it. Their knowledge +is the very force which makes the life of humanity +pulsate. If the scientists and the engineers +have had no common base upon which to unite, a +common base must be provided. To-day the pressure +of life is such that we cannot go forward without +their coordinating guidance. But first there must +be the desire to act. One aim of this book is to furnish +the required stimulus by showing that Human +Engineering will rescue us from the tangle of private +opinions and enable us to deal with all the problems +of life and human society upon a scientific basis. +</p> + +<p> +If those who know why and how neglect to act, +those who do not know will act, and the world will +continue to flounder. The whole history of mankind +and especially the present plight of the world show +only too sadly how dangerous and expensive it is to +have the world governed by those who do not know. +</p> + +<p> +In paying the price of this war, we have been made +<pb n="012"/><anchor id="Pg012"/> +to realize that even the private individual can not +afford to live wrapped up in his own life and not +take his part in public affairs. He must acquire the +habit of taking his share of public responsibility. +This signifies that a very great deal of very simple +work, all pointing in the direction of a greater work, +must be done in the way of educating, not engineers +and scientific men only, but the general public to cooperate +in establishing the practice of Human Engineering +in all the affairs of human society and life. +</p> + +<p> +In writing this book I have had to wrestle with +tremendous difficulties in expressing new thoughts +and in indicating new methods. The reader who +stops to criticize words or expressions because of +their more or less happy or unhappy use will miss +the whole point of the work. The reading of it +should be done with a view to seeing how much can +be found in it of what is new and good that may be +elaborated further, and put into better form. This +new enterprise is too difficult and too vast for the +unaided labor of one man—life is too short. +</p> + +<p> +The method used in this book in analysing life +phenomena is essentially an engineering method, and +as physics and mechanics always suggest to mathematicians +new fields for analysis, it is not improbable +that Human Engineering will give mathematicians +new and interesting fields for research. The humblest +rôle of mathematicians in Human Engineering +<pb n="013"/><anchor id="Pg013"/> +may be likened to that of <q>Public accountants</q> who +put <emph>in order</emph> the affairs of business. +</p> + +<p> +In relation to mathematics Bertrand Russell has +said: <q>Logic is the youth of mathematics, mathematics +is the manhood of logic.</q> This brilliant <hi rend='italic'>mot</hi> +of the eminent philosopher of mathematics is no +doubt just and is profoundly significant; the least it +can teach us is that it is useless to try to find a +dividing line between logic and mathematics, for no +such line exists; to seek for one serves merely to +betray one's ignorance of mathematical philosophy. +Elsewhere Mr. Russell says: <q>The hope of satisfaction +to our more human desires, the hope of demonstrating +that the world has this or that ethical characteristic, +is not one which, so far as I can see, philosophy +can do anything whatever to satisfy.</q> By +<q>philosophy</q> he means mathematical philosophy—a +philosophy that is rigorously scientific, not vaguely +speculative. I am entirely unable to agree with him +that such a philosophy can make no contribution to +ethics. On the contrary, I contend, and in this book +I hope to show, that by mathematical philosophy, +by rigorously scientific thinking, we can arrive at the +true conception of what a human being really is and +that in thus discovering the characteristic nature of +man we come to the secret and source of ethics. Ethics +as a science will investigate and explain the essential +nature of man and the obligations which the essential +<pb n="014"/><anchor id="Pg014"/> +nature of man imposes upon human beings. It will +be seen that to live righteously, to live ethically, is to +live in accordance with the laws of human nature; +and when it is clearly seen that man is a natural +being, a part of nature literally, then it will be seen +that the laws of human nature—the only possible +rules for ethical conduct—are no more <emph>super</emph>natural +and no more <emph>man</emph>-made than is the law of gravitation, +for example, or any other natural law. +</p> + +<p> +It is no cause for wonder that mathematical thinking +should lead to such a result; for Man is a <emph>natural</emph> +being, man's mind is a <emph>natural agency</emph>, and the results +of rigorous thinking, far from being artificial fictions, +are natural facts—natural revelations of natural +law. +</p> + +<p> +I hope I have not given the impression, by repeated +allusion to mathematical science, that this +book is to be in any technical sense a mathematical +treatise. I have merely wished to indicate that the +task is conceived and undertaken in the mathematical +spirit, which must be the guiding spirit of Human +Engineering; for no thought, if it be non-mathematical +in spirit, can be trusted, and, although mathematicians +sometimes make mistakes, the spirit of +mathematics is always right and always sound. +</p> + +<p> +Whilst I do not intend to trouble the reader with +any highly technical mathematical arguments, there +are a few simple mathematical considerations which +<pb n="015"/><anchor id="Pg015"/> +anyone of fair education can understand, which are +of exceedingly great importance for our purpose, +and to which, therefore, I ask the reader's best attention. +One of the ideas is that of an <emph>arithmetical +progression</emph>; another one is that of a <emph>geometrical +progression</emph>. Neither of them involves anything +more difficult than the most ordinary arithmetic of +the secondary school or the counting house, but it +will be seen that they throw a flood of light upon +many of the most important human concerns. +</p> + +<p> +Because we are human beings we are all of us +interested in what we call progress—progress in law, +in government, in jurisprudence, in ethics, in philosophy, +in the natural sciences, in economics, in the +fine arts, in the practical arts, in the production and +distribution of wealth, in all the affairs affecting the +welfare of mankind. It is a fact that all these great +matters are interdependent and interlocking; it is +therefore a fact of the utmost importance that progress +in each of the cardinal matters must keep abreast +of progress in the other cardinal matters in order to +keep a just equilibrium, a proper balance, and so to +maintain the integrity and continued prosperity of +the whole complex body of our social life; it is a +fact, a fact of observation, that in some of the great +matters progress proceeds in accordance with one +law and one rate of advancement and in others in +accordance with a very different law and rate; it is +<pb n="016"/><anchor id="Pg016"/> +a fact, a fact of observation and sad experience, a +fact attested by all history and made evident by reason, +that owing to the widely differing laws and rates +of progress in the great essential concerns of humanity, +the balance and equilibrium among the parts is +disturbed, the strain gradually increases until a violent +break ensues in the form of social conflicts, +insurrections, revolutions and war; it is a fact that +the readjustment that follows, as after an earthquake, +does indeed establish a kind of new equilibrium, +but it is an equilibrium born of violence, and +it is destined to be again disturbed periodically without +end, unless by some science and art of Human +Engineering progress in all the great matters essential +to human weal can be made to proceed in accordance +with one and the same law having its validity +in the nature of man. +</p> + +<p> +Taken in combination, the facts just stated are so +extremely important that they deserve to be stated +with the utmost emphasis and clarity. To this end +I beg the reader to consider very carefully and side +by side the two following series of numbers. The +first one is a simple geometrical progression—denoted +by (<hi rend='italic'>GP</hi>); the second one is a simple arithmetical +progression—denoted by (<hi rend='italic'>AP</hi>): +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>GP</hi>: 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, etc.;<lb/> +<hi rend='italic'>AP</hi>: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, etc. +</p> + +<pb n="017"/><anchor id="Pg017"/> + +<p> +For convenience of comparison I let them begin +with the same number and for simplicity I have +taken 2 for this initial term; observe that in the +(<hi rend='italic'>GP</hi>) each term is got from the preceding term by +<hi rend='italic'>multiplying</hi> by 2 and that +in the (<hi rend='italic'>AP</hi>) each term +is got from its predecessor by adding 2; in the first +series the multiplier 2 is called the common <hi rend='italic'>ratio</hi> and +in the second series the repeatedly added 2 is called +the common <hi rend='italic'>difference</hi>; it is again for the convenience +of comparison that I have chosen the same number +for both common ratio and common difference and +for the sake of simplicity that I have taken for this +number the easy number 2. Other choices would +be logically just as good. +</p> + +<p> +Why have I introduced these two series? Because +they serve to illustrate perfectly two widely different +<emph>laws of progress</emph>—two laws representing vastly different +<emph>rates</emph> of growth, increase, or <emph>advancement</emph>. +</p> + +<p> +Do not fail to observe in this connection the following +two facts. One of them is that the magnitude +of the terms of any geometric progression whose +ratio (no matter how small) is 2 or more will overtake +and surpass the magnitude of the corresponding +terms of any arithmetical progression, no matter +how large the common difference of the latter may +be. The other fact to be noted is that the greater +the ratio of a geometric progression, the more +rapidly do its successive terms increase; so that the +<pb n="018"/><anchor id="Pg018"/> +terms of one geometric progression may increase a +thousand or a million or a billion times faster than +the corresponding terms of another geometric progression. +As any geometric progression (of ratio +equal to 2 or more), no matter how slow, outruns +every arithmetic progression, no matter how fast, +so one geometric progression may be far swifter +than another one of the same type. +</p> + +<p> +To every one it will be obvious that the two progressions +differ in pace; and that the difference between +their corresponding terms becomes increasingly +larger and larger the farther we go; for instance, +the sum of the first six terms of the geometrical +progression is 126, whereas the sum of the first +six terms of the arithmetical progression is only 42, +the difference between the two sums being 84; the +sum of 8 terms is 510 for the (<hi rend='italic'>GP</hi>) and 72 for +the (<hi rend='italic'>AP</hi>), the difference between these sums (of only +8 terms each) being 438, already much larger than +before; if now we take the sums of the first 10 terms, +they will be 2046 and 110 having a difference of +1936; etc., etc. +</p> + +<p> +Consider now any two matters of great importance +for human weal—jurisprudence for example, +and natural science—or any other two major concerns +of humanity. It is as plain as the noon-day +sun that, if progress in one of the matters advances +according to the law of a geometric progression and +<pb n="019"/><anchor id="Pg019"/> +the other in accordance with a law of an arithmetical +progression, progress in the former matter will very +quickly and ever more and more rapidly outstrip +progress in the latter, so that, if the two interests +involved be interdependent (as they always are), a +strain is gradually produced in human affairs, social +equilibrium is at length destroyed; there follows a +period of readjustment by means of violence and +force. It must not be fancied that the case supposed +is merely hypothetical. The whole history of mankind +and especially the present condition of the world +unite in showing that far from being merely hypothetical, +the case supposed has always been actual and is +actual to-day on a vaster scale than ever before. My +contention is that while progress in some of the great +matters of human concern has been long proceeding +in accordance with the law of a rapidly increasing +geometric progression, progress in the other matters +of no less importance has advanced only at the rate +of an arithmetical progression or at best at the rate +of some geometric progression of relatively slow +growth. To see it and to understand it we have to +pay the small price of a little observation and a little +meditation. +</p> + +<p> +Some technological invention is made, like that of +a steam engine or a printing press, for example; or +some discovery of scientific method, like that of +analytical geometry or the infinitesimal calculus; or +<pb n="020"/><anchor id="Pg020"/> +some discovery of natural law, like that of falling +bodies or the Newtonian law of gravitation. What +happens? What is the effect upon the progress of +knowledge and invention? The effect is stimulation. +Each invention leads to new inventions and each discovery +to new discoveries; invention breeds invention, +science begets science, the children of knowledge +produce their kind in larger and larger families; the +process goes on from decade to decade, from generation +to generation, and the spectacle we behold is that +of advancement in scientific knowledge and technological +power according to the law and rate of a +rapidly increasing geometric progression or logarithmic +function. +</p> + +<p> +And now what must we say of the so-called sciences—the +pseudo sciences—of ethics and jurisprudence +and economics and politics and government? +For the answer we have only to open our eyes and +behold the world. By virtue of the advancement +that has long been going on with ever accelerated +logarithmic rapidity in invention, in mathematics, in +physics, in chemistry, in biology, in astronomy and +in applications of them, time and space and matter +have been already conquered to such an extent that +our globe, once so seemingly vast, has virtually +shrunken to the dimensions of an ancient province; +and manifold peoples of divers tongues and traditions +and customs and institutions are now constrained +<pb n="021"/><anchor id="Pg021"/> +to live together as in a single community. +There is thus demanded a new ethical wisdom, a +new legal wisdom, a new economical wisdom, a new +political wisdom, a new wisdom in the affairs of government. +For the new visions our anguished times +cry aloud but the only answers are reverberated +echoes of the wailing cry mingled with the chattering +voices of excited public men who know not what to +do. Why? What is the explanation? The question +is double: Why the disease? And why no remedy +at hand? The answer is the same for both. And +the answer is that the so-called sciences of ethics and +jurisprudence and economics and politics and government +have not kept pace with the rapid progress +made in the other great affairs of man; they have +lagged behind; it is because of their lagging that the +world has come to be in so great distress; and it is +because of their lagging that they have not now +the needed wisdom to effect a cure. +</p> + +<p> +Do you ask why it is that the <q>social</q> sciences—the +so-called sciences of ethics, etc.—have lagged +behind? The answer is not far to seek nor difficult +to understand. They have lagged behind, partly +because they have been hampered by the traditions +and the habits of a bygone world—they have looked +backward instead of forward; they have lagged behind, +partly because they have depended upon the +barren methods of verbalistic philosophy—they +<pb n="022"/><anchor id="Pg022"/> +have been metaphysical instead of scientific; they +have lagged behind, partly because they have been +often dominated by the lusts of cunning <q>politicians</q> +instead of being led by the wisdom of enlightened +statesmen; they have lagged behind, partly because +they have been predominantly concerned to protect +<q>vested interests,</q> upon which they have in the main +depended for support; the <emph>fundamental</emph> cause, however, +of their lagging behind is found in the astonishing +fact that, despite their being by their very +nature most <emph>immediately</emph> concerned with the affairs +of mankind, they have not discovered what Man +really is but have from time immemorial falsely regarded +human beings either as animals or else as +combinations of animals and something supernatural. +With these two monstrous conceptions of the essential +nature of man I shall deal at a later stage of this +writing. +</p> + +<p> +At present I am chiefly concerned to drive home +the fact that it is the great <emph>disparity</emph> between the +rapid progress of the natural and technological +sciences on the one hand and the slow progress of +the metaphysical, so-called social <q>sciences</q> on the +other hand, that sooner or later so disturbs the +equilibrium of human affairs as to result periodically +in those social cataclysms which we call insurrections, +revolutions and wars. The reader should note +carefully that such cataclysmic changes—such +<q>jumps,</q> as we may call them—such violent readjustments +<pb n="023"/><anchor id="Pg023"/> +in human affairs and human relationships—are +recorded throughout the history of mankind. +And I would have him see clearly that, because the +<emph>disparity</emph> which produces them increases as we pass +from generation to generation—from term to term +of our progressions—the <q>jumps</q> in question occur +not only with increasing violence but with increasing +frequency. This highly significant fact may be +graphically illustrated in the following figure: +</p> + +<figure url="images/023-1.png" rend="width: 100%"> + <head>Geometric evolution of the natural and technological sciences.—Peaceful + progress.</head> + <figDesc> + A horizontal line, with numbers 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 above, and markings + <hi rend='italic'>a'</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>a</hi>, + <hi rend='italic'>b</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>c</hi>, + <hi rend='italic'>d</hi> in the corresponding locations below. + </figDesc> +</figure> +<figure url="images/023-2.png" rend="width: 100%"> + <head>Arithmetical evolution of the so-called social <q>sciences,</q> + accelerated by violent <q>jumps.</q>—Non-peaceful social progress.</head> + <figDesc> + A horizontal line, again marked with numbers 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, but with gaps + between 6 and (unprinted) 7, 8 and (unprinted) 9, 10 and (unprinted) 11. + Above are markings: <hi rend='italic'>A'</hi> above 2 and <hi rend='italic'>A</hi> + above 4; <hi rend='italic'>B</hi> above 6 and <hi rend='italic'>C</hi> + above 7; <hi rend='italic'>D</hi> above 8 and <hi rend='italic'>E</hi> + above 9; <hi rend='italic'>F</hi> above 10 and <hi rend='italic'>G</hi> + at the far right end. The steady progress areas, 2 to 4, 7 to 8, 9 to 10, + are marked <q>Peaceful</q>, while the gaps are labeled <q>Jump, Revolution + or War.</q> + </figDesc> +</figure> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>a'2</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>2a</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>ab</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>bc</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>cd</hi>, represent the geometrical law +of progression in the natural and technological +sciences (peaceful evolution). +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>A'2</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>2A</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>AB</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>CD</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>EF</hi>, represent the lagging +arithmetical law of progression in the so-called social +sciences (peaceful evolution). +</p> + +<p> +Both of these during the same periods of time. +</p> + +<pb n="024"/><anchor id="Pg024"/> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>BC</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>DE</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>FG</hi>, +represent revolutions or wars, with +the aftermath of revolution of ideas—the <q>jump</q>—violent +readjustment of ideas to facts—forced by +events. +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>ab</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>bc</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>cd</hi>, +and <hi rend='italic'>AB</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>CD</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>EF</hi>, take the same amount +of time, but the second progression being much +slower than the first one, the <q>jumps</q> or revolutions +occur at shorter intervals as time goes on and thus +more frequently force us to coordinate our ideas to +facts. Periods of peace or seeming peace alternate +more and more frequently with periods of violence; +the mentioned <emph>disparity</emph> of progress in peaceful times +is the hatching seed of future violence.<note place="foot"><p>To +digress a bit, it may be interesting to add, that population +and the need of people increase in a geometrical progression; +and also that the growth of individuals is limited by the +fact, that they have to absorb their food through surfaces +which as growth goes on increase only as <emph>squares</emph>, while the +bodies to be fed, being volumes, increase in size as <emph>cubes</emph> increase, +as the cubes of the same base grow faster than the squares, +</p> +<p> +2<hi rend="vertical-align: super">2</hi> = 4, +2<hi rend="vertical-align: super">3</hi> = 8, +3<hi rend="vertical-align: super">2</hi> = 9, +3<hi rend="vertical-align: super">3</hi> = 27, and so on, +</p> +<p> +it is obvious, that in the infancy of an organism only a part of +the food goes to maintain life, the larger part goes for growth; +when the organism becomes larger, the absorbing surfaces, +growing proportionally to the square, the food is spent to build +the mass of the volume of the body and is spent proportionally +to the cube. Suppose our organism has grown to a size twice +as large, its absorbing capacity has become four times larger, +its volume eight times larger. In case of 3 times, the difference +will be 9 and 27. It is obvious that at some point, all the +absorbed food will be used to maintain life and none will be +left for growth, and this last process will stop. This is another +example which explains how the theory of dimensions is vitally +important in life and shows why it is absolutely essential to +take account of dimensions in the study of life problems. +</p></note> +</p> + +<pb n="025"/><anchor id="Pg025"/> + +<p> +As a matter of fact these few mathematical considerations +can hardly be called mathematics or +mathematical philosophy; nevertheless, without +bringing attention to these very simple mathematical +ideas we should not be able to proceed any further +than in the past. Our life problems have always been +<q>solved</q> by verbalists and rhetorical metaphysicians +who cleverly played with vague words and who +always ignored the supremely important matter of +dimensions because they were ignorant of it. There +was no possible way to arrive at an agreement on +the significance of words, or even the understanding +of them. Let us take, for instance, such words as +<q>good</q> or <q>bad</q> or <q>truth;</q> volumes upon volumes +have been written about them; no one has reached +any result universally acceptable; the effect has been +to multiply warring schools of philosophy—sectarians +and partisans. In the meantime <emph>something</emph> +corresponding to each of the terms <q>good,</q> <q>bad,</q> +<q>truth</q> exists as matter of fact; but what that something +is still awaits scientific determination. If only +these three words could be scientifically defined, philosophy, +law, ethics and psychology would cease to +be <q>private theories</q> or verbalism and they would +advance to the rank and dignity of sciences. +</p> + +<p> +Here I may quote a characteristic of life as expressed +by one of the <q>heroes</q> of my esteemed +friend Harvey O'Higgins, in his book, <hi rend='italic'>From the +<pb n="026"/><anchor id="Pg026"/> +Life, Imaginary Portraits of Some Distinguished +Americans</hi> (Harper, N. Y.). +</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p> +<q>Warren never philosophized; he handled facts as an +artisan handles his tools; but if he <emph>had</emph> philosophized, his +theory of life would probably have been something like this: +<q>There is no justice, there is no morality, in nature or in +natural laws; justice and morality are laws only of human +society. But society, natural life, and all civilization are +subject in their larger aspects to natural laws—which contradict +morality and outrage justice—and the statesman has +to move with those laws and direct his people in accordance +with them, despite the lesser by-laws of morality and justice.</q></q> +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +If such are the creeds of <q>distinguished people</q> +anywhere, what better can we expect than that which +we see in the history of humanity? +</p> + +<p> +But the fact that the old philosophy, law, ethics, +psychology, politics and sociology could not solve the +practical problems of humanity, is not any reason +whatsoever why we should despair. The problems +can be solved. +</p> + +<p> +To follow the reasoning of this book, it is not +necessary to be a highly trained specialist; the only +qualifications required are candor, an open mind, +freedom from blinding prejudice, thoughtfulness, a +real desire for truth, and enough common sense to +understand that to talk of adding three quarts of +milk to three-quarters of a mile is to talk nonsense. +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n="027"/><anchor id="Pg027"/> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" level1="Chapter II. Childhood of Humanity"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="Chapter II. Childhood of Humanity"/> +<head>Chapter II. Childhood of Humanity</head> + +<p> +The conclusion of the World War is the closing +of the period of the childhood of humanity. +This childhood, as any childhood, can be characterized +as devoid of any real understanding of values, +as is that of a child who uses a priceless chronometer +to crack nuts. +</p> + +<p> +This childhood has been unduly long, but happily +we are near to the end of it, for humanity, shaken +by this war, is coming to its senses and must soon +enter its manhood, a period of great achievements +and rewards in the new and real sense of values +dawning upon us. +</p> + +<p> +The sacred dead will not have died for naught; +the <q>red wine of youth,</q> the wanton waste of life, +has shown us the price of life, and we will have to +keep our oath to make the future worthy of their +sweat and blood. +</p> + +<p> +Early ideas are not necessarily true ideas. +</p> + +<p> +There are different kinds of interpretations of +history and different schools of philosophy. All of +them have contributed something to human progress, +but none of them has been able to give the world a +<pb n="028"/><anchor id="Pg028"/> +basic philosophy embracing the whole progress of +science and establishing the life of man upon the +abiding foundation of Fact. +</p> + +<p> +Our life is bound to develop according to evident +or else concealed laws of nature. The evident laws +of nature were the inspiration of genuine science in +its cradle; and their interpretations or misinterpretations +have from the earliest times formed systems +of law, of ethics, and of philosophy. +</p> + +<p> +Human intellect, be it that of an individual or +that of the race, forms conclusions which have to be +often revised before they correspond approximately +to facts. What we call progress consists in coordinating +ideas with realities. The World War has +taught something to everybody. It was indeed a +great reality; it accustomed us to think in terms of +reality and not in those of phantom speculation. +Some unmistakable truths were revealed. Facts and +force were the things that counted. Power had to +be produced to destroy hostile power; it was found +that the old political and economic systems were not +adequate to the task put upon them. The world had +to create new economic conditions; it was obliged +to supplement the old systems with special boards +for food, coal, railroads, shipping, labor, etc. The +World War emergency compelled the nations to organize +for producing greater power in order to conquer +power already great. +</p> + +<pb n="029"/><anchor id="Pg029"/> + +<p> +If there is anything which this war has proved, it +is the fact that the most important asset a nation or +an individual can have, is the ability <q>to do things.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>In Flanders Fields the poppies blow ...,</q> that +is too true; they blow and they are strong and red. +But the purpose of this writing is not the celebration +of poetry, but the elucidation and right use of +facts. +</p> + +<p> +Normally, thousands of rabbits and guinea pigs +are used and killed, in scientific laboratories, for +experiments which yield great and tangible benefits +to humanity. This war butchered millions of people +and ruined the health and lives of tens of millions. +Is this climax of the pre-war civilization to be passed +unnoticed, except for the poetry and the manuring +of the battle fields, that the <q>poppies blow</q> stronger +and better fed? Or is the death of ten men on the +battle field to be of as much worth in knowledge +gained as is the life of one rabbit killed for experiment? +Is the great sacrifice worth analysing? +There can be only one answer—yes. But, if truth +be desired, the analysis must be scientific. +</p> + +<p> +In science, <q>opinions</q> are tolerated when and +only when facts are lacking. In this case, we have +all the facts necessary. We have only to collect them +and analyse them, rejecting mere <q>opinions</q> as cheap +and unworthy. Such as understand this lesson will +know how to act for the benefit of all. +</p> + +<pb n="030"/><anchor id="Pg030"/> + +<p> +At present the future of mankind is dark. <q>Stop, +look, and listen</q>—the prudent caution at railroad +crossings—must be amended to read <q>stop, look, +listen, and <hi rend='sc'>think</hi></q>; not for the saving of a few lives +in railroad accidents, but for the preservation of the +life of humanity. Living organisms, of the lower +and simpler types, in which the differentiation and +the integration of the vital organs have not been +carried far, can move about for a considerable time +after being deprived of the appliances by which the +life force is accumulated and transferred, but higher +organisms are instantly killed by the removal of such +appliances, or even by the injury of minor parts of +them; even more easily destroyed are the more advanced +and complicated <emph>social</emph> organizations. +</p> + +<p> +The first question is: what are to be the scientific +methods that will eliminate diverse opinions and +creeds from an analysis of facts and ensure correct +deductions based upon them? A short survey of +facts concerning civilization will help to point the +way. +</p> + +<p> +Humanity, in its cradle, did not have science; it +had only the faculties of observation and speculation. +In the early days there was much speculative thinking, +but it was without any sufficient basis of facts. +Theology and philosophy flourished; their speculations +were often very clever, but all their primitive +notions about facts—such as the structure of the +<pb n="031"/><anchor id="Pg031"/> +heavens, the form of the earth, mechanical principles, +meteorological or physiological phenomena—were +almost all of them wrong. +</p> + +<p> +What is history? What is its significance for +humanity? Dr. J. H. Robinson gives us a precise +answer: <q>Man's abject dependence on the past gives +rise to the continuity of history. Our convictions, +opinions, prejudices, intellectual tastes; our knowledge, +our methods of learning and of applying for +information we owe, with slight exceptions, to the +past—often to the remote past. History is an expansion +of memory, and like memory it alone can +explain the present and in this lies its most unmistakable +value.</q><note place="foot"><hi rend='italic'>An Outline of +the History of the Western European Mind</hi>, by +James Harvey Robinson. The New School for Social Research, +New York, 1919. This little volume gives condensed statements, +as in a nutshell, of the historical developments of the +human mind and contains a long list of the most substantial +modern books on historical questions. All the further historical +quotations will be taken from this exceptionally valuable little +book, and for convenience they will simply be marked by his +initials—J. H. R.</note> +</p> + +<p> +The savage regards every striking phenomenon or +group of phenomena as caused by some personal +agent, and from remotest antiquity the mode of thinking +has changed only as fast as the relations among +phenomena have been established.<note place="foot">(J. H. R.) +<q>Late appearance of a definite theory of progress. +Excessive conservatism of primitive peoples. The Greeks +speculated on the origin of things, but they did not have a conception +of the possibility of indefinite progress ... Progress +of man from the earliest time till the opening of the 17th century +almost altogether unconscious.... Fundamental weakness of +Hellenic learning. It was an imposing collection of speculation, +opinions, and guesses, which, however brilliant and ingenious +they might be, were based on a very slight body of exact knowledge, +and failed to recognize the fundamental necessity of +painful scientific research, aided by apparatus. There was no +steady accumulation of knowledge to offset the growing emotional +distrust of reason.... Unfulfilled promise of Hellenistic +science. Influence of slavery in checking the development of +science.... The deficiencies of Medieval culture. All the +weaknesses of the Hellenic reasoning, combined with those of +the Christian Fathers, underlay what appeared to be a most +logically elaborated and definitive system of thought. Defects +of the university education.... Little history of Natural +science, in our sense of the word, taught in the universities.... Copernicus, +<q>De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium.</q> Libri +VI, 1543.... Copernicus' own introduction acknowledges +his debt to ancient philosophers. Still believed in fixed Starry +Sphere. His discovery had little immediate effect on prevailing +notions. Giordano Bruno (1548-1600) made it his chief +business to think out and set forth in Latin and Italian the +implications of the discovery of Copernicus.... Bruno burned +by the Inquisition at Rome.... Keppler (1571-1630) and +his discovery of the elliptical orbits of the planets. Galileo +(1564-1642). His telescope speedily improved so as to magnify +32 diameters. His attitude toward the Copernican theory, +which was condemned by Roman Inquisition 1616.... Galileo's +chief discoveries were in physics and mechanics. +Isaac Newton (1642-1727) proved that the laws of falling +bodies apply to the heavens. This made a deep impression +and finally the newer conceptions of the universe began to be +popularized.... Lord Bacon (1561-1626), the <q>Buccinator</q> +of experimental and applied modern science.... His lively +appreciation of the existing obstacles to scientific advance; the +idols of the tribe, cave, market-place, and theatre.... Necessity +of escaping from the scholastic methods of <q>tumbling up +and down in our reasons and conceits,</q> and studying the world +about us. Undreamed of achievements possible if only the +right method of research be followed ... the distrust of +ancient authority.... Descartes (1596-1650), ... he proposed +to reach the truth through analysis and clear ideas, on +the assumption that God will not deceive.... His fundamental +interest in mathematics.... His claim to originality and his +rejection of all authority.... Obstacles to scientific advance; +the universities still dominated by Aristotle; the theological +faculties; the censorship of the press exercised by both church +and state; ...</q></note> +</p> + +<pb n="032"/><anchor id="Pg032"/> + +<p> +Human nature was always asking <q>why</q>? and not +being able to answer why, they found their answer +<pb n="033"/><anchor id="Pg033"/> +through another factor <q>who.</q> The unknown was +called, Gods or God. But with the progress of +science the <q>why</q> became more and more evident, +and the question came to be <q>how.</q> From the early +days of humanity, dogmatic theology, law, ethics, +and science in its infancy, were the monopolies of one +class and the source of their power.<note place="foot"><p>(J. H. R.) +<q rend="pre">Phases of religious complex. <q>Religious,</q> a +vague and comprehensive term applied to: (1) certain classes +of emotions (awe, dependence, self-distrust, aspirations, etc.); +(2) Conduct, which may take the form of distinctive religious +acts (ceremonies, sacrifices, prayers, <q>good works</q>) or the +observance of what in primitive conditions are recognized as +<q>taboos</q>; (3) Priestly, or ecclesiastical organizations; (4) +Beliefs about supernatural beings and man's relations to them: +the latter may take the form of revelation and be reduced to +creeds and become the subject of elaborate theological speculations.</q> +</p> +<p> +<q>Association of religion with the supernatural; religion has +always had for its primary object the attainment of a satisfactory +adjustment to, or a successful control over, the supernatural.... The +cultural mind viewed as the product of a +long and hazardous process of accumulation.... Spontaneous +generation of superstitions. Prevalence of symbolism, mana, +animism, magic, fetishism, totemism; the taboo (cf. our modern +idea of <q>principle</q>), the sacred, clean and unclean; <q>dream +logic</q>—spontaneous rationalizing or <q>jumping at conclusions</q>;... The +16th book of the Theodosian Code contains edicts +relating to the Church issued by the Roman Emperors during +the 4th and 5th centuries. They make it a crime to disagree +with the Church; they provide harsh penalties for heretical +teaching and writing, and grant privileges to the orthodox +clergy (exemptions from regular taxes and benefit of the clergy).... Christianity +becomes a monopoly defended by the state.... Psychological +power and attraction in the elaborate +symbolism and ritual of the church.... Allegory put an end +to all literary criticism.... Flourishing of the miraculous; +any unusual or startling occurrence attributed to the intervention +of either God or the Devil.... Older conceptions of +disease as caused by the Devil.... Our legal expression +<q>act of God</q> confined to unforseeable natural disasters. How +with a growing appreciation for natural law and a chastened +taste in wonders, miracles have tended to become a source of +intellectual distress and bewilderment.... Protestants shared +with Roman Catholics the horror of <q>rationalists</q> and <q>free-thinkers.</q> +The leaders of both parties agreed in hampering +and denouncing scientific discoveries.... Witchcraft in its +modern form emerges clearly in the 15th century.... Great +prevalence of witchcraft during the 16th and 17th centuries in +Protestant and Catholic countries, alike.... Trial of those +suspected of sorcery. Tortures to force confession. The +witches' mark. Penalties, burning alive, strangling, hanging. +Tens of thousands of innocent persons perished.... Those +who tried to discredit witchcraft denounced as <q>Sadducees</q> +and atheists.... The psychology of intolerance. Fear, vested +interests, the comfortable nature of the traditional and the +habitual. The painful appropriation of new ideas.... The +intolerance of the Catholic Church: a natural result of its state-like +organization and claims.... Its doctrine of exclusive +salvation and its conception of heresy both sanctioned by the +state. Doubt and error regarded as sinful.... Beginnings +of censorship of the press after the invention of printing, licensing +of ecclesiastical and civil authorities.... Protestants of +16th century accept the theory of intolerance.</q></p></note> +</p> + +<pb n="034"/><anchor id="Pg034"/> + +<p> +The first to break this power were the exact +sciences. They progressed too rapidly to be bound +and limited by obscure old writings and prejudices; +life and realities were their domain. Science brushed +aside all sophistry and became a reality. Ethics is +too fundamentally important a factor in civilization +to depend upon a theological or a legal excuse; +<pb n="035"/><anchor id="Pg035"/> +ethics must conform to the <emph>natural</emph> laws of human +<emph>nature</emph>. +</p> + +<p> +Laws, legal ideas, date from the beginning of +civilization. Legal speculation was wonderfully developed +in parallel lines with theology and philosophy +before the natural and exact sciences came +into existence. Law was always made by the few +and in general for the purpose of preserving the +<q>existing order,</q> or for the reestablishment of the +old order and the punishment of the offenders +against it. +</p> + +<p> +Dogmatic theology is, by its very nature, unchangeable. +The same can be said in regard to the +spirit of the law. Law was and is to protect the +past and present status of society and, by its very +essence, must be very conservative, if not reactionary. +Theology and law are both of them static by their +nature.<note place="foot">(J. H. R.) <q>The +Socio-psychological foundations of conservatism: +Primitive natural reverence for the familiar and habitual +greatly reenforced by religion and law. Natural conservatism +of all professions. Those who suffer most from existing institutions +commonly, helplessly accept the situation as inevitable. +Position of the conservative; he urges the impossibility of altering +<q>human nature</q> and warns against the disasters of revolution. +Conservatism in the light of history: History would seem +to discredit conservatism completely as a working principle in +view of the past achievements of mankind in the recent past +and the possibilities which opened before us.... Futility of +the appeal of the conservative to human nature as an obstacle +to progress.... Culture can not be transmitted hereditarily +but can be accumulated through education and modified indefinitely.</q></note> +</p> + +<pb n="036"/><anchor id="Pg036"/> + +<p> +Philosophy, law and ethics, to be effective in a +dynamic world must be dynamic; they must be made +vital enough to keep pace with the progress of life +and science. In recent civilization ethics, because +controlled by theology and law, which are static, +could not duly influence the dynamic, revolutionary +progress of technic and the steadily changing conditions +of life; and so we witness a tremendous downfall +of morals in politics and business. Life progresses +faster than our ideas, and so medieval ideas, +methods and judgments are constantly applied to +the conditions and problems of modern life. This +discrepancy between facts and ideas is greatly responsible +for the dividing of modern society into different +warring classes, which do not understand each +other. Medieval legalism and medieval morals—the +basis of the old <emph>social</emph> structure—being by their +nature conservative, reactionary, opposed to change, +and thus becoming more and more unable to support +the mighty social burden of the modern world, must +be adjudged responsible in a large measure for the +circumstances which made the World War inevitable. +</p> + +<p> +Under the flash of explosives some of the workings +of those antiquated ideas were exposed or +crushed. The World War has profoundly changed +economic conditions and made it necessary to erect +new standards of values. We are forced to realize +that evolution by transformation is a cosmic process +<pb n="037"/><anchor id="Pg037"/> +and that reaction, though it may retard it, can not +entirely stop it.<note place="foot">(J. H. R.) +<q>Formulation and establishment of the evolutionary +hypothesis. Discovery of the great age of the earth; ... +gradual development of the evolutionary theory.... +Darwin's <q>Origin of the Species,</q> 1859. Herbert Spencer +(1820-1903).... Haeckel (1834-1919) and others clarify, +defend and popularize the new doctrine. Subsequent development +of the evolutionary doctrine by Mendel, Weisman, DeVries +and others. Weakening of the special creation theory by other +evidence such as archeology and biblical criticism. The significance +of the doctrine for intellectual history. Character of the +opposition to the evolutionary theory. Popular confusion of +<q>Darwinism</q> with <q>evolution.</q> Revolutionary effects of the +new point of view. Does away with conception of fixed species +(Platonic ideas) that had previously dominated speculation. +The genetic method adopted in all the organic sciences, including +the newer social sciences. Problem of adjusting history to the +discoveries of the past 50 years. Bearing of evolution on the +theory of progress. Organic evolution and social evolution.</q></note> +</p> + +<p> +The idea that organic species are results of special +creation has no scientific standard whatever. There +is not one fact tending to prove special or separate +creation; the evidence, which is overwhelming, is all +of it on the other side. The hypothesis of special +creation is a mere fossil of the past. Evolution is +the only theory which is in harmony with facts and +with all branches of science: life is dynamic, not +static. +</p> + +<p> +Philosophy, as defined by Fichte, is the <q>science +of sciences.</q> Its aim was to solve the problems of +the world. In the past, when all exact sciences were +in their infancy, philosophy had to be purely speculative, +with little or no regard to realities. But if +<pb n="038"/><anchor id="Pg038"/> +we regard philosophy as a Mother science, divided +into many branches, we find that those branches have +grown so large and various, that the Mother science +looks like a hen with her little ducklings paddling +in a pond, far beyond her reach; she is unable to +follow her growing hatchlings. In the meantime, +the progress of life and science goes on, irrespective +of the cackling of metaphysics. Philosophy does not +fulfill her initial aim to bring the results of experimental +and exact sciences together and to solve world +problems. Through endless, scientific specialization +scientific branches multiply, and for want of coordination +the great world-problems suffer. This failure +of philosophy to fulfill her boasted mission of scientific +coordination is responsible for the chaos in the +world of general thought. The world has no collective +or organized higher ideals and aims, nor +even fixed general purposes. Life is an accidental +game of private or collective ambitions and +greeds.<note place="foot">(J. H. R.) <q>The +Deists and philosophers destroy the older +theological anthropology and reassert the dignity of man; the +growth of criticism and liberalism has made the analysis of +social institutions somewhat less dangerous; the general growth +of knowledge has reacted in a stimulating way upon the sciences +of society; the great increase in the number, complexity and +intensity of social problems has proved a strong incentive to +social science; The Darwinian hypothesis has rendered preposterous +any conception of a wholly static social system. However, +the modern social sciences in our capitalistic order meet +much the same resistance from the <q>vested interests</q> that +theological radicalism encountered in the Middle Ages, and +social science has in no way approached the objectivity and +progressiveness of present day natural science.... Grave +effects of vested rights in hampering experiments and readjustments.... +Obstacles to readjustment presented by consecrated +traditions.... Influence of modern commercialism in the +inordinate development of organization and regimentation in +our present educational system. Psychological disadvantages +of our conventional examination system. As yet our education +has not been brought into close relation with prevailing conditions +of our ever increasing knowledge.... Excellent aims +and small achievements of sociology in practical results. +(<emph>Because of absolute lack of any scientific base.</emph> Author.) General +nature of the problem of social reform: psychological +problems involved in social reform movements: violent resistance +of the group to that criticism of the existing institutions, +which must precede any effective social reform....</q></note> +</p> + +<pb n="039"/><anchor id="Pg039"/> + +<p> +Systematic study of chemical and physical phenomena +has been carried on for many generations +and these two sciences now include: (1) knowledge +of an enormous number of facts; (2) a large body +of natural laws; (3) many fertile working hypotheses +respecting the causes and regularities of natural +phenomena; and finally (4) many helpful theories +held subject to correction by further testing of the +hypotheses giving rise to them. When a subject is +spoken of as a science, it is understood to include +all of the above mentioned parts. Facts alone do +not constitute a science any more than a pile of +stones constitutes a house, not even do facts and laws +alone; there must be facts, hypotheses, theories and +laws before the subject is entitled to the rank of a +science. +</p> + +<p> +The primal function of a science is to enable us +to anticipate the future in the field to which it relates. +<pb n="040"/><anchor id="Pg040"/> +Judged by this standard, neither philosophy nor its +kindred—the so-called social sciences—have in the +past been very effective. There was, for example, +no official warning of the coming of the World War—the +greatest of catastrophes. The future was not +anticipated because political philosophers did not +possess the necessary basis of knowledge. To be +just we must admit that philosophy has been but little +aided financially because it is commonly regarded as +unnecessary. The technical branches of science have +been strongly backed and generally supported by +those to whom they have brought direct profit; and +so they have had better opportunities for development. +</p> + +<p> +Ethics in the stifling grip of myth and legalism +is not convincing enough to exercise controlling influence. +Such is the situation in which we find ourselves. +Being still in our childhood and thinking like +savages, we looked upon the World War as a personal +creation of a <q>war-lord,</q> because those interested +in it told us so. We neglected to use our common +sense and look deeper into its origins; to perform +for ourselves the duty which political philosophy +did not perform for us—the duty of thinking +in terms of facts and not in terms of metaphysical +speculations. Knowledge of facts would +have told us that the war lords were only the representatives +of the ruling classes. A system of social +<pb n="041"/><anchor id="Pg041"/> +and economic order built exclusively on selfishness, +greed, <q>survival of the fittest,</q> and ruthless competition, +must cease to exist, or exist by means of war. +The representatives of this system determined to continue +to exist, and so war was the consequence. The +ruling classes carried the whole system under which +they lived to its logical conclusion and natural issue, +which is <q>grab what you can.</q> This motto is not +peculiar to any one country; it is the motto of our +whole civilization and is the inevitable outcome of +our stupid philosophy regarding the characteristic +nature of man and the proper potentialities of human +life. Where are we to find the true doctrines? +Where the true philosophy? If we go back over the +history of civilization, we find that in all <q>sciences,</q> +except the exact ones, private opinions and theories +have shaped our beliefs, colored our mental processes +and controlled our destinies; we see, for example, +pessimism opposed to optimism, materialism +to spiritualism, realism to idealism, capitalism to +socialism, and so on endlessly. Each of the disputatious +systems has a large number of followers and +each faction looks upon the others as deprived of +truth, common sense and knowledge. All of them +play with the words <q>natural law</q> which they ignorantly +presume to have as the basis and content of +their own particular doctrine. +</p> + +<p> +It is the same in the realm of religions; there are +<pb n="042"/><anchor id="Pg042"/> +approximately 291 million Confucianists, or Taoists, +261 million Roman Catholics, 211 million Mohammedans, +209 million Hindus, 177 million Protestants, +157 million Animists, 137 million Buddhists, +115 million Orthodox Christians—to speak only of +the most important religions. Each group, and they +are rather large groups, believes its theory or its +faith to be infallible and all the others to be false. +</p> + +<p> +Bacon seems a bit remote, but the idols and +medieval fetishes which he so masterfully describes +are equally venerated to-day. +</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p> +(<hi rend='italic'>Novum Organum</hi>, by Francis Bacon.) +</p> +<p> +34. <q rend="pre">Four species of idols beset the human mind, to which +(for distinction's sake) we have assigned names, calling the +first Idols of the Tribe, the second Idols of the Den, the +third Idols of the Market, the fourth Idols of the Theatre.</q> +</p> +<p> +40. <q rend="pre">The information of notions and axioms on the foundation +of true induction is the only fitting remedy by which +we can ward off and expel these idols. It is, however, of +great service to point them out; for the doctrine of idols +bears the same relation to the interpretation of nature as +that of the confutation of sophisms does to common logic.</q> +</p> +<p> +41. <q rend="pre">The idols of the tribe are inherent in human nature +and the very tribe or race of man; for man's sense is falsely +asserted to be the standard of things; on the contrary, all +the perceptions both of the senses and the mind bear reference +to man and not to the Universe, and the human mind resembles +these uneven mirrors which impart their own properties +to different objects, from which rays are emitted and +distort and disfigure them.</q> +</p> +<p> +42. <q rend="pre">The idols of the den are those of each individual; +for everybody (in addition to the errors common to the race +<pb n="043"/><anchor id="Pg043"/> +of man) has his own individual den or cavern, which intercepts +and corrupts the light of nature, either from his own +peculiar and singular disposition, or from his education and +intercourse with others, or from his reading, and the +authority acquired by those whom he reverences and admires, +or from the different impressions produced on the mind, as +it happens to be preoccupied and predisposed, or equable and +tranquil, and the like; so that the spirit of man (according +to its several dispositions), is variable, confused, and, as it +were, actuated by chance; and Heraclitus said well that men +search for knowledge in lesser worlds, and not in the greater +or common world.</q> +</p> +<p> +43. <q rend="pre">There are also idols formed by the reciprocal intercourse +and society of man with man, which we call idols +of the market, from the commerce and association of men +with each other; for men converse by means of language, +but words are formed at the will of the generality, and there +arises from a bad and unapt formation of words a wonderful +obstruction to the mind. Nor can the definitions and explanations +with which learned men are wont to guard and +protect themselves in some instances afford a complete +remedy—words still manifestly force the understanding, +throw everything into confusion, and lead mankind into vain +and innumerable controversies and fallacies.</q> +</p> +<p> +44. <q>Lastly, there are idols which have crept into men's +minds from the various dogmas of peculiar systems of philosophy, +and also from the perverted rules of demonstration, +and these we denominate idols of the theatre: for we regard +all the systems of philosophy hitherto received or imagined, +as so many plays brought out and performed, creating +fictitious and theatrical worlds. Nor do we speak only of the +present systems, or of the philosophy and sects of the ancients, +since numerous other plays of a similar nature can be still +composed and made to agree with each other, the causes +of the most opposite errors being generally the same. Nor, +<pb n="044"/><anchor id="Pg044"/> +again, do we allude merely to general systems, but also to +many elements and axioms of sciences which have become +inveterate by tradition, implicit credence, and +neglect.</q><note place="foot">(J. H. R.) +<q>During the past two centuries the application +of the scientific discoveries to daily life has revolutionized +our methods of supplying our economic needs, our social and +intellectual life, and the whole range of the relations of mankind. +The impulse of invention, iron, coal, and steam essential to the +development of machinery on a large scale; machinery has in +turn begotten the modern factory with its vast organized labor, +the modern city and finally, our well nigh perfect means of +rapid human inter-communication. The tremendous increase +in the production of wealth and the growing interdependence of +nations has opened up a vast range of speculation in regard to +the betterment of mankind to the abolition or reduction of poverty, +ignorance, disease, and war.... Man advances from a +tool-using to a machine-controlling animal. The rise of the +factory system; the concentration and localization of industry; +increased division of labor and specialization of industrial processes. +The great increase in the volume of capital and in the +extent of investments; the separation of capital and labor and +the growth of impersonal economic relationship. Problems of +capital and labor; unemployment and the labor of women and +children; labor organizations. Increased productivity and the +expansion of commerce. Industrial processes become dynamic +and everchanging—a complete reversal of the old stability, repetition +and isolation.</q></note> +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +Metaphysical speculation and its swarming progeny +of blind and selfish political philosophies, private +opinions, private <q>truths,</q> and private doctrines, +sectarian opinions, sectarian <q>truths</q> and sectarian +doctrines, querulous, confused and blind—such is +characteristic of the <emph>childhood</emph> of humanity. The +period of humanity's <emph>manhood</emph> will, I doubt not, be +a scientific period—a period that will witness the +gradual extension of scientific method to all the interests +<pb n="045"/><anchor id="Pg045"/> +of mankind—a period in which man will discover +the essential nature of man and establish, at +length, the science and art of directing human +energies and human capacities to the advancement +of human weal in accordance with the laws of +human nature. +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n="046"/><anchor id="Pg046"/> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" level1="Chapter III. Classes of Life"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="Chapter III. Classes of Life"/> +<head>Chapter III. Classes of Life</head> + +<p> +The problems to be dealt with in this chapter +are not easy, but they are exceedingly important. +To classify phenomena correctly, they must +be correctly analysed and clearly defined. For the +sake of clearness I will use the simplest illustrations +and, avoiding as much as possible the difficulties of +technical terms, will use language easily to be understood +by every one. In some cases the words will +indeed have a technical meaning and it will be necessary +to exercise great care against the danger of +giving false impressions; for clear ideas are essential +to sound thinking. As a matter of fact our common +daily speech is ill adapted for the precise expression +of thought; even so-called <q>scientific</q> language is +often too vague for the purpose and requires further +refining. Some may say that it is useless and unnecessary +to lay so much stress on correct thinking +and precise expression; that it has no practical value; +for they say that <q>business</q> language is good enough +to <q>talk business,</q> or to put <q>something over</q> the +other fellow. But a little explanation will show that +precision is often of the greatest importance. +</p> + +<pb n="047"/><anchor id="Pg047"/> + +<p> +Humanity is a peculiar class of life which, in some +degree, determines its own destinies; therefore in +practical life <emph>words</emph> and +<emph>ideas</emph> become <emph>facts</emph>—facts, +moreover, which bring about important practical +consequences. For instance, many millions of human +beings have defined a stroke of lightning as being +the <q>punishment of God</q> of evil men; other millions +have defined it as a <q>natural, casual, periodical phenomenon</q>; +yet other millions have defined it as an +<q>electric spark.</q> What has been the result of +these <q>non-important</q> definitions in practical life? +In the case of the first definition, when lightning +struck a house, the population naturally made no +attempt to save the house or anything in it, because +to do so would be against the <q>definition</q> which proclaims +the phenomenon to be a <q>punishment for +evil,</q> any attempt to prevent or check the destruction +would be an impious act; the sinner would be guilty +of <q>resisting the supreme law</q> and would deserve to +be punished by death. +</p> + +<p> +Now in the second instance, a stricken building is +treated just as any tree overturned by storm; the +people save what they can and try to extinguish the +fire. In both instances, the behavior of the populace +is the same in one respect; if caught in the open +by a storm they take refuge under a tree—a means +of safety involving maximum danger but the people +do not know it. +</p> + +<pb n="048"/><anchor id="Pg048"/> + +<p> +Now in the third instance, in which the population +have a scientifically correct definition of lightning, +they provide their houses with lightning rods; +and if they are caught by a storm in the open they +neither run nor hide under a tree; but when the +storm is directly over their heads, they put themselves +in a position of minimum exposure by lying flat +on the ground until the storm has passed. +</p> + +<p> +Such examples could be given without end, but +there is another example of sufficient vital importance +to be given here, as it has to do with our conception +of the social and economic system, and the +state. If our institutions are considered <q>God-given</q>—sacred +and therefore static—every reformer +or advocate of change should be treated as +a criminal or <q>a danger to the existing order</q> and +hanged or at least put in jail for life. But now, if +our institutions are <q>man made,</q> imperfect and often +foolish, and subject to change all the time steadily +and dynamically in obedience to some known or unknown +law; then of course all reactionaries would +be a <q>danger to the natural order</q> and they should +be treated the same way. The importance of definitions +can be seen in all other fields of practical life; +definitions create conditions. To know the world in +which we live, we have to analyse facts by help of +such facts as we know in daily practice and such facts +as are established in scientific laboratories where men +<pb n="049"/><anchor id="Pg049"/> +do not jump to conclusions. In some places it will +be necessary to make statements that will have to +await full justification at a later stage of the discussion. +This will be necessary to indicate the trend +of the analysis. +</p> + +<p> +The aim of the analysis is to give us just conceptions, +correct definitions, and true propositions. The +process is slow, progressive, and endless. The problems +are infinitely many, and it is necessary to select. +Fortunately the solution of a few leads automatically +to the solution of many others. Some of the greatest +and most far-reaching scientific discoveries have been +nothing else than a few correct definitions, a few +just concepts and a few true propositions. Such, for +example, was the work of Euclid, Newton and +Leibnitz—a few correct definitions, a few just concepts, +a few true propositions; but these have been +extended and multiplied, sometimes by men of creative +genius, and often almost automatically by men +of merely good sense and fair talent. +</p> + +<p> +The matter of definition, I have said, is very important. +I am not now speaking of <emph>nominal</emph> definitions, +which for convenience merely give names to +known objects. I am speaking of such definitions +of phenomena as result from correct analysis of the +phenomena. Nominal definitions are mere conveniences +and are neither true nor false; but analytic +definitions are definitive <emph>propositions</emph> and are true +<pb n="050"/><anchor id="Pg050"/> +or else false. Let us dwell upon the matter a little +more. +</p> + +<p> +In the illustration of the definitions of lightning, +there were three; the first was the most mistaken +and its application brought the most harm; the second +was less incorrect and the practical results less +bad; the third under the present conditions of our +knowledge, was the <q>true one</q> and it brought the +maximum benefit. This lightning illustration suggests +the important idea of <emph>relative</emph> truth and <emph>relative</emph> +falsehood—the idea, that is, of degrees of +truth and degrees of falsehood. A definition may +be neither absolutely true nor absolutely false; but +of two definitions of the same thing, one of them +may be truer or falser than the other. +</p> + +<p> +If, for illustration's sake, we call the first <q>truth</q> +<hi rend='italic'>A</hi>, (alpha 1), +the second one <hi rend='italic'>A</hi><hi rend="vertical-align: super">2</hi> +(alpha 2), the third one +<hi rend='italic'>A</hi><hi rend="vertical-align: super">3</hi> +(alpha 3), we may suppose that a genius +appears who has the faculty to surpass all the other +relative truths +<hi rend='italic'>A</hi><hi rend="vertical-align: super">1</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>A</hi><hi rend="vertical-align: super">2</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>A</hi><hi rend="vertical-align: super">3</hi>, ... +<hi rend='italic'>A</hi><hi rend="vertical-align: super">n</hi> and gives us an +absolute or final truth, <hi rend="sc">valid in infinity</hi> +(<hi rend='italic'>A</hi><hi rend="vertical-align: super">infinity</hi>) say a +final definition, that lightning is so ... and so ..., +a kind of energy which flows, let us say, through a +glass tube filled with charcoal. Then of course +this definition would immediately make obvious +what use could be made of it. We could erect +glass towers filled with charcoal and so secure an +unlimited flow of available free energy and our +<pb n="051"/><anchor id="Pg051"/> +whole life would be affected in an untold degree. +This example explains the importance of correct +definitions. +</p> + +<p> +But to take another example: there is such a +thing as a phenomenon called the <q>color</q> red. +Imagine how it might be defined. A reactionary +would call it a <q>Bolshevik</q> +(<hi rend='italic'>A</hi><hi rend="vertical-align: super">1</hi>); a Bolshevik +would say <q>My color</q> +(<hi rend='italic'>A</hi><hi rend="vertical-align: super">2</hi>); a color-blind person +would say <q>such a thing does not exist</q> +(<hi rend='italic'>A</hi><hi rend="vertical-align: super">3</hi>); +a Daltonist would say <q>that is green</q> +(<hi rend='italic'>A</hi><hi rend="vertical-align: super">4</hi>); a +metaphysician would say <q>that is the soul of whiskey</q> +(<hi rend='italic'>A</hi><hi rend="vertical-align: super">5</hi>); +an historian would say <q>that is the color of the ink with which human history has +been written</q> (<hi rend='italic'>A</hi><hi rend="vertical-align: super">6</hi>); +an uneducated person would say <q>that is the color of blood</q> +(<hi rend='italic'>A</hi><hi rend="vertical-align: super">7</hi>); the modern +scientist would say <q>it is the light of such and such wave length</q> +(<hi rend='italic'>A</hi><hi rend="vertical-align: super">8</hi>). +If this last definition be <q>valid in infinity</q> or not we do not know, +but it is, nevertheless, a <q>scientific truth</q> in the present +condition of our knowledge. +</p> + +<p> +This final but unknown <q>truth valid in infinity</q> +is somehow perceived or felt by us as an ideal, for +in countless years of observation we have formed +a series of less and less false, more and more nearly +true <q>ideas</q> about the phenomenon. The <q>ideas</q> +are <emph>reflexes</emph> of the phenomenon, reflected in our +midst as in a mirror; the reflexes may be distorted, +as in a convex or concave mirror, but they suggest +<pb n="052"/><anchor id="Pg052"/> +an ideal reflex valid in infinity. It is of the utmost +importance to realize that the words which are used +to express the ideas and the ideals are <hi rend="sc">the materialization</hi> +of the ideas and ideal; it is only by +words that we are enabled to give to other human +beings an exact or nearly exact impression which +we have had of the phenomenon. +</p> + +<p> +It may be helpful to illustrate this process by an +example. Let us suppose that a man makes an +experiment of doing his own portrait from a mirror, +which may be plane, concave or convex. If he looks +into a plane mirror, he will see his true likeness; +even so, if he be a poor designer, he will draw the +likeness badly. Let us suppose that the man has +beautiful features but because the drawing is very +poor, it will not convey the impression that the +features of the original were beautiful. If this poor +designer were to look into and work from a concave +or convex mirror, the drawing of his likeness would +have practically no resemblance to his original +features. +</p> + +<p> +For correct analysis and true definitions of the +cardinal classes of life in our world it is necessary +to have some just ideas about dimensions or dimensionality. +The Britannica gives us some help in +this connection. I will explain briefly by an example. +Measurable entities of different kinds can not be +compared directly. Each one must be measured in +<pb n="053"/><anchor id="Pg053"/> +terms of a unit of its own kind. A line can have +only length and therefore is of one dimension: a surface +has length and width and is therefore said to +have two dimensions; a volume has length, width and +thickness and is, therefore, said to have three dimensions. +If we take, for example, a volume—say a +cube—we see that the cube has surfaces and lines and +points, but a volume is not a surface nor a line nor +a point. Just these dimensional differences have an +enormous unrealized importance in practical life, as +in the case of taking a line of five units of length +and building upon it a square, the measure of this +square (surface) will not be 5, it will be 25; and +the 25 will not be 25 linear units but 25 square or +surface units. If upon this square we build a cube, +this cube will have neither 5 nor 25 for its measure; +it will have 125, and this number will not be so many +units of length nor of surface but so many solid or +cubic units. +</p> + +<p> +It is as plain as a pike staff that, if we confused +<emph>dimensions</emph> when computing lengths and areas and +volumes, we would wreck all the architectural and +engineering structures of the world, and at the same +time show ourselves stupider than block-heads. +</p> + +<p> +To analyse the classes of life we have to consider +two very different kinds of phenomena: the one +embraced under the collective name—Inorganic +chemistry—the other under the collective name—Organic +<pb n="054"/><anchor id="Pg054"/> +chemistry, or the chemistry of hydro-carbons. +These divisions are made because of the peculiar +properties of the elements chiefly involved in the +second class. The properties of matter are so distributed +among the elements that three of them—Oxygen, +Hydrogen, and Carbon—possess an ensemble +of unique characteristics. The number of +reactions in inorganic chemistry are relatively few, +but in organic chemistry—in the chemistry of these +three elements the number of different compounds is +practically unlimited. Up to 1910, we knew of more +than 79 elements of which the whole number of reactions +amounted to only a few hundreds, but among +the remaining three elements—Carbon, Hydrogen +and Oxygen—the reactions were known to be practically +unlimited in number and possibilities; this fact +must have very far reaching consequences. As far +as energies are concerned, we have to take them as +nature reveals them to us. Here more than ever, +mathematical thinking is essential and will help enormously. +The reactions in inorganic chemistry +always involve the phenomenon of heat, sometimes +light, and in some instances an unusual energy is +produced called electricity. Until now, the radioactive +elements represent a group too insufficiently +known for an enlargement here upon this subject. +</p> + +<p> +The organic compounds being unlimited in number +and possibilities and with their unique characteristics, +<pb n="055"/><anchor id="Pg055"/> +represent of course, a different class of phenomena, +but being, at the same time, <emph>chemical</emph> they include +the basic chemical phenomena involved in all chemical +reactions, but being unique in many other respects, +they also have an infinitely vast field of unique +characteristics. Among the energetic phenomena of +organic chemistry, besides the few mentioned above +there are <hi rend="sc">new and unique</hi> energetic phenomena +occurring in this dimension. +</p> + +<p> +Of these phenomena, mention may be made of +the phenomenon <q>life,</q> the phenomenon of the <q>instincts</q> +and of the <q>mind</q> in general. These energetic +phenomena are unique for the unique chemistry +of the three unique elements. It is obvious that this +<q>uniqueness</q> is the reason why these phenomena +must be classified as belonging to or having a higher +dimensionality than belongs to the phenomena of inorganic +chemistry just as the uniqueness of the properties +of a volume as compared with surface properties +depends upon the fact that a volume has a +higher dimensionality than a surface. Just as this +difference of dimensions makes the whole difference +between the geometry of volumes and the geometry +of surfaces, the difference between the two chemistries +involves a difference of dimensionality. +</p> + +<p> +The higher energies of the chemistries of the +higher dimensionality are very difficult to define; my +descriptions are no better than the description of +<pb n="056"/><anchor id="Pg056"/> +life given by Professor Wilhelm Roux, in his <hi rend='italic'>Der +Kampf der Teile im Organismus</hi>, Leipzig, 1881, +which are equally unsatisfactory. In want of a better, +I quote him. He defines a living being as a natural +object which possesses the following nine characteristic +autonomous activities: Autonomous change, +Autonomous excretion, Autonomous ingestion, Autonomous +assimilation, Autonomous growth, Autonomous +movement, Autonomous multiplication, Autonomous +transmission of hereditary characteristics +and Autonomous development. The words <q>Autonomous +activities</q> are important because they hint +at the dimensional differences of these energies. But +a better word should be found to define the dimensional +differences between the activities found in +inorganic chemistry and those found in organic +chemistry. We see it is a mistake to speak about +<q>life</q> in a crystal, in the same sense in which we +use the word life to name the curious <hi rend="sc">autonomous</hi> +phenomenon of <hi rend="sc">organic chemistry, which is of +another dimension</hi> than the activities in inorganic +chemistry. For the so-called life in the crystals—the +<emph>not</emph> <hi rend="sc">autonomous</hi> (or anautonomous) activities +of crystals—another word than life should be found. +In the theory of crystals the term life is purely +rhetorical: its use there is very injurious to sound +science. These old ideas of <q>life</q> in crystals are +profoundly unscientific and serve as one of the best +<pb n="057"/><anchor id="Pg057"/> +examples of the frequent confusion or intermixing +of dimensions—a confusion due to unmathematical, +logically incorrect ways of thinking. If crystals +<q>live,</q> then <emph>volumes are surfaces</emph>, and 125 cubic +units=25 square units—absurdities belonging to the +<q>childhood of humanity.</q> +</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p> +<q rend="pre">Crystals can grow in a proper solution, and can regenerate +their form in such a solution when broken or injured; +it is even possible to prevent or retard the formation of +crystals in a supersaturated solution by preventing <q>germs</q> +in the air from getting into the solution, an observation which +was later utilized by Schroeder and Pasteur in their experiments +on spontaneous generation. However, the analogies +between a living organism and a crystal are merely superficial +and it is by pointing out the fundamental differences between +the behavior of crystals and that of living organisms that +we can best understand the specific difference between non-living +and living matter. It is true that a crystal can grow, +but it will do so only in a supersaturated solution of its own +substance. Just the reverse is true for living organisms. In +order to make bacteria or the cells of our body grow, solutions +of the split products of the substances composing them +and not the substances themselves must be available to the +cells; second, these solutions must not be supersaturated, on +the contrary, they must be dilute; and third, growth leads +in living organisms to cell division as soon as the mass of +the cell reaches a certain limit. This process of cell division +can not be claimed even metaphorically to exist in a crystal. +A correct appreciation of these facts will give us an insight +into the specific difference between non-living and living matter. +The formation of living matter consists in the synthesis +of the proteins, nucleins, fats, and carbohydrates of the cells, +from split products....</q> +</p> + +<pb n="058"/><anchor id="Pg058"/> + +<p> +<q>The essential difference between living and non-living +matter consists then in this: the living cell synthesizes its +own complicated specific material from indifferent or non-specific +simple compounds of the surrounding medium, while +the crystal simply adds the molecules found in its supersaturated +solution. This synthetic power of transforming +small <q>building stones</q> into the complicated compounds +specific for each organism is the <q>secret of life</q> or rather one +of the secrets of life.</q> (<hi rend='italic'>The Organism as a Whole</hi>, by +Jacques Loeb.) +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +It will be explained later that one of the energetic +phenomena of organic chemistry—the <q>mind,</q> +which is one of the energies characteristic of this +class of phenomena, is <q>autonomous,</q> is <q>self-propelling</q> +and true to its dimensionality. If we +analyse the classes of life, we readily find that there +are three cardinal classes which are radically distinct +in function. A short analysis will disclose to us that, +though minerals have various activities, they are not +<q>living.</q> The plants have a very definite and well +known function—the transformation of solar energy +into organic chemical energy. They are a class of +life which appropriates one kind of energy, converts +it into another kind and stores it up; in that sense +they are a kind of storage battery for the solar +energy; and so I define <hi rend="sc">the plants as the chemistry-binding</hi> +class of life. +</p> + +<p> +The animals use the highly dynamic products of +the <emph>chemistry-binding</emph> class—the plants—as food, +<pb n="059"/><anchor id="Pg059"/> +and those products—the results of plant-transformation—undergo +in animals a further transformation +into yet higher forms; and the animals are correspondingly +a more dynamic class of life; their energy +is kinetic; they have a remarkable freedom and +power which the plants do not possess—I mean the +freedom and faculty to move about in <emph>space</emph>; and so +I define <hi rend="sc">animals as the space-binding class of +life</hi>. +</p> + +<p> +And now what shall we say of <emph>human</emph> beings? +What is to be our definition of Man? Like the animals, +human beings do indeed possess the <emph>space-binding</emph> +capacity but, over and above that, human +beings possess a most remarkable capacity which is +entirely peculiar to them—I mean the capacity to +summarise, digest and appropriate the labors and +experiences of the past; I mean the capacity to use +the fruits of past labors and experiences as intellectual +or spiritual capital for developments in the +present; I mean the capacity to employ as instruments +of increasing power the accumulated achievements +of the all-precious lives of the past generations +spent in trial and error, trial and success; I mean the +capacity of human beings to conduct their lives in +the ever increasing light of inherited wisdom; I mean +the capacity in virtue of which man is at once the +heritor of the by-gone ages and the trustee of posterity. +And because humanity is just this magnificent +<pb n="060"/><anchor id="Pg060"/> +natural agency by which the past lives in the +present and the present for the future, I define +<hi rend="sc">humanity</hi>, in the universal tongue of mathematics +and mechanics, to be the <hi rend="sc">time-binding class of +life</hi>. +</p> + +<p> +These definitions of the cardinal classes of life +are, it will be noted, obtained from direct observation; +they are so simple and so important that I cannot +over-emphasize the necessity of grasping them +and most especially the definition of Man. For these +simple definitions and especially that of Humanity +will profoundly transform the whole conception of +human life in every field of interest and activity; +and, what is more important than all, the definition +of Man will give us a starting point for discovering +the <emph>natural</emph> laws of human nature—of the human +class of life. The definitions of the classes of life +represent the different classes as distinct in respect +to dimensionality; and this is extremely important +for no measure or rule of one class can be applied +to the other, <emph>without making grave mistakes</emph>. For +example, to treat a human being as an animal—as +a mere space-binder—because humans have certain +animal propensities, is an error of the same type and +grossness as to treat a cube as a surface because it +has surface properties. It is absolutely essential to +grasp that fact if we are ever to have a science +of human nature. +</p> + +<pb n="061"/><anchor id="Pg061"/> + +<p> +We can represent the different classes of life in +three life coordinates. The minerals, with their inorganic +activities would be the Zero (0) dimension +of <q>life</q>—that is the <emph>lifeless</emph> class—here represented +by the point <hi rend='italic'>M</hi>. +</p> + +<p> +The plants, with their <q>autonomous</q> growth, to +be represented by the <hi rend="sc">one dimensional</hi> line <hi rend='italic'>MP</hi>. +</p> + +<p> +The animals, with their <q>autonomous</q> capacity +to grow and to be active in space by the <hi rend="sc">two dimensional</hi> +plane <hi rend='italic'>PAM</hi>. +</p> + +<p> +The humans, with their <q>autonomous</q> capacity to +grow, to be active in space <hi rend="sc">and to be active in +time</hi>, by the <hi rend="sc">three dimensional</hi> +region <hi rend='italic'>MAPH</hi>. +</p> + +<figure url="images/061.png" rend="width: 100%"> + <figDesc> + A drawing, like labeling the axes of a three-dimensional space. + At the center is <q>(Minerals) M</q>. + At the top of the Z axis is <q>H (Humans)</q>. + At the end of the X axis is <q>P (Plants)</q>. + At the end of the Y axis is <q>A (Animals)</q>. + </figDesc> +</figure> + +<p> +Such diagrammatic illustrations must not be taken +too literally; they are like figures of speech—helpful +if understood—harmful if not understood. The +reader should reflect upon the simple idea of dimensions +<pb n="062"/><anchor id="Pg062"/> +until he sees clearly that the idea is not merely +a thing of interest or of convenience, but is absolutely +essential as a means of discriminating the cardinal +classes of life from one another and of conceiving +each class to be what it is instead of mixing +it confusedly with something radically different. It +will greatly help the reader if he will retire to the +quiet of his cloister and there meditate about as +follows. A line has one dimension; a plane has two; +a plane contains lines and so it has line properties—<emph>one</emph>-dimensional +properties—but it has other properties—<emph>two</emph>-dimensional +properties—and it is these +that are peculiar to it, give it its own character, +and make it what it is—a plane and not a line. +So animals have some plant properties—they +grow, for example—but animals have other properties—autonomous +mobility, for example,—properties +of higher dimensionality or type—and +it is these that make animals <emph>animals</emph> and not +plants. Just so, human beings have certain animal +properties—autonomous mobility, for example, +or physical appetites—but humans have other properties +or propensities—ethical sense, for example, +logical sense, inventiveness, progressiveness—properties +or propensities of higher dimensionality, level, +or type—and it is these propensities and powers +that make human beings <emph>human</emph> and <emph>not</emph> animal. +When and only when this fact is clearly seen and +<pb n="063"/><anchor id="Pg063"/> +keenly realized, there will begin the <emph>science of man</emph>—the +science and art of <emph>human nature</emph>—for then +and only then we shall begin to escape from the age-long +untold immeasurable evils that come from regarding +and treating human beings as animals, as +mere binders of space, and we may look forward +to an ethics, a jurisprudence and economics, a governance—a +science and art of human life and society—based +upon the laws of human nature because +based upon the just conception of humanity as the +time-binding class of life, creators and improvers of +good, destined to endless advancement, in accord +with the potencies of Human Nature.<note place="foot"><p>It may +be contended by some that animals have been making +<q>progress</q> or some may say that animals also <q>bind-time.</q> +This use of words would again become mere verbalism, a mere +talking about words—mere speculation having nothing to do +with <emph>facts</emph> or with correct thinking, in which there is no intermixing +of dimensions. The peculiar faculty belonging exclusively +to humans which I designate as <q>time-binding</q> I have clearly +defined as an <emph>exponential function</emph> +of <emph>time</emph> in the following chapter. +If people are pleased to talk about the <q>progress</q> of animals, +they can hardly fail to see clearly that it differs both in function +and in type or dimension from what is rightly meant by human +progress; human time-binding capacity lies in an entirely different +dimension from that of animals. So, if any persons wish +to talk of animal <q>progress</q> or animal <q>time-binding,</q> they +should invent a suitable word for it to save them from the +blunder of confusing types or mixing dimensions.</p> +<p>This mathematical discrimination between classes, types, +dimensions is of the utmost importance in the natural sciences, +because of the transmutation of species. To adjust the Darwin +theory to dimensionality is a somewhat more difficult problem; +it involves the concept of the <q>continuum</q>; but with the +modern theory of de Vries, these things are self evident. If +animals really progress, which is doubtful because they are an +older form of life than humans and they have not shown any +noticeable progress to the knowledge of man, their progress is +so small in comparison with man's that it may be said, in mathematical +terms, to be <emph>negligible</emph> as an infinitesimal of higher order.</p></note> +</p> + +<pb n="064"/><anchor id="Pg064"/> + +<p> +Humanity is still in its childhood; we have +<q>bound</q> so little time in the course of the centuries, +which are so brief in the scheme of the universe. At +the bottom of every human activity, historical fact +or trend of civilization, there lies some doctrine or +conception of so-called <q>truth.</q> Apples had fallen +from trees for ages, but without any important results +in the economy of humanity. The fact that a +fallen apple hit Newton, led to the discovery of the +theory of gravitation; this changed our whole world +conception, our sciences and our activities; it powerfully +stimulated the development of all the branches +of natural and technological knowledge. Even in +the event of the Newtonian laws being proved to be +not quite correct, they have served a great purpose +in enabling us to understand natural phenomena in +a sufficiently approximate way to make it possible to +build up modern technology and to develop our +physical science to the point where it was necessary +and possible to make a correction of the Newtonian +laws. +</p> + +<p> +A similar organic change in our conception of +human life and its phenomena is involved in the foregoing +definitions of the classes of life; they will replace +basic errors with scientific truths of fundamental +<pb n="065"/><anchor id="Pg065"/> +importance; they will form the basis for scientific +development of a permanent civilization in place of +the periodically convulsive so-called civilizations of +the past and present. To know the cause of evil and +error is to find the cure. +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n="066"/><anchor id="Pg066"/> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" level1="Chapter IV. What Is Man?"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="Chapter IV. What Is Man?"/> +<head>Chapter IV. What Is Man?</head> + +<p> +Man has ever been the greatest puzzle to man. +There are many and important reasons for +this fact. As the subject of this book is not a theoretical, +academic study of man, of which too many +have already been written, I will not recount the +reasons, but will confine myself to the more pressing +matters of the task in hand, which is that of pointing +the way to the science and art of Human Engineering. +The two facts which have to be dealt with first, +are the two which have most retarded human progress: +(1) there has never been a true definition of +man nor a just conception of his rôle in the curious +drama of the world; in consequence of which there +has never been a proper principle or starting point +for a science of humanity. It has never been realized +that man is a being of a dimension or type different +from that of animals and the characteristic nature +of man has not been understood; (2) man has +always been regarded either as an animal or as a +supernatural phenomenon. The facts are that man +is not <emph>super</emph>natural but is literally a part of nature +<pb n="067"/><anchor id="Pg067"/> +and that human beings are not animals. We have +seen that the animals are truly characterized by +their autonomous mobility—their space-binding capacity—animals +are space-binders. We have seen +that human beings are characterized by their creative +power, by the power to make the past live in the +present and the present for the future, by their capacity +to bind time—human beings are time-binders. +These concepts are basic and impersonal; arrived +at mathematically, they are mathematically correct. +</p> + +<p> +It does not matter at all <emph>how</emph> the first man, the +first time-binder, was produced; the fact remains +that he was somewhere, somehow produced. To +know anything that is to-day of fundamental interest +about man, we have to analyse man in three coordinates—in +three capacities; namely, his chemistry, his +activities in space, and especially his activities in +time; whereas in the study of animals we have to +consider only two factors: their chemistry and their +activities in space. +</p> + +<p> +Let us imagine that the aboriginal—original +human specimen was one of two brother apes, <hi rend='italic'>A</hi> +and <hi rend='italic'>B</hi>; they were alike in every respect; both were +animal space-binders; but something strange happened +to <hi rend='italic'>B</hi>; he became the first time-binder, a +human. No matter how, this <q>something</q> made the +change in him that lifted him to a higher dimension; +it is enough that in some-wise, over and above +<pb n="068"/><anchor id="Pg068"/> +his animal capacity for binding space, there was +superadded the marvelous new capacity for binding-time. +He had thus a new faculty, he belonged to +a new dimension; but, of course, he did not realize +it; and because he had this new capacity he was +able to analyze his brother <q><hi rend='italic'>A</hi></q>; +he observed <q><hi rend='italic'>A</hi> +is my brother; he is an animal; but he is my brother; +therefore, <hi rend="sc"><emph>I</emph> am an animal</hi>.</q> +This fatal first conclusion, +reached by false analogy, by neglecting a +fact, has been the chief source of human woe for +half a million years and it still survives. The time-binding +capacity, first manifest in <hi rend='italic'>B</hi>, increased more +and more, with the days and each generation, until +in the course of centuries man felt himself increasingly +somehow different from the animal, but he +could not explain. He said to himself, <q>If I +am an animal there is also in me something higher, +a spark of some thing <emph>super</emph>natural.</q> +</p> + +<p> +With this conclusion he estranged himself, as +something apart from nature, and formulated the +impasse, which put him in a cul-de-sac of a double +life. He was neither true to the <q>supernatural</q> +which he could not know and therefore, could not +emulate, nor was he true to the <q>animal</q> which he +scorned. Having put himself outside the <q>natural +laws,</q> he was not really true to any law and condemned +himself to a life of hypocrisy, and established +speculative, artificial, unnatural laws. +</p> + +<pb n="069"/><anchor id="Pg069"/> + +<p> +<q>How blind our familiar assumptions make us! +Among the animals, man, at least, has long been +wont to regard himself as a being quite apart from +and not as part of the cosmos round about him. +From this he has detached himself in thought, he has +estranged and objectified the world, and lost the +sense that he is of it. And this age-long habit and +point of view, which has fashioned his life and controlled +his thought, lending its characteristic mark +and color to his whole philosophy and art and learning, +is still maintained, partly because of its convenience, +no doubt, and partly by force of inertia +and sheer conservatism, in the very teeth of the +strongest probabilities of biological science. Probably +no other single hypothesis has less to recommend +it, and yet no other so completely dominates +the human mind.</q> (Cassius J. Keyser, loc. cit.) +And this monstrous conception is current to-day: +millions still look upon man as a mixture of animal +and something supernatural. +</p> + +<p> +There is no doubt that the engineering of human +society is a difficult and complicated problem of tremendous +ethical responsibility, for it involves the +welfare of mankind throughout an unending succession +of generations. The science of Human +Engineering can not be built upon false conceptions +of human nature. It can not be built on the conception +of man as a kind of animal; it can not be +<pb n="070"/><anchor id="Pg070"/> +built on the conception of man as a mixture of natural +and supernatural. It must be built upon the +conception of man as being at once natural and +higher in dimensionality than the animals. It must +be built upon the scientific conception of mankind as +characterized by their time-binding capacity and +function. This conception radically alters our whole +view of human life, human society, and the world. +</p> + +<p> +It must be obvious to any one that time-binding +is the only natural criterion and standard for the +time-binding class of life. This mighty term—time-binding—when +comprehended, will be found to embrace +the <hi rend="sc">whole</hi> of the natural laws, the natural +ethics, the natural philosophy, the natural sociology, +the natural economics, the natural governance, to be +brought into the education of time-binders; then +really peaceful and progressive civilization, without +periodical collapses and violent readjustments, will +commence; not before. Everything which is really +<q>time-binding</q> <emph>is in</emph> the <hi rend="sc">human dimension</hi>; therefore, +it will represent every quality that is implied +in such words as—<emph>good</emph>, <emph>just</emph>, +<emph>right</emph>, <emph>beautiful</emph>; while +everything that is merely space-binding will be classified +as <q>animal</q> and be thus assessed at its proper +value. Those ignorant <q>masters of our destinies</q> +who regard humans as animals or as monstrous +hybrids of natural and supernatural must be dethroned +by scientific education. +</p> + +<pb n="071"/><anchor id="Pg071"/> + +<p> +Humans can be literally poisoned by false ideas +and false teachings. Many people have a just horror +at the thought of putting poison into tea or coffee, +but seem unable to realize that, when they teach false +ideas and false doctrines, they are poisoning the +time-binding capacity of their fellow men and women. +One has to stop and think! There is nothing mystical +about the fact that ideas and words are energies +which powerfully affect the physico-chemical base of +our time-binding activities. Humans are thus made +untrue to <q>human nature.</q> Hypnotism is a known +fact. It has been proved that a man can be so +hypnotized that in a certain time which has been +suggested to him, he will murder or commit arson +or theft; that, under hypnotic influence, the personal +morale of the individual has only a small influence +upon his conduct; the subject obeys the hypnotic suggestions, +no matter how immoral they are. The +conception of man as a mixture of animal and supernatural +has for ages kept human beings under the +deadly spell of the suggestion that, animal selfishness +and animal greediness are their essential character, +and the spell has operated to suppress their +<hi rend="sc">real human nature</hi> and to prevent it from expressing +itself naturally and freely. +</p> + +<p> +On the other hand, when human beings are educated +to a lively realization that they are by <emph>nature</emph> +time-binding creatures, then they will spontaneously +<pb n="072"/><anchor id="Pg072"/> +live in accordance with their time-binding nature, +which, as I have said, is the source and support of +the highest ideals. +</p> + +<p> +What is achieved in blaming a man for being selfish +and greedy if he acts under the influence of a +social environment and education which teach him +that he is an animal and that selfishness and greediness +are of the essence of his nature? +</p> + +<p> +Even so eminent a philosopher and psychologist as +Spencer tells us: <q>Of self-evident truths so dealt +with, the one which here concerns us is that a creature +must live before it can act ... Ethics has to +recognize the truth that egoism comes before altruism.</q> +This is true for <hi rend="sc">animals</hi>, because animals +die out from lack of food when their natural supply +of it is insufficient because they have <hi rend="sc">not the +capacity to produce artificially</hi>. But it is not +true for the <hi rend="sc">human dimension</hi>. +</p> + +<p> +Why not? Because humans through their time-binding +capacity are first of all <emph>creators</emph> and so their +number is not controlled by the supply of unaided +nature, but only by men's artificial productivity, +which is <hi rend="sc">the materialization of their time-binding +capacity</hi> +</p> + +<p> +Man, therefore, by the very intrinsic character of +his being, <hi rend="sc">must act first, in order to be able +to live</hi> (through the action of parents—or society) +which is not the case with animals. The misunderstanding +<pb n="073"/><anchor id="Pg073"/> +of this simple truth is largely accountable +for the evil of our ethical and economic systems or +lack of systems. As a matter of fact, if humanity +were to live in <emph>complete</emph> accord with the animal conception +of man, artificial production—time-binding +production—would cease and ninety per cent of +mankind would perish by starvation. It is just +because human beings are not animals but are time-binders—not +mere finders but creators of food and +shelter—that they are able to live in such vast +numbers. +</p> + +<p> +Here even the blind must see the effect of higher +dimensionality, and this effect becomes in turn the +cause of other effects which produce still others, and +so on in an endless chain. <hi rend="sc">we live because we +produce, because we are acting in time and +are not merely acting in space—because man +is not a kind of animal</hi>. It is all so simple, if +only we apply a little sound logic in our thinking +about human nature and human affairs. If human +ethics are to be human, are to be in the human +dimension, the postulates of ethics must be changed; +<hi rend="sc">for humanity in order to live must act first</hi>; +the laws of ethics—the laws of right living—are +<emph>natural</emph> laws—laws of human nature—laws having +their whole source and sanction in the time-binding +capacity and time-binding activity peculiar to man. +Human excellence is excellence in time-binding, and +<pb n="074"/><anchor id="Pg074"/> +must be measured and rewarded by time-binding +standards of worth. +</p> + +<p> +Humanity, in order to live, must produce creatively +and therefore must be guided by applied +science, by technology; and this means that the so-called +social sciences of ethics, jurisprudence, psychology, +economics, sociology, politics, and government +must be emancipated from medieval metaphysics; +they must be made scientific; they must be +<emph>technologized</emph>; they must be made to progress and +to function in the proper dimension—the human +dimension and not that of animals: they must be +made time-binding sciences. +</p> + +<p> +Can this be done? I have no doubt that it can. +For what is human life after all? +</p> + +<p> +To a general in the battlefield, human life is a +factor which, if properly used, can destroy the +enemy. To an engineer human life is an equivalent +to energy, or a capacity to do work, mental or muscular, +and the moment something is found to be a +source of energy and to have the capacity of doing +work, the first thing to do, from the engineer's point +of view, is to analyse the generator with a view to +discovering how best to conserve it, to improve it, +and bring it to the level of maximum productivity. +Human beings are very complicated energy-producing +batteries differing widely in quality and magnitude +of productive power. Experience has shown +<pb n="075"/><anchor id="Pg075"/> +that these batteries are, first of all, chemical batteries +producing a mysterious energy. If these batteries +are not supplied periodically with a more or +less constant quantity of some chemical elements +called food and air, the batteries will cease to function—they +will die. In the examination of the structure +of these batteries we find that the chemical base +is very much accentuated all through the structure. +This chemical generator is divided into branches +each of which has a very different rôle which it +must perform in harmony with all the others. The +mechanical parts of the structure are built in conformity +to the rules of mechanics and are automatically +furnished with lubrication and with chemical +supplies for automatically renewing worn-out parts. +The chemical processes not only deposit particles of +mass for the structure of the generator but produce +some very powerful unknown kinds of energies or +vibrations which make all the chemical parts function; +we find also a mysterious apparatus with a complex +of wires which we call brain glands, and nerves; +and, finally, these human batteries have the remarkable +capacity of reproduction. +</p> + +<p> +These functions are familiar to everybody. From +the knowledge of other physical, mechanical and +chemical phenomena of nature, we must come to the +conclusion, that this human battery is the most perfect +example of a complex engine; it has all the +<pb n="076"/><anchor id="Pg076"/> +peculiarities of a chemical battery combined with a +generator of a peculiar energy called life; above all, +it has mental or spiritual capacities; it is thus +equipped with both mental and mechanical means for +producing work. The parts and functions of this +marvelous engine have been the subject of a vast +amount of research in various special branches of +science. A very noteworthy fact is that both the +physical work and the mental work of this human +engine are always accompanied by both physical and +chemical changes in the structure of its machinery—corresponding +to the wear and tear of non-living +engines. It also presents certain sexual and spiritual +phenomena that have a striking likeness to certain +phenomena, especially wireless phenomena, to electricity +and to radium. This human engine-battery +is of unusual strength, durability and perfection; and +yet it is very liable to damage and even wreckage, if +not properly used. The controlling factors are very +delicate and so the engine is very capricious. Very +special training and understanding are necessary for +its control. +</p> + +<p> +The reader may wish to ask: What is the essence +of the time-binding power of Man? Talk of essences +is metaphysical—it is not scientific. Let me +explain by an example. +</p> + +<p> +What is electricity? The scientific answer is: electricity +is that which exhibits such and such phenomena. +<pb n="077"/><anchor id="Pg077"/> +Electricity means nothing but a certain +group of phenomena called electric. We are studying +electricity when we are studying those phenomena. +Thus it is in physics—there is no talk of +essences. So, too, in Human Engineering—we +shall not talk of the <emph>essence</emph> of time-binding but only +of the phenomena and the laws thereof. What has +led to the development of electric appliances is +knowledge of electrical phenomena—not metaphysical +talk about the electrical essence. And what +will lead to the science and art of Human Engineering +is knowledge of time-binding phenomena—not +vain babble about an essence of time-binding power. +There is no mystery about the word time-binding. +Some descriptive term was necessary to indicate that +human capacity which discriminates human beings +from animals and marks man as man. For that use—the +appropriateness of the term time-binding +becomes more and more manifest upon reflection. +</p> + +<p> +What are the conditions of life upon this earth? +Is there war or peace in daily life? All living beings +require food; they multiply in a geometrical ratio; +and so the <emph>natural</emph> productivity of the soil becomes +increasingly inadequate. The tendency to increase +in geometrical ratio is true of all life—vegetable, +animal and human, but the tendency is checked by +various counteracting influences, natural and artificial. +A short time ago these checks had so operated +<pb n="078"/><anchor id="Pg078"/> +to annul the law of increase as almost to stop the +growth of human population. It is only by the time-binding +capacity of man—by scientific progress and +technological invention—that the checks have been +overcome. And so in the last century the population +of Europe increased more than it had increased +in several centuries before. Impoverished soil, excessive +heat or cold, excessive moisture, the lack of rain-fall, +and many other factors are hostile to life. It +is evident, therefore, that human life must especially +struggle for existence; it must carry on a perpetual +contest for self preservation. It seems obvious that, +if there is perpetual war in every-day life, war +methods must be applied. +</p> + +<p> +We have just passed through a tremendous world-wide +<emph>military</emph> war and we developed special ways of +producing power to overcome the enemy. We were +thus driven to discover some of the hidden sources +of power and all of our old habits and ideas were +bent toward military methods and military technology. +The war of every-day life against hostile +elements is war for the subjugation of physical +nature and not for the conquest of people. It is a +war carried on by the time-binding power of men +pitted against natural obstacles, and its progressive +triumph means progressive advancement in human +weal. +</p> + +<p> +The lesson of the World War should not be +<pb n="079"/><anchor id="Pg079"/> +missed through failure to analyse it. When nations +war with nations, the normal daily war of millions +and millions of individuals to subjugate natural resources +to human uses is interrupted, and the slow-gathered +fruits of measureless toil are destroyed. +</p> + +<p> +But peaceful war, war for the conquest of nature, +involves the use of methods of technology and, what +is even more important, technological philosophy, +law and ethics. +</p> + +<p> +What I want to emphasize in this little book, is +the need of a thoroughgoing revision of our ideas; +and the revision must be made by engineering minds +in order that our ideas may be made to match facts. +If we are ill, we consult a physician or a surgeon, +not a charlatan. We must learn that, when there is +trouble with the producing power of the world, we +have to consult an engineer, an expert on power. +Politicians, diplomats, and lawyers do not understand +the problem. What I am advocating is that we +must learn to ask those who know how to produce +things, instead of asking those whose profession is +to fight for the division of things produced by nature +or by other human beings. +</p> + +<p> +As a matter of fact our civilization has been for +a long time disorganized to the point of disease. +Lately through the whirl of changing conditions, due +to the great release of power in the new-born giant +technology, the disorganization has become acute. +<pb n="080"/><anchor id="Pg080"/> +The sick seldom know the cure for themselves. If +the cure is to be enduring, we have to go to the +source, and this can be done only by men familiar, +not only with effects but also with the causes. +</p> + +<p> +Money is not the wealth of a nation, but production +is wealth; so <emph>ordered production</emph> is the main +object for humanity. But to have the maximum of +production, it is necessary to have production put +on a sound basis. No mere preaching of brotherly +love, or class hatred, will produce one single brick +for the building of the future temple of human victory—the +temple of <emph>human</emph> civilization. Ordered +production demands analysis of basic facts. +</p> + +<p> +This era is essentially an industrial era. To produce +we have to have: (1) raw material or soil; (2) +instruments for production—tools and machines; +and (3) the application of power. +</p> + +<p> +The three requirements may be briefly characterized +and appraised as follows: +</p> + +<p> +(1) Raw material and soil are products of nature; +humanity simply took them and had the use +of them for nothing, because it is impossible to call +a prayer of thanksgiving (if any) addressed to a +<q>creator</q> as payment to gods or men. But raw +material and soil, in the conditions in which nature +produces them, are of very little immediate benefit +to humanity, because unfilled soil produces very +little food for humans, and raw material such as +<pb n="081"/><anchor id="Pg081"/> +wood, coal, oil, iron, copper, etc., are completely +useless to humanity until after human work is applied +to them. It is necessary to cut a tree for the +making of timber; it is necessary to excavate the +minerals, and even then, only by applying further +human work is it possible to make them available +for any human use. So, it is obvious that even raw +materials in the form in which nature has produced +them, are mostly of no value and unavailable for +use, unless reproduced through the process of +<q>human creative production.</q> Therefore, we may +well conclude that <q>raw material</q> must be divided +into two very distinct classes: (<hi rend='italic'>a</hi>) raw material as +produced by nature—nature's free gift—which in +its original form and place has practically no use-value; +and (<hi rend='italic'>b</hi>) raw material reproduced by man's +mental and muscular activities, by his <q>time-binding</q> +capacities. Raw materials of the second class have +an enormous use-value; indeed they make the existence +of humanity possible. +</p> + +<p> +As to the second requirement for production, +namely: +</p> + +<p> +(2) Tools and machines, it is obvious that +<q>tools and machines</q> are made of raw material by +human work, mental and muscular. +</p> + +<p> +And, finally: +</p> + +<p> +(3) The application of power. Different sources +of natural energy and power are known. The most +<pb n="082"/><anchor id="Pg082"/> +important available source of energy for this globe +is the sun—the heat of the sun. This solar heat is +the origin of water power, of wind power, and of +the power bound up in coal, of the chemistry, growth +and transforming agency of plants.<note place="foot"><p>It must +be remembered here that our world is, first of all, a +dynamic conglomeration of matter and energy, which to-day, as +well as in the first period of primitive organic life, took and takes +different known and unknown forms. One of these forms of +energy is the chemical energy, with its tendency to combinations +and exchanges. Different elements act in different ways. The +history of the earth and its life is simply the history of different +chemical periods, with different transformations of energy. A +strange fact is to be noticed about nitrogen. Nitrogen chemically +has an exceptional inertness toward most other substances, +but once it is a component part of a substance, almost all of these +combinations are a very powerful source of energy, and all of +them have a very strong effect upon organic life. Nitric acid +acts through oxidation, the substances are burned up by the +oxygen given off from the acid. Nitric acid occurs in nature, +in a combination called nitrates. From the soil the nitrates +pass into the plant. Nitrite of amyl acts upon our organs in a +most violent and spasmodic way. Nitrous oxide is the so-called +laughing gas.</p> +<p>Alkaloids are compounds of a vegetable origin, generally of +complex composition and capable of producing marked effects +upon animals. They all contain nitrogen. Explosives which +are a chemical means of storing tremendous amounts of energy, +are mostly of some nitrogenous compound. Albumen is an +organic compound of great importance in life, which, besides +being the characteristic ingredient in the white of an egg, abounds +in the serum of the blood and forms an important part of the +muscles and brain. Albuminoids play the most vital rôle in +plant life and are an extensive class of organic bodies found in +plants and animals, as they are found to form the chief constituents +of blood, nerves. All albuminoids found in animals are +produced by the processes fulfilled in plants. Their exact +constitution is not known; analysis shows that they contain +approximately: Carbon 50-55%, Hydrogen 6.9-7.5%, Nitrogen +15-19%, Oxygen 20-24%, Sulphur 0.3-2.0%. Venous blood +contains in 100 volumes: Nitrogen, 13; Carbonic Acid, 71.6; +Oxygen, 15.3. Arterial blood: Nitrogen, 14.5; Carbonic Acid, +62.3; Oxygen, 23.2.</p> +<p><q>Nitrogenous compounds in general, are extremely prone to +decomposition; their decomposition often involving a sudden +and great evolution of force. We see that substances classed +as ferments ... are all nitrogenous ... and we see that +even in organisms and parts of organisms where the activities +are least, such changes as do take place are initiated by a substance +containing nitrogen.... We see that organic matter is +so constituted that small incidental actions are capable of +initiating great reaction and liberating large quantities of power.... The +seed of a plant contains nitrogenous substances in a +far higher ratio than the rest of the plant; and the seed differs +from the rest of the plant in its ability to initiate ... extensive +vital changes—the changes constituting germination. Similarly +in the bodies of animals ... in every living vegetal cell +there is a certain part that contains nitrogen. This part initiates +these changes which constitute the development of the cell.... It +is a curious and significant fact that, in technology, we not +only utilize the same principle of initiating extensive changes +among comparatively stable compounds by the help of compounds +much less stable, but we employ for the purpose compounds +of the same general class. Our modern method of +firing a gun is to place in close proximity with the gunpowder +which we choose to decompose or explode, a small portion of +fulminating powder, which is decomposed or exploded with +extreme facility, and which on decomposing, communicates +the consequent molecular disturbances to the less easily decomposed +gunpowder. When we ask what this fulminating powder +is composed of, we find that it is a nitrogenous salt.</q>—Spencer.</p></note> +</p> + +<pb n="083"/><anchor id="Pg083"/> + +<p> +All foods which the animals as well as the humans +use are, already, the result of the solar energy transformed +into what may be called chemical energy. +Transformation of energies is building up of life. +</p> + +<p> +It is to be clearly seen that the only source of +energy which can be directly appropriated and used +by man or animal is vegetable food found in the +wilderness; no other sources of power are available +<pb n="084"/><anchor id="Pg084"/> +for <emph>direct</emph> use; they have first to be mastered +and directed by human brain. The same is true in +regard to the getting of animal food, the creation +of a water- or windmill, or a steam engine, or the +art of using a team of horses, or a bushel of wheat; +these are not available except by the use of the human +<q>time-binding</q> power. +</p> + +<p> +This short survey of facts, known to everybody, +brings us to the conclusion that all problems of production +come ultimately to the analysis of +</p> + +<p> +(1) Natural resources of raw material and natural +energy, freely supplied by nature, which, as we +have seen, in the form as produced by nature alone, +have very little or no value for humanity; +</p> + +<p> +(2) The activity of the human brain (because +human muscles are always directed by the brain) +which gives value to the otherwise useless raw materials +and energies. +</p> + +<p> +Hence, to understand the processes of production, +it is essential to realize that humanity is able to survive +only by virtue of the capacity of humans to exploit +natural resources—to convert the products of +nature into forms available for human needs. If +humanity had only the capacity of apes, depending +exclusively on wild fruits and the like, they would be +confined to those comparatively small regions of the +globe where the climate and the fertility of the soil +are specially favorable. But in the case supposed, +<pb n="085"/><anchor id="Pg085"/> +humans would not be humans, they would not be +time-binders—they would be animals—mere space-binders. +</p> + +<p> +There are other facts which must be kept constantly +in mind. One of them is that, in the world +in which we live, there are natural laws of inorganic +as well as organic phenomena. Another of the facts +is, as before said, that the human class of life has the +peculiar capacity of establishing the social laws and +customs which regulate and influence its destinies, +which help or hinder the processes of production +upon which the lives and happiness of mankind +essentially and fundamentally depend. +</p> + +<p> +It must not be lost sight of in this connection that +the human class of life is a part and a product of +nature, and that, therefore, there must be <emph>fundamental +laws which are natural for this class of life</emph>. +A stone obeys the natural laws of stones; a liquid +conforms to the natural law of liquids; a plant, to +the natural laws of plants; an animal, to the natural +laws of animals; it follows inevitably that there <emph>must</emph> +be natural laws for humans. +</p> + +<p> +But here the problem becomes more complicated; +for the stone, the plant and the animal do not possess +the intellectual power to create and initiate and so +must blindly obey the laws that are natural for them; +they are not free to determine their own destinies. +Not so with man; man has the capacity and he +<pb n="086"/><anchor id="Pg086"/> +can, through ignorance or neglect or mal-intent, +deviate from, or misinterpret, the natural laws for +the human class of life. Just therein lies the secret +and the source of human chaos and woe—a fact of +such tremendous importance that it cannot be over-emphasized +and it seems impossible to evade it +longer. To discover the nature of Man and the +laws of that <emph>nature</emph>, marks the summit of human +enterprises. For to solve this <emph>problem is to open the +way to everything which can be of importance to +humanity</emph>—to human welfare and happiness. +</p> + +<p> +The great problem has been felt as a powerful +impulse throughout the ages of human striving, for +in all times it has been evident to thinkers that upon +the right solution of the problem must forever depend +the welfare of mankind. Many <q>solutions</q> +have been offered; and, though they have differed +widely, they agree in one respect—they have had a +common fate—the fate of being false. What has +been the trouble? The trouble has been, in every +instance, a radical misconception of what a human +being really is. The problem is to discover the natural +laws of the human class of life. All the <q>solutions</q> +offered in the course of history and those +which are current to-day are of two and only two +kinds—<emph>zoological</emph> and <emph>mythological</emph>. The zoological +solutions are those which grow out of the false +conception according to which human beings are animals; +<pb n="087"/><anchor id="Pg087"/> +if humans are animals, the laws of human +nature are the laws of animal nature; and so the +social <q>sciences</q> of ethics, law, politics, economics, +government become nothing but branches of +zoology; as sciences, they are the studies of animal +life; as arts, they are the arts of managing and controlling +animals; according to this zoological philosophy, +human wisdom about human beings is animal +wisdom about animals. +</p> + +<p> +The mythological <q>solutions</q> are those which +start with the monstrous conception according to +which human beings have no proper place in nature +but are mixtures of natural and <emph>super</emph>natural—unions +or combinations of animality and divinity. +Such <q>solutions</q> contain no conception of <emph>natural</emph> +law; scientifically judged, they are mythological +absurdities—muddle-headed chattering of crude and +irresponsible metaphysics—well-meaning no doubt, +but silly, and deadly in their effects upon the interests +of mankind, vitiating ethics, law, economics, politics +and government. +</p> + +<p> +Such have been and still are the regnant philosophies +of human nature. What is the remedy? How +are the laws of human nature to be discovered? +</p> + +<p> +It is evident that the enterprise, like all other +scientific enterprises, must be based upon and guided +by realities. It is essential to realize that the great, +central, dominant, all-embracing reality is the reality +<pb n="088"/><anchor id="Pg088"/> +of <emph>human nature</emph>. If we misconceive this fundamental +matter, the enterprise must fail; that is both +logically clear and clear in the sad light of history; +but if we conceive it aright, we may confidently expect +the enterprise to prosper. That is why, in the chapter +on <q>The Classes of Life,</q> I have laid so much +stress on the absolute necessity of conceiving Man +as being what he really is, and not something else. +And we have discovered what man is: we have discovered +that man is characterized by the capacity +or power to bind time, and so we have <emph>defined</emph> +humanity as the time-binding class of life. That concept +is fundamental. It contains the germ of the +science and art of Human Engineering. The problem +of discovering and applying the <q>laws of human +nature</q> is the problem of discovering and applying +to the conduct of life the laws of time-binding—of +time-binding activity—of time-binding <emph>energy</emph>. This +fact must be firmly seized and kept steadily in mind. +</p> + +<p> +Energy, we have noted, is the capacity to do work. +In human economy work may be (1) <emph>useful</emph> or (2) +<emph>neutral</emph> or (3) <emph>harmful</emph>. These words have no significance +except in human economy. The energy of +the human intellect is a time-binding energy, for it +is able to direct, to use, to transform other energies. +This time-binding energy is of higher rank—of +higher dimensionality—than the other natural +energies which it directs, controls, uses, and transforms. +<pb n="089"/><anchor id="Pg089"/> +This higher energy—which is commonly +called the mental or spiritual power of man—<emph>is</emph> time-binding +because it makes past achievements live in +the present and present activities in time-to-come. It +is an energy that initiates; it is an energy that creates; +it is an energy that can understand the past and +foretell the future—it is both historian and prophet; +it is an energy that loads <emph>abstract</emph> time—the vehicle +of events—with an ever-increasing burden of intellectual +achievements, of spiritual wealth, destined for +the civilization of posterity. And what is the natural +law of the increase? What is the natural law of +human advancements in all great matters of human +concern? +</p> + +<p> +The question is of utmost importance both theoretically +and practically, for the law—whatever it be—is +a <emph>natural</emph> law—a law of human nature—a law +of the time-binding energy of man. What <emph>is</emph> the +law? We have already noted the law of arithmetical +progression and the law of geometric progression; +we have seen the immense difference between +them; and we have seen that the natural law of +human progress in each and every cardinal matter +is a law like that of a rapidly increasing geometric +progression. In other words, the natural law of +human progress—the natural law of amelioration in +human affairs—the fundamental law of human +nature—the basic law of the time-binding energy +<pb n="090"/><anchor id="Pg090"/> +peculiar to man—is a Logarithmic law—a law of +logarithmic increase. I beg the reader not to let +the term bewilder him but to make it his own. It is +easy to understand; and its significance is mighty and +everlasting. Even its mathematical formulation can +be understood by boys and girls. Let us see how the +formulation looks. +</p> + +<p> +Suppose <hi rend='italic'>PR</hi> to denote the amount of progress +made in some important field by a given generation—which +we may call the <q>first</q> generation; +where <hi rend='italic'>R</hi> denotes the common ratio—the ratio of +improvement—that is, the number by which the +progress of one generation must be multiplied to +give the amount of progress made by the next generation; +then the amount of progress made by the +second generation will be +<hi rend='italic'>PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">2</hi></hi>; that made by the +third generation will be +<hi rend='italic'>PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">3</hi></hi>; and so on; now denote +by <hi rend='italic'>T</hi> the number of generations, counting the first +one and all that follow in endless succession. Then +the following series will show the law of human +progress in the chosen field: +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>PR, +PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">2</hi>, +PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">3</hi>, +PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">4</hi>, +PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">5</hi>, ..., +PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">T</hi>, +PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">T+1</hi>, ...</hi>; +</p> + +<p> +notice how it goes; the first generation ends with PR; +the second generation starts with <hi rend='italic'>PR</hi>, adds +<hi rend='italic'>PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">2</hi></hi>, and +ends with <hi rend='italic'>PR + PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">2</hi></hi>; +the third generation starts +with <hi rend='italic'>PR + PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">2</hi></hi>, +adds <hi rend='italic'>PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">3</hi></hi> +and ends with <hi rend='italic'>PR + PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">2</hi> ++ PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">3</hi></hi>; +and so on and on; the <hi rend='italic'>gain</hi> made in +<pb n="091"/><anchor id="Pg091"/> +the <hi rend='italic'>T<hi rend="vertical-align: super">th</hi></hi> generation is +<hi rend='italic'>PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">T</hi></hi>; +<hi rend='italic'>the total gain</hi> made in +<hi rend='italic'>T</hi> generations is +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>PR + PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">2</hi> ++ PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">3</hi> + ... ++ PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">T</hi></hi>; +</p> + +<p> +this total gain is given by the formula, +</p> + +<p> +Total gain in T generations = (R ÷ R-1) (PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">T</hi>-P). +</p> + +<p> +If we take <hi rend='italic'>R</hi> to be 2 (which is a very small ratio, +requiring the progress of each generation to be +merely double that of the preceding one) and if we +take <hi rend='italic'>T</hi> to be (say) 10, then we see that the progress +made by the single 10th generation is <hi rend='italic'>P</hi> × +2<hi rend="vertical-align: super">10</hi>, which +is 1024 times the progress made in the <q>first</q> +generation; and we readily compute that the total +gain in 10 generations is 2046 times the progress +made in the <q>first</q> generation. Moreover, to gain +a just sense of the impressiveness of this law, the +reader must reflect upon the fact that it operates, +not merely on one field, but in all fields of human +interest. <q>Operates in all fields</q> I have just now +said; as a matter of fact, as before pointed out, it does +not so operate <emph>now</emph> in <emph>all</emph> fields nor has it ever done +so. My point is that it <emph>will</emph> so operate when we +once acquire sense enough to let it do so. That +sense we shall have when and only when we discover +that by nature we are time-binders and that +the <emph>effectiveness</emph> of our time-binding capacity is not +<pb n="092"/><anchor id="Pg092"/> +only a function of time but is, as I have explained, +a logarithmic or exponential function of time—a +function in which time (<hi rend='italic'>T</hi>) +enters as an <emph>exponent</emph>, +as in the expression <hi rend='italic'>PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">T</hi></hi>, +so that we humans are, +unlike animals, naturally qualified not only to +progress, but to progress more and more rapidly, with +an always <emph>accelerating acceleration</emph>, as the generations +pass. +</p> + +<p> +This great fact is to be at once the basis, the +regulator and guide in the science and art of Human +Engineering. Whatever squares with that law of +time-binding human energy, is right and makes for +human weal; whatever contravenes it, is wrong and +makes for human woe. +</p> + +<p> +And so I repeat that the world will have uninterrupted, +peaceful progress when and only when the +so-called social <q>sciences</q>—the life-regulating <q>sciences</q> +of ethics, law, philosophy, economics, religion, +politics, and government—are technologized; when +and only when they are made genuinely scientific in +spirit and method; for then and only then will they +advance, like the natural, mathematical and technological +sciences, in conformity to the fundamental +exponential law of the time-binding nature of man; +then and then only, by the equal pace of progress in +all cardinal matters, the equilibrium of social institutions +will remain stable and social cataclysms cease. +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n="093"/><anchor id="Pg093"/> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" level1="Chapter V. Wealth"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="Chapter V. Wealth"/> +<head>Chapter V. Wealth</head> + +<p> +I beg the reader to allow me to begin this chapter +with a word of warning. The reader is aware +that Criticism—by which I mean Thought—may be +any one of three kinds: it may be purely destructive; +it may be purely constructive; or it may be both +destructive and constructive at the same time. +Purely destructive criticism is sometimes highly useful. +If an old idea or a system of old ideas be false +and therefore harmful, it is a genuine service to +attack it and destroy it even if nothing be offered +to take its place, just as it is good to destroy a rattlesnake +lurking by a human pathway, even if one does +not offer a substitute for the snake. But, however +useful destructive criticism may be, it is not an easy +service to render; for old ideas, however false and +harmful, are protected alike by habit and by the +inborn conservatism of many minds. Now, habit +indeed is exceedingly useful—even indispensable to +the effective conduct of life—for it enables us to do +many useful things automatically and therefore +easily, without conscious thinking, and thus to save +our mental energy for other work; but for the same +<pb n="094"/><anchor id="Pg094"/> +reason, habit is often very harmful; it makes us protect +false ideas automatically, and so when the destructive +critic endeavors to destroy such ideas by +reasoning with us, he finds that he is trying to reason +with automats—with machines. Such is the chief +difficulty encountered by destructive criticism. On +the other hand, purely constructive criticism—purely +constructive thought—consists in introducing new +ideas of a kind that do not clash, or do not seem to +clash, with old ones. Is such criticism or thought +easy? Far from it. It has difficulties of its own. +These are of two varieties: the difficulty of showing +people who are content with their present stock of +old ideas that the new ones are interesting or important; +and the great difficulty of making <emph>new</emph> ideas +clear and intelligible, for the art of being clear and +perfectly intelligible is very, very hard to acquire and +to practise. The third kind of criticism—the third +kind of thought—the kind that is at once both destructive +and constructive—has a double aim—that +of destroying old ideas that are false and that of +replacing them with new ideas that are true; and so +the third kind of criticism or thought is the most difficult +of all, for it has to overcome both the difficulty +of destructive criticism and that of constructive +thought. +</p> + +<p> +The reader, therefore, if he will be good enough +to reflect a little upon the matter, can not fail to appreciate +<pb n="095"/><anchor id="Pg095"/> +the tremendous difficulties which beset the +writing of this little book, for he must perceive, not +only that the work belongs to the third kind of +critical thought, but—what is much more—the errors +it aims to destroy are fundamental, world-wide and +old, while the true ideas it seeks to substitute for +them are fundamental and new. This great difficulty, +felt at <emph>every</emph> stage of this writing, is, for a +reason to be presently explained, greatly enhanced +and felt with especial keenness in the present chapter. +I therefore beg the reader to give me here +very special cooperation—the cooperation of open-mindedness, +candor and critical attention. It is essential +to keep in mind the nature of our enterprise as a +whole, which is that of pointing the way to the science +and art of Human Engineering and laying the foundations +thereof; we have seen Human Engineering, +when developed, is to be the science and art of so directing +human energies and capacities as to make +them contribute most effectively to the advancement +of human welfare; we have seen that this science and +art must have its basis in a true conception of human +nature—a just conception of what Man really is and +of his natural place in the complex of the world; +we have seen that the ages-old and still current conceptions +of man—zoological and mythological conceptions, +according to which human beings are either +animals or else hybrids of animals and gods—are +<pb n="096"/><anchor id="Pg096"/> +mainly responsible for the dismal things in human +history; we have seen that man, far from being an +animal or a compound of natural and supernatural, +is a perfectly natural being characterized by a certain +capacity or power—the capacity or power to bind +time; we have seen that humanity is, therefore, to be +rightly conceived and scientifically defined as the +time-binding class of life; we have seen that, therefore, +the laws of time-binding energies and time-binding +phenomena are the laws of human nature; +we have seen that this conception of man—which +must be the basic concept, the fundamental principle +and the perpetual guide and regulator of Human +Engineering—is bound to work a profound transformation +in all our views on human affairs and, in particular, +must radically alter the so-called social +<q>sciences</q>—the life-regulating <q>sciences</q> of ethics, +sociology, economics, politics and government—advancing +them from their present estate of pseudo sciences +to the level of genuine sciences and technologizing +them for the effective service of mankind. +I call them <q>life-regulating,</q> not because they play +a more important part in human affairs than do the +genuine sciences of mathematics, physics, chemistry, +astronomy and biology, for they are not more important +than these, but because they are, so to say, +closer, more immediate and more obvious in their +influence and effects. These life-regulating sciences +<pb n="097"/><anchor id="Pg097"/> +are, of course, not independent; they depend ultimately +upon the genuine sciences for much of their +power and ought to go to them for light and guidance; +but what I mean here by saying they are not +independent is that they are dependent upon each +other, interpenetrating and interlocking in innumerable +ways. To show <emph>in detail</emph> how the so-called +sciences will have to be transformed to make them +accord with the right conception of man and qualify +them for their proper business will eventually require +a large volume or indeed volumes. +</p> + +<p> +In this introductory work I cannot deal fully with +one of those <q>sciences</q> nor in suitable outline with +each of them separately. I must be content here to +deal, very briefly, with one of them by way of illustration +and suggestion. Which one shall it be? +</p> + +<p> +Now among these life-regulating <q>sciences</q> there +is one specially marked by the importance of its subject, +by its central relation to the others and by its +prominence in the public mind. I mean Economics—the +<q>dismal science</q> of Political Economy. For that +reason I have chosen to deal with economics. In the +present chapter I shall discuss three of its principal +terms—Wealth, Capital and Money—with a view +to showing that the current meanings and interpretations +of these familiar terms must be very greatly +deepened, enlarged and elevated if they are to accord +with facts and laws of human nature and if the so-called +<pb n="098"/><anchor id="Pg098"/> +<q>science</q> which employs them is to become +a genuine science properly qualified to be a branch +of Human Engineering. It is to be shown that the +meanings currently attached by political economists +and others to the terms in question belong to what +I have called the period of humanity's childhood; +and it is to be shown that the new meanings which +the terms must receive belong to the period of +humanity's manhood. It will be seen that the new +meanings differ so radically from the old ones as +to make it desirable for the sake of clarity to give +the new meanings new names. But this, however +scientifically desirable, is impracticable because the +old terms—wealth, capital, money—are so deeply +imbedded in the speech of the world. And here +comes into view the very special difficulty alluded to +above and which led me to request the reader's +special cooperation in this chapter. The difficulty +is not merely that of destroying old ideas that are +false; it is not merely that of replacing them with +true ideas that are new; it is that of causing people +habitually to associate meanings that are new and +true with terms associated so long, so universally, so +uniformly with meanings that are false. +</p> + +<p> +The secret of philosophy, said Leibnitz, is to treat +familiar things as unfamiliar. By the secret of +<q>philosophy</q> Leibnitz meant the secret of what we +call science. Let us apply this wholesome maxim in +<pb n="099"/><anchor id="Pg099"/> +our present study; let us, in so far as we can, regard +the familiar terms—wealth, capital and money—as +unfamiliar; let us deal with them afresh; let us +examine openmindedly the facts—the phenomena—to +which the terms relate and ascertain scientifically +the significance the terms must have in a genuine +science of human economy. Examine <q>the facts</q> I +say—examine <q>the phenomena</q>—for bending facts +to theories is a vital danger, while bending theories +to facts is essential to science and the peaceful progress +of society. +</p> + +<p> +Human beings have always had some sense of +values—some perception or cognition of values. In +order to express or measure values, it was necessary +to introduce units of measure, or units of exchange. +People began to measure values by means of agricultural +and other products, such as cattle, for example. +The Latin word for cattle was +<foreign lang="la" rend="font-style: italic">pecus</foreign>, and +the word <foreign lang="la" rend="font-style: italic">pecunia</foreign>, +which came to signify money, +accounts for the meaning of our familiar word pecuniary. +The earliest units for measuring became unsuited +to the increasing needs of growing trade, +<q>business,</q> or traffic. Finally a unit called money +was adopted in which the base was the value of some +weight of gold. Thus we see that money came to +mean simply the accepted unit for measuring, representing +and expressing values of and in wealth. +</p> + +<p> +But what is wealth? I have said that the old +<pb n="100"/><anchor id="Pg100"/> +conceptions of wealth, capital and money—the conceptions +that are still current throughout the world—belong +to the period of humanity's childhood—they +are childish conceptions. I have said that they +must be replaced by scientific conceptions—by conceptions +fit for humanity's manhood. The change +that must be made in our conceptions of the great +terms is tremendous. It is necessary to analyse the +current conceptions of wealth, capital, and money—the +childish conceptions of them—in order to reveal +their falseness, stupidity and folly. To do this we +must enter the field of Political Economy—a field +beset with peculiar difficulties and dangers. All the +Furies of private interests are involved. One gains +the impression that there is little or no real desire +to gain a true conception—a scientific conception—of +wealth. Everybody seems to prefer an emotional +definition—a definition that suits his personal love +of wealth or his hatred of it. Many definitions of +wealth, capital and money are to be found in modern +books of political economy—definitions and books +belonging to humanity's childhood. For the purpose +of this writing they all of them look alike—they +sufficiently agree—they are all of them childish. +Mill, for example, tells us that wealth consists of +<q>useful or agreeable things which possess exchangeable +value.</q> Of capital one of the simplest definitions +is this: +</p> + +<pb n="101"/><anchor id="Pg101"/> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p> +<q>Capital is that part of wealth which is devoted to +obtaining further wealth.</q> +(Alfred Marshall, <hi rend='italic'>Economics of +Industry</hi>.) +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +Walker (in his <hi rend='italic'>Money, Trade and Industry</hi>) +defines money as follows: +</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p> +<q>Money is that which passes freely from hand to hand +throughout the community in final discharge of debts and +full payment for commodities, being accepted equally without +reference to the character or credit of the person who +offers it, and without the intention of the person who receives +it to consume it, or to enjoy it, or apply it to any other +use than, in turn, to tender it to others in discharge of debts +or full payment for commodities.</q> +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +Political economy has many different schools of +thought and methods of classification. Its reasonings +are mainly speculative, metaphysical, and legalistic; +its ethics is zoological ethics, based on the +zoological conception of man as an animal. The +elements of natural logic and natural ethics are +absent. The sophisticated ideas about the subject +of political economy, bluntly do not correspond to +facts. Our primitive forefather in the jungle would +have died from hunger, cold, heat, blood poisoning +or the attacks of wild animals, if he had not used +his brain and muscles to take some stone or a piece +of wood to knock down fruit from trees, to kill an +animal, so as to use his hide for clothes and his meat +for food, or to break wood and trees for a shelter +and to make some weapons for defense and hunting. +</p> + +<pb n="102"/><anchor id="Pg102"/> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p> +<q>In the first stone which he (the savage) flings at the +wild animal he pursues, in the first stick that he seizes to +strike down the fruit which hangs above his reach, we see +the appropriation of one article for the purpose of aiding +in the acquisition of another and thus we discover the origin +of capital.</q> (R. Torrens, <hi rend='italic'>An Essay on the Production of +Wealth</hi>.) +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +Our primitive forefather's first acquaintance with +fire was probably through lightning; he discovered, +probably by chance, the possibility of making fire by +rubbing together two pieces of wood and by striking +together two pieces of stone; he established one of +the first facts in technology; he felt the warm effect +of fire and also the good effect of broiling his food +by finding some roasted animals in a fire. Thus +nature revealed to him one of its great gifts, the +stored-up energy of the sun in vegetation and its +primitive beneficial use. He was already a time-binding +being; evolution had brought him to that +level. Being a product of nature, he was reflecting +those natural laws that belong to his class of life; +he had ceased to be static—he had become dynamic—progressiveness +had got into his blood—he was +above the estate of animals. +</p> + +<p> +We also observe that primitive man produced +commodities, acquired experiences, made observations, +and that some of the produced commodities +had a use-value for other people and remained good +for use, even after his death. +</p> + +<pb n="103"/><anchor id="Pg103"/> + +<p> +The produced commodities were composed of raw +material, freely supplied by nature, combined with +some mental work which gave him the conception of +how to make and to use the object, and some work on +his part which finally shaped the thing; all of this +mental and manual work consumed an amount of +time. It is obvious that all of these elements are +indispensable to produce anything of any value, or of +any use-value. His child not only directly received +some of the use-values produced by him, but was +initiated into all of his experiences and observations. +(As we know, power, as defined in mechanics, +means the ratio of work done to the time used in +doing it.) +</p> + +<p> +All those things are time-binding phenomena produced +by the time-binding capacity of man; but man +has <emph>not</emph> known that <emph>this capacity</emph> was his <emph>defining +mark</emph>. We must notice the strange fact that, from +the engineering point of view, humanity, though very +developed in some ways, is childishly undeveloped +in others. Humanity has some conceptions about +dimensions and talks of the world in which we live +as having three dimensions; yet even in its wildest +imagination it can not picture tangibly a <emph>fourth</emph> +dimension; nay, humanity has not learned to grasp +the real meanings of things that are basic or fundamental. +All of our conceptions are relative and +comparative; all of them are based upon matters +<pb n="104"/><anchor id="Pg104"/> +which we do not yet understand; for example, we +talk of time, space, electricity, gravity, and so on, +but no one has been able to define them in terms of +the data of sensation; nevertheless—and it is a fact +of the greatest importance—we learn how to use +many things which we do not fully understand and +are not yet able to define. +</p> + +<p> +In political economy the meagreness of our understanding +is especially remarkable; we have not yet +grasped the obvious fact—a fact of immeasurable +import for all of the social sciences—that with little +exception the wealth and capital possessed by a given +generation are not produced by its own toil but are +the inherited fruit of dead men's toil—a free gift +of the past. We have yet to learn and apply the +lesson that not only our material wealth and capital +but our science and art and learning and wisdom—all +that goes to constitute our civilization—were +produced, not by our own labor, but by the time-binding +energies of past generations. +</p> + +<p> +Primitive man used natural laws without knowing +them or understanding them, but he was able to cause +nature to express itself, by finding a way to release +nature's stored up energy. Through the work of his +brain and its direction in the use of his muscles, he +found that some of his appliances were not good; +he made better ones, and thus slowly at first, the +progress of humanity went on. I will not enlarge +<pb n="105"/><anchor id="Pg105"/> +upon the history of the evolution of civilization +because it is told in many books. +</p> + +<p> +In the earliest times the religious, philosophical, +legal and ethical systems had not been invented. The +morale at that time was a natural morale. Humans +knew that they did not create nature. They did not +feel it <q>proper</q> to <q>expropriate the creator</q> and +legalistically appropriate the earth and its treasure +for themselves. They felt, in their unsophisticated +morale, that being called into existence they had a +natural right to exist and to use freely the gifts of +nature in the preservation of their life; and that is +what they did. +</p> + +<p> +After the death of a man, some of the objects produced +by him still survived, such as weapons, fishing +or hunting instruments, or the caves adapted for living; +a baby had to be nourished for some years by +its parents or it would have died. Those facts had +important consequences; objects made by someone +for some particular use could be used by someone +else, even after the death of one or more successive +users; again the experiences acquired by one member +of a family or a group of people were taught by +example or precept to others of the same generation +and to the next generation. Such simple facts are the +corner stones of our whole civilization and they are +the direct result of the <hi rend="sc">human capacity of time-binding</hi>. +</p> + +<pb n="106"/><anchor id="Pg106"/> + +<p> +The world to-day is full of controversy about +wealth, capital, and money, and because humanity, +through its peculiar time-binding power, binds this +element <q>time</q> in an ever larger and larger degree, +the controversy becomes more and more acute. +Civilization as a process is the process of binding +time; progress is made by the fact that each generation +adds to the material and spiritual wealth which +it inherits. Past achievements—the fruit of bygone +time—thus live in the present, are augmented in the +present, and transmitted to the future; the process +goes on; time, the essential element, is so involved +that, though it increases arithmetically, its fruit, +civilization, advances geometrically. +</p> + +<p> +But there is another peculiarity in wealth and +money: If a wooden or iron <q>inch</q> be allowed to +rot or rust quietly on some shelf, this <q>inch</q> does +not represent anything besides this piece of wood or +iron. But if we take the <hi rend="sc">mental</hi> value of an inch, +this unit of one of the measures of space, and use it, +with other quantities, in the contemplation of the +skies for the solving of an astronomical problem, it +gives a prophetic answer that, in a certain place there +is a star; this star, may be for years looked for in +vain. Was it that the calculation was wrong? No, +for after further search with telescopes of greater +power, the star is found and the calculation thus +verified. +</p> + +<pb n="107"/><anchor id="Pg107"/> + +<p> +It is obvious that the <q>unit</q>—inch—has no value +by itself, but is very precious as a unit for measuring +the phenomenon of length, which it perfectly represents, +and that is why it was introduced. +</p> + +<p> +It is exactly the same with money if the term be +rightly understood. Understood aright, money, +being the measure and representative of wealth, is +in the main, the measure and the representative of +dead men's toil; for, rightly understood, wealth is +almost entirely the product of the labor of by-gone +generations. This product, we have seen, involves +the element of time as the chief factor. And so we +discover how money, properly understood, is connected +with time—the main function of money is to +measure and represent the accumulated products of +the labor of past generations. Hoarded money is +like an iron <q>inch</q> upon a shelf—a useless lump; +but when used as a measure and representative of +wealth rightly understood, money renders invaluable +service, for it then serves to measure and represent +the living fruit of dead men's toil. +</p> + +<p> +For this reason, it is useless to argue who is the +more important, the capitalist who has legal possession +of most of the material fruit of dead men's toil, +or the laborer who has legal possession of but little +of it. In the laborer, we do not now really look +for his physical muscular labor <hi rend="sc">alone</hi>; for this is +replaced by mechanical or animal power as soon as +<pb n="108"/><anchor id="Pg108"/> +it can be. What we do need from labor, and what +we will always need, is his <hi rend="sc">brain—his time-binding +power</hi>. +</p> + +<p> +The population of the world may be divided into +different classes; if the classes are not here enumerated +in the customary way, it is because it is necessary +to classify human beings, as nearly as possible +according to their <q>power-value.</q> There is no assertion +that this is an ideal classification, but if someone +is moved to exclaim—<q>what a foolish, unscientific +division!</q>—I will answer by saying: <q>I grant that +the division is foolish and unscientific; but <hi rend="sc">it is the +only division which corresponds to +facts in life</hi>, and it is not the writer's fault. +By this <q>foolishness</q> some good may be accomplished.</q> +</p> + +<p> +From an engineer's point of view humanity is +apparently to be divided into three classes; (1) the +intellectuals; (2) the rich; and (3) the poor. This +division would seem to be contrary to all the rules +of logic, but it corresponds to facts. Of course some +individuals belong to two of the classes or even to +all three of them, an after-war product, but essentially, +they belong to the one class in proportion +to the characteristic which is the most marked in +their life; that is, in the sense of social classes—<hi rend="sc">based +on magnitude of values</hi>. +</p> + +<p> +(1) The intellectuals are the men and women +<pb n="109"/><anchor id="Pg109"/> +who possess the knowledge produced by the labor +of by-gone generations but do not possess the material +wealth thus produced. In mastering and using +this inheritance of knowledge, they are exercising +their time-binding energies and making the labor of +the dead live in the present and for the future. +</p> + +<p> +(2) The rich are those who have possession and +control of most of the <emph>material</emph> wealth produced by +the toil of bygone generations—wealth that is dead +unless animated and transformed by the time-binding +labor of the living. +</p> + +<p> +(3) The poor are those who have neither the +knowledge possessed by the intellectuals nor the +material wealth possessed by the rich and who, moreover, +because nearly all their efforts, under present +conditions, are limited to the struggle for mere existence, +have little or no opportunity to exercise their +time-binding capacity. +</p> + +<p> +Let us now try to ascertain the rôle of the time-binding +class of life as a whole. We have by +necessity, to go back to the beginning—back to the +savage. We have seen what were the conditions +of his work and progress; we saw that for each successful +achievement he often had to wrestle with a +very large number of unsuccessful achievements, and +his lifetime being so limited, the total of his successful +achievements was very limited, so that he was +able to give to his child only a few useful objects and +<pb n="110"/><anchor id="Pg110"/> +the sum of his experience. Generally speaking, each +successor did not start his life at the point where +his father started; he started somewhere near where +his father left off. His father gave, say, fifty years +to discover two truths in nature and succeeded in +making two or three simple objects; but the son does +not need to give fifty years to discover and create the +same achievements, and so he has time to achieve +something <emph>new</emph>. He thus adds his own achievements +to those of his father in tools and experience; this is +the mathematical equivalent of adding his parent's +years of life to his own. His mother's work and +experience are of course included—the name father +and son being only used representatively. +</p> + +<p> +This stupendous fact is the definitive mark of +humanity—the power to roll up continuously the +ever-increasing achievements of generation after +generation endlessly. We have seen that this time-binding +power is an exponential power or function +of time. Time flows on, increasing in arithmetical +progression, adding generation unto generation; +but the results of human energies working in time +do not go on arithmetically; they pile up or roll up +more and more rapidly, augmenting in accordance +with the law of a more and more rapidly increasing +geometric progression. The typical term of the +progression is <hi rend='italic'>PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">T</hi></hi> +where <hi rend='italic'>PR</hi> denotes the ending +progress made in the generation with which we +<pb n="111"/><anchor id="Pg111"/> +agree to start our reckoning, <hi rend='italic'>R</hi> denotes the ratio +increase, and <hi rend='italic'>T</hi> denotes the number of generations +after the chosen <q>start.</q> The quantity, +<hi rend='italic'>PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">T</hi></hi> of +progress made in the <hi rend='italic'>Tth</hi> generation contains +<hi rend='italic'>T</hi> as +an exponent, and so the quantity, varying as time +<hi rend='italic'>T</hi> passes, is called an exponential function of the +time. +</p> + +<p> +Nature is the source of all energy. Plants, the +lowest form of life, have a definite rôle to perform +in the economy of nature. Their function is the +forming of albuminoids and other substances for +higher purposes. All of their nitrates are high-explosives, +or low explosives, but explosives anyway. +They are powerful sources of some new +energy. Animal life uses these <q>explosives</q> as food +and is correspondingly more dynamic, but in animal +life time does not play the rôle it plays in human +life. Animals are limited by death permanently. If +animals make any progress from generation to generation, +it is so small as to be negligible. A beaver, +for example, is a remarkable builder of dams, but +he does not progress in the way of inventions or further +development. A beaver dam is always a beaver +dam. +</p> + +<p> +Finally humanity, the highest known class of +life, has time-binding capacity as its characteristic, +its discriminant, its peculiar and definitive mark. +It is an unrealized fact that in this higher class of +<pb n="112"/><anchor id="Pg112"/> +life, <hi rend='italic'>the law of organic growth develops into the law +of energy-growth—the mind—the time-binding energy—an +increasing exponential function of time.</hi> That +fact is of basic importance for the science and art +of Human Engineering. In mechanics we have the +well-known formula +</p> + +<p> +(1) Work ÷ Time = Power. +</p> + +<p> +We have seen that, in accordance with the law of +geometric progression, <hi rend='italic'>PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">T</hi></hi> +represents the progress +made—the work done—in the <hi rend='italic'>Tth</hi> generation +(<hi rend='italic'>T</hi> +being counted from some generation taken as starting +point of reckoning); this progress, achievement, +or <hi rend='italic'>work</hi>, being done in <emph>one</emph> generation, we have by (1) +</p> + +<p> +(2) ( Work = PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">T</hi> ) / ( Time = 1) = Power, +</p> + +<p> +that is, <hi rend='italic'>PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">T</hi></hi> += Power; this means that the number +<hi rend='italic'>PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">T</hi></hi>, which +measures the work done in a given +generation, is also the measure of the power that +does the work. Now, the total work, <hi rend='italic'>W</hi>, done in +the <hi rend='italic'>T</hi> generations is +</p> + +<p> +(3) <hi rend='italic'>W = PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">1</hi> ++ PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">2</hi> ++ PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">3</hi> + ... ++ PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">T</hi></hi>; +</p> + +<p> +that is, +</p> + +<p> +(4) <hi rend='italic'>W</hi> = <hi rend='italic'>R</hi> ÷ (<hi rend='italic'>R</hi>-1) +× (<hi rend='italic'>PR</hi><hi rend="vertical-align: super">T</hi> +- <hi rend='italic'>P</hi>) +</p> + +<pb n="113"/><anchor id="Pg113"/> + +<p> +It should be noticed that by (2) this expression for +<hi rend='italic'>W</hi> may also be regarded as +the sum of <hi rend='italic'>T</hi> different +powers <hi rend='italic'>PR</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">2</hi></hi>, etc., +each working during one and +only one generation; if we divided this sum by <hi rend='italic'>T</hi>, +the quotient would be a power that would have to +act through <hi rend='italic'>T</hi> generations to produce <hi rend='italic'>W</hi>. The +reader should not fail to notice very carefully that +the expression (4) for <hi rend='italic'>W</hi> is an expression for the +total progress made—the total work done—the +total wealth produced—in the course of <hi rend='italic'>T</hi> generations +and he should especially note how the expression +involves the exponential function of time (<hi rend='italic'>T</hi>), +namely <hi rend='italic'>PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">T</hi></hi>. +</p> + +<p> +The formula makes mathematically evident the +time-binding capacity characteristic of the human +class of life. Properly understood, <emph>wealth</emph> consists +of the fruits or products of this time-binding capacity +of man. Animals do not produce wealth; it is +produced by Man and only Man. The foregoing +basic formulation should lead to further similar +developments throwing much light upon the process +of civilization and serving to eliminate "private +opinion" from the conduct of human affairs. (In +this writing it is not important to look deeper into +these proposed series. The fact remains that <hi rend='italic'>P</hi>, as +well as <hi rend='italic'>R</hi>, are peculiarly increasing series of a geometrical +character—the precise form will be developed +in another writing.) +</p> + +<pb n="114"/><anchor id="Pg114"/> + +<p> +Human achievements and progress, because cumulative, +are knocking out the barriers of time. This +fact is the vital and dynamic difference between animal +life and human life. As plants gather in and +store up solar energy into sheaves for the use and +growth of animal and man—so humans are gathering +and binding the knowledge of past centuries into +sheaves for the use and development of generations +yet unborn. +</p> + +<p> +We have seen that the term wealth, rightly understood, +means the fruit of the time-binding work of +humanity. Wealth is of two kinds: one is material; +the other is knowledge. Both kinds have use-value. +The first kind perishes—the commodities composing +it deteriorate and become useless. The other is permanent +in character; it is imperishable; it may be lost +or forgotten but it does not wear out. +</p> + +<p> +The one is limited in time; the other, unlimited in +time; the former I call <hi rend="sc">potential use-value</hi>; the +latter, <hi rend="sc">kinetic use-value</hi>. Analysis will justify the +names. The energy of a body which is due to its +position, is called potential energy. The energy of +a body which is due to its motion, is called kinetic +energy. Here the material use-value has value +through its position, shape and so forth; it is immobile +if not used, and has not the capacity to progress. +Mental use-values are not static but permanently +dynamic; one thought, one discovery, is the impulse +<pb n="115"/><anchor id="Pg115"/> +to others; they follow the law of an increasing <emph>potential</emph> +function of time. (See <ref target="Appendix_II">app. II</ref>.) This is why +these names correspond to the two names of the two +mentioned classes of energy. +</p> + +<p> +Here I must return to the current conceptions of +wealth and capital, before cited. <q>Wealth,</q> we are +told, <q>is any useful or agreeable thing which possesses +<hi rend='italic'>ex</hi>change<hi rend='italic'>able value</hi>.</q> +And we are told that +<q>Capital is that part of wealth which is devoted to +obtaining further wealth.</q> I have said that such +conceptions—such definitions—of wealth and capital +are childish—they belong to the period of humanity's +childhood. That they are indeed childish conceptions +the reader can not fail to see if he will reflect +upon them and especially if he will compare them +with the scientific conception according to which +wealth consists of those things—whether they be +material commodities or forms of knowledge and +understanding—that have been produced by the +time-binding energies of humanity, and according to +which <emph>nearly all the wealth of the world at any given +time</emph> is the +<emph>accumulated fruit of the toil of past generations</emph>—the +living work of the dead. It seems +unnecessary to warn the reader against confusing +the <q><emph>making</emph></q> of money by hook or crook, by trick +or trade, with the <emph>creating</emph> of wealth, by the product +of labor. In calling the old conceptions childish, I +do not mean that they contain no element of truth +<pb n="116"/><anchor id="Pg116"/> +whatever; I mean that they are shallow, scientifically +or spiritually meagre, narrow in their vision, wrong +in their accent; I especially mean that they are dumb, +because they are blind, regarding the central matter +that wealth is the natural offspring of Time and +Human Toil. The old conceptions do indeed imply +that wealth and capital involve both potential and +kinetic use-values, and in so far they are right. But +how do such use-values arise? +</p> + +<p> +The potential use-values in wealth are created by +human work operating in time upon raw material +given by nature. The use-values are produced by +time-taking transformations of the raw materials; +these transformations are wrought by human brain +labor and human muscular labor directed by the +human brain acting in time. The kinetic use-values +of wealth are also created by human toil—mainly by +the intellectual labor of observation, experimentation, +imagination, deduction and invention, all consuming +the precious time of short human lives. It +is obvious that in the creation of use-values whether +potential or kinetic, the element of <emph>time</emph> enters as an +absolutely essential factor. The fundamental importance +of time as a factor in the production of +wealth—the fact that wealth and the use-values of +wealth are literally the natural offspring of the +spiritual union of time with toil—has been completely +overlooked, not only by the economics, but by the +<pb n="117"/><anchor id="Pg117"/> +ethics, the jurisprudence and the other branches of +speculative reasoning, throughout the long period of +humanity's childhood. In the course of the ages there +has indeed been much <q>talk</q> about time, but there +has been no recognition of the basic significance of +time as essential in the conception and in the very +constitution of human values. +</p> + +<p> +It is often said that <q>Time is Money</q>; the statement +is often false; but the proposition that Money +is Time is always true. It is always true in the profound +sense that Money is the measure and symbol +of Wealth—the product of Time and Toil—the +crystallization of the time-binding human capacity. +<hi rend="sc">it is thus true that money is a very precious +thing, the measure and symbol of work—in +part the work of the living but, in the main, +the living work of the dead.</hi> +</p> + +<p> +Nature's laws are supreme; we cannot change +them; we can deviate from them for a while, but the +end is evil. That is the lesson we must learn from +the history of Humanity's childhood. False conceptions +of Man—ignorance of the laws of human +nature—have given us unscientific economies, unscientific +ethics, unscientific law, unscientific politics, +unscientific government. These have made human +history the history of social cataclysms—insurrections, +wars, revolutions—sad tokens not so much of +human lust as of human ignorance of the laws of +<pb n="118"/><anchor id="Pg118"/> +human nature. There is but one remedy, one hope—a +science and art of Human Engineering based +upon the just conception of humanity as the time-binding +class of life and conforming to the laws of +nature including the laws of human nature. +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n="119"/><anchor id="Pg119"/> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" level1="Chapter VI. Capitalistic Era"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="Chapter VI. Capitalistic Era"/> +<head>Chapter VI. Capitalistic Era</head> + +<p> +The immortal work done by Descartes, Newton +and Leibnitz was to discover powerful methods +for mathematics—the only fit language for expressing +the laws of nature. +</p> + +<p> +Human Engineering will be the science by which +the great social problems will be solved. For the +first time since the first day of man, humanity will +really understand its own nature and status; and +will learn to direct scientifically the living and the +non-living forces for construction, avoiding unnecessary +destruction and waste. +</p> + +<p> +It may seem strange but it is true that the time-binding +exponential powers, called humans, do not +die—their bodies die but their achievements live forever—a +permanent source of power. All of our +precious possessions—science, acquired by experience, +accumulated wealth in all fields of life—are +kinetic and potential use-values created and left by +by-gone generations; they are humanity's treasures +produced mainly in the past, and conserved for our +use, by that peculiar function or power of man for +the binding of time. That the natural trend of life +<pb n="120"/><anchor id="Pg120"/> +and the progress of the development of this treasury +is so often checked, turned from its natural course, +or set back, is due to ignorance of human nature, to +metaphysical speculation and sophistry. Those who, +with or without intention, keep the rate of humanity's +mental advancement down to that of an arithmetic +progression are the real enemies of society; for they +keep the life-regulating <q>sciences</q> and institutions +far behind the gallop of life itself. The consequence +is periodic social violence—wars and revolutions. +</p> + +<p> +Let us carry the analysis of potential and kinetic +use-values a little further. All potential use-values +left to us by the dead are temporal and differ in +utility. Many potential use-values are found in +museums and have very limited value to-day in practical +life. On the other hand some roads or water-ways +built by the ancients have use-value to-day; and +an almost endless list of modern potential use-values +have or will have use-values for a long time to come, +such as buildings, improved lands, railroad tracks, +certain machines or tools; the use-value of some such +items of material wealth will last for more than one +generation. Kinetic use-values are permanent in +their character, for, though they may become antiquated, +they yet serve as the foundation for the developments +that supersede them, and so they continue +to live in that to which they lead. +</p> + +<p> +I would draw attention at this point to one of the +<pb n="121"/><anchor id="Pg121"/> +most important kinetic and potential use-values produced +by humanity—the invention of the steam +engine. Through this invention, humanity has been +able to avail itself, not only of the living fruits of +dead men's toil, but also of the inconceivably vast +amounts of solar energy and time bound up in the +growth of vegetable life and conserved for use in +the form of coal and other fuels of vegetable origin. +This invention has revolutionized our life in countless +directions. To be brief, I will analyse only the +most salient effects. Human Engineering has never +existed except in the most embryonic form. In +remote antiquity the conception and knowledge of +natural law was wholly absent or exceedingly vague. +Before the invention of the steam engine, people +depended mainly upon human powers—that is, upon +<q>living powers</q>—the powers of living men, and the +living fruits of the labor of the dead. Even then +there were manifold complications. +</p> + +<p> +The invention of the steam engine released for +human use a new power of tremendous magnitude—the +stored-up power of solar energy and ages of +time. But we must not fail to note carefully that we +to-day are enabled to use this immense new power +of bound-up solar energy and time by a human invention, +a product of the dead. +</p> + +<p> +The full significance of the last statement requires +reflection. The now dead inventor of the steam +<pb n="122"/><anchor id="Pg122"/> +engine could not have produced his ingenious invention +except by using the living powers of other dead +men—except by using the material and spiritual or +mental wealth created by those who had gone before. +In the inventor's intellectual equipment there was +actively present the kinetic use-value of <q>bound-up-time,</q> +enabling him to discover the laws of heat, +water, and steam; and he employed both the potential +and kinetic use-values of mechanical instruments, +methods of work, and scientific knowledge of his +time and generation—use-values of wealth created +by the genius and toil of by-gone generations. This +invention was not produced, let us say 6000 years +ago, because civilization was not then sufficiently advanced: +mathematically considered, the production +of this great use-value had to await all the accumulated +work of six thousand years of human ingenuity +and human labor. So, if we choose, the steam engine +may be considered a kinetic use-value in which the +factor of time is equal to something like 6000 years, +or let us say roughly 200 generations. +</p> + +<p> +It is obvious that, in one life time, even a genius +of the highest order, could not, in aboriginal conditions, +have invented and built a steam engine, when +everything, even iron, was unknown. Of course if +the same inventor could have had a life of several +thousands of years and could have consecutively followed +up all the processes, unhampered by the prejudices +<pb n="123"/><anchor id="Pg123"/> +of those days, and been able to make all of +these inventions by himself, he would represent in +himself all the progress of civilization. +</p> + +<p> +By this illustration we see the profound meaning +of the words—the living powers of the dead; we see +the grave importance in human life of the factor +<hi rend="sc">time</hi>; we behold the significance of the time-binding +capacity of man. The steam engine is to be seen +anew, as in the main the accumulated production of +dead-men's work. The life of one generation is +short, and were it not for our human capacity to +inherit the material and spiritual fruit of dead men's +toil, to augment it a little in the brief span of our +own lives, and to transmit it to posterity, the process +of civilization would not be possible and our present +estate would be that of aboriginal man. Civilization +is a creature, its creator is the time-binding power +of man. Animals have it not, because they belong +to a lower type or dimension of life. +</p> + +<p> +Sophistry avails nothing here; a child, left in the +woods, would be and remain a savage, matching his +wits with gorillas. He becomes a civilized man only +by the accumulation of, and acquaintance with dead +men's work; for then and only then can he start +where the preceding generation left off. This +capacity is peculiar to men; the fact can not be repeated +too often. +</p> + +<p> +It is untrue to say that <hi rend='italic'>A</hi> started his life aided +<pb n="124"/><anchor id="Pg124"/> +exclusively by the achievements of (say) his father, +for his father's achievements depended on the +achievements of <emph>his</emph> immediate predecessors; and so +on all the way back through the life of humanity. +This fact, of supreme ethical importance, applies to +<emph>all</emph> of us; none of us may speak or act as if the +material or spiritual wealth we have were produced +by us; for, if we be not stupid, we must see that what +we call <emph>our</emph> wealth, <emph>our</emph> civilization, everything we +use or enjoy, is in the main the product of the labor +of men now dead, some of them slaves, some of them +<q>owners</q> of slaves. The metal spoon or the knife +which we use daily is a product of the work of many +generations, including those who discovered the +metal and the use of it, and the utility of the spoon. +</p> + +<p> +And here arises a most important question: Since +the wealth of the world is in the main the free gift +of the past—the fruit of the labor of the dead—to +whom does it of right belong? The question can +not be evaded. Is the existing monopoly of the great +inherited treasures produced by dead men's toil a +normal and natural evolution? +</p> + +<p> +Or is it an artificial status imposed by the few +upon the many? Such is the crux of the modern +controversy. +</p> + +<p> +It is generally known that the invention of the +steam engine and other combustion engines which release +sun-power for mechanical use, has revolutionized +<pb n="125"/><anchor id="Pg125"/> +the economic system; for the building of engines +in the scale of modern needs, it is necessary to concentrate +a great number of living men in one place, +to build factories, to set up machines used in producing +the engines, and all this requires the use of +vast amounts of money. That is why this era is +called the capitalistic era. But it is necessary to stop +here and analyse the factors of value in the engine +to be made and in the money used for the purpose of +making use of the stored-up energies of the sun. We +have found that the major part of the engine and all +factors connected with its production are the combined +power of dead men's labor. We have found +that wealth or capital and its symbol, money, are +also, in the main, the bound-up power of dead men's +labor; so that the only way to obtain the benefit in the +release of sun-power, is by using the product of the +toil of the dead. It is further obvious that only the +men or organizations that are able to concentrate the +largest amounts of money, representing the work of +the dead, can have the fullest use of the stored-up +energies of time and the ancient sun. Thus the +monopoly of the stored-up energies of the sun arises +from monopolizing the accumulated fruits of dead +men's toil. These problems will, in the future, be +the concern of the science and art of Human Engineering. +</p> + +<p> +Let us glance briefly at the problems from another +<pb n="126"/><anchor id="Pg126"/> +angle. The power developed in the combustion of +one pound of coal is theoretically equal to 11,580,000 +foot pounds. But by our imperfect methods of utilization, +not more than 1,500,000 foot pounds are +made available. This is about the amount of +physical power exerted by a man of ordinary +strength during a day's work. Hence 300 pounds +of coal will represent the labor of a man for a +year. The current production of coal in the world +is about 500,000,000 tons (1906). If we suppose +that only half of this coal goes for mechanical use, +this will give us approximately the number as 1,600,000,000 +man-powers that are producers but not consumers. +</p> + +<p> +Let us take a still broader view of resources; we +have approximately 1,600,000,000 living human +beings (all censuses available between 1902 and +1906); a wealth of approximately $357,000,000,000 +(<hi rend='italic'>Social Progress</hi>, 1906, page 221) which in our +analysis is dead men's work; and sun-power equal, +in work, to the work of our whole living population, +or equal to 1,600,000,000 sun man-powers. Taking, +for simplicity's sake, $35.70 as the average living expenses +per annum for each one of the <emph>world's</emph> population, +we will have: +</p> + +<p> +(1) 1,600,000,000 living men. +</p> + +<p> +(2) 10,000,000,000 living man-powers of the +dead. +</p> + +<pb n="127"/><anchor id="Pg127"/> + +<p> +(3) 1,600,000,000 sun man-powers. +</p> + +<p> +Such classification needs a reflection: man is intrinsically +an increasing exponential power and always +produces two use-values—the potential and the +kinetic. All living men have in some degree this type +of power; <emph>they are able to direct and use basic +powers</emph>. +</p> + +<p> +So we see that this world is really populated to-day +by three different populations, all of them +dynamic and active: to wit, 1,600,000,000 living +men; 10,000,000,000 living man-powers of the dead; +1,600,000,000 sun man-powers. +</p> + +<p> +Thus it is obvious beyond any argument, <emph>that this +additional producing but not consuming</emph> population, +has been produced mainly by the work of all our past +generations. It is said <q>mainly</q> because, if we were +the first generation, we would be just aboriginal savages +having nothing and progressing very slowly. +The reason why we progress very rapidly, in this +stage of civilization, is explained very clearly by the +mathematical law of a geometrical progression, with +an ever increasing number of terms, the magnitude +of the terms increasing more rapidly all the time.<note place="foot">Of +course, the geometric progression does not represent +<emph>precisely</emph> the law of human progression; it is here employed +because it is familiar and serves, better perhaps than any other +simple mathematical means, to show <emph>roughly</emph> how human progress +goes on. The essential elements of a progression are the +first term <hi rend='italic'>P</hi> and the ratio <hi rend='italic'>R</hi> +and the number of the terms <hi rend='italic'>T</hi>; +in the human progression +<hi rend='italic'>PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">1</hi>, +PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">2</hi>, +PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">3</hi>, ... +PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">T</hi>, P</hi> is the +starting status of the first generation, +<hi rend='italic'>R</hi> is the peculiar capacity +of humans to bind time and is a <emph>free gift</emph> and <emph>law</emph> +of <emph>nature</emph>, +which it would be folly not to recognize and accept as such, +<hi rend='italic'>T</hi> is time, or number of generations. It is obvious that the +magnitude, <hi rend='italic'>PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">T</hi></hi>, +is entirely dependent on the magnitudes of <hi rend='italic'>PR</hi>, +and <hi rend='italic'>T</hi>. The existence of <hi rend='italic'>R</hi> +and <hi rend='italic'>T</hi> is independent of humans, +<hi rend='italic'>R</hi> being a law of nature, <hi rend='italic'>T</hi> +a gift of nature, <hi rend='italic'>P</hi> the starting status +of the initial generation. With <hi rend='italic'>P = 0</hi> or +<hi rend='italic'>R = 0</hi> <hi rend="sc">there would +be no progress</hi> or progression at all; each term in the case +of human progression is mainly dependent upon the time and +the work done by the dead. The existence of +<hi rend='italic'>R</hi> and <hi rend='italic'>T</hi> is entirely +beyond human control. Humans can control only the <hi rend="sc">magnitude</hi> +of those elements by education. Here comes the tremendous +responsibility of education. It is not necessary to +use much imagination to see that if humanity had always been +rightly educated, science would have long ago discovered the +natural forces and laws essential to human welfare, and human +misery would to-day be relatively small.</note> +</p> + +<pb n="128"/><anchor id="Pg128"/> + +<p> +This fact is the reason why the old unscientific and +artificial social system requires and must undergo +profound transformation. Human progress, in +many directions, is so far advanced that social institutions +can not much longer continue to lag so far +behind. Static ethics, static jurisprudence, static +economics, and the rest must become dynamic; if +they do not continue to progress peacefully in accordance +with the law of the progress of science, they +will be forced by violent readjustments, recurring +with ever increasing frequency. +</p> + +<p> +Here we have a problem of very high importance +and enormous magnitude. To serve 1,600,000,000 +living men, we have 11,600,000,000 dead man-powers +and all the sun man-powers—<hi rend="sc">seven servants +to each living man, woman and child</hi> +<pb n="129"/><anchor id="Pg129"/> +included. It looks like the millennium. It would be so +if we but used all this power in a constructive way, +eliminating waste and controversy and all those factors +which hamper production and progress. The +present economic system does not realize even the +beginning of the magnitude of this truth and the +tremendous results which are to be achieved through +the adjustment of it. The problem will be solved by +Human Engineering, for this will establish the right +understanding of values and will show how to manage +world problems scientifically; it will give a scientific +foundation to Political Economy and transform +so-called <q>scientific shop management</q> into genuine +<q>scientific world management.</q><note place="foot">See +<ref target="Appendix_III">Appendix III</ref>.</note> +</p> + +<p> +There is a chasm between <q>Capital</q> and <q>Labor,</q> +but nature does not know <q>Capital</q> or <q>Labor</q> at all. +Nature knows only matter, energy, <q>space,</q> <q>time,</q> +potential and kinetic use-values, forces in all their +direct and indirect expression, the energies of living +men, living powers of dead men, and the bound-up +powers of Time and the ancient Sun. Nature made +man an increasing exponential function of time, a +time-binder, a power able to transform and direct +basic powers. Sometimes we hypocritically like to +delude ourselves, if our delusions are agreeable—and +profitable. We call human work <q>manual +labor</q> and we pretend that we need the laborer for +<pb n="130"/><anchor id="Pg130"/> +his muscular service, but when we thus speak, we are +thoughtless, stupid, or insincere. What we look for +in the worker is his <emph>control</emph> of his muscles; mechanical +work is or can be replaced almost entirely by +machinery. What we will never be able to replace +by machinery is a Man, because man belongs to the +level of a dimension above machinery. Engine-power, +sun man-power, and capital—mainly the +work of the dead—are inanimate; they become productive +only when quickened by the time-binding +energies of living men and women. Then only are +the results proportional to the ever growing magnitude +of exponential power. In nature's economy the +time-binders are the intelligent forces. There is none +else known to us, and from the engineer's point of +view, Edison and the simplest laborer, Smith or +Jones, are basically the same; their powers or capacities +are exponential, and, though differing in degree, +are the same in kind. This may seem optimistic but +all engineers are optimists. They deal only with fact +and truth. If they make mistakes, if their bridges +break down, then, no matter how clever their sophistry, +they are adjudged criminal. Like severity must +be made the rule and practice toward all those who +control the institutions and great affairs of human +society. Periodical break-downs must be prevented. +The engineers of human society must be held responsible, +as the bridge engineer is held to-day. +</p> + +<pb n="131"/><anchor id="Pg131"/> + +<p> +Things are often simpler than they appear at the +first glance. There may be fire and plenty of coal in +a stove, yet no heat; the fire does not burn well; an +engineer will remove the natural causes of obstruction +of the natural process; even such a simple thing +as the removal of ashes may solve the problem. It +seems simple enough. The truth is often clear and +simple, if only it be not obscured and complicated by +sophistry. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Capitalistic</q> reasoning and <q>Socialistic</q> reasoning—Nature +does not know such things. Nature has +only one <q>reasoning</q> in all its functions. Our falsifying +of nature's laws makes the controversy. +Socialism exists as an <hi rend='italic'>ism</hi> because Capitalism exists +as an <hi rend='italic'>ism</hi>; the clash is only an expression of the +eternal law of action and reaction. +</p> + +<p> +We are living in a world of wealth, a world enriched +by many generations of dead men's toil; between +the lust of the one to <emph>keep</emph> and the lust of +others to <emph>get</emph>, there is little to choose; such contentions +of lust against lust are <emph>sub</emph>-human—animalistic; +such ethics is zoological ethics—the righteousness of +tooth and claw; below the human dimensions of +life, utterly unworthy of the creative energy—the +time-binding capacity—of humanity. Socialism +feels keenly and sees dimly that human affairs are +not conducted in conformity with natural laws. +Capitalism neither sees it nor keenly feels it. Neither +<pb n="132"/><anchor id="Pg132"/> +the one nor the other stops to investigate natural +laws—nature's laws—laws of human nature—scientifically. +They both of them use the same speculative +methods in their arguments, and there can be +no issue. Against one old-fashioned, speculative +argument, there is always a speculative answer. They +both speak about the truth, but their methods can +not find the truth nor their language express it. They +speak of <q>justice,</q> <q>right</q> and so forth, not knowing +that their conceptions of those terms are based +on a wrong understanding of values. There is one +and but one remedy, and that remedy consists in +applying scientific method to the study of the subject. +Sound reasoning, once introduced, will overrun +humanity as the fields turn green in the spring; +it will eliminate the waste of energy in controversies; +it will attract all forces toward construction +and the exploitation of nature for the common +weal. +</p> + +<p> +There are capitalists and capitalists; there are +socialists and socialists. Among the capitalists there +are those who want wealth—mainly the fruit of dead +men's toil—for themselves. Among the socialists +there are those—the orthodox socialists—who seek +to disperse it. The former do not perceive that +the product of the labor of the dead is itself dead +if not quickened by the energies of living men. The +orthodox socialists do not perceive the tremendous +<pb n="133"/><anchor id="Pg133"/> +benefits that accrue to mankind from the accumulation +of wealth, if <emph>rightly used</emph>. +</p> + +<p> +Whether we be capitalists or socialists or neither, +we must learn that to prey upon the treasury left +by the dead is to live, not the life of a human being, +but that of a <emph>ghoul</emph>. Legalistic title—documentary +ownership—does not alter the fact. Neither does +lust for the same. +</p> + +<p> +When we have acquired the just conception of +what a human being is we shall get away from the +Roman conception according to which a human being +is <foreign lang="la" rend="font-style: italic">instrumentum vocale</foreign>; +an animal, <foreign lang="la" rend="font-style: italic">instrumentum +semivocale</foreign>: and a tool, +<foreign lang="la" rend="font-style: italic">instrumentum mutum</foreign>. To +regard human beings as tools—as instruments—for +the use of other human beings is not only unscientific +but it is repugnant, stupid and short sighted. Tools +are made by man but have not the autonomy of their +maker—they have not man's time-binding capacity +for initiation, for self-direction, and self-improvement +In their own nature, tools, instruments, machines +belong to a dimension far lower than that of +man. +</p> + +<p> +Talk of dimensions or dimensionality is by no +means theoretical rubbish. The right understanding +of dimensions is of life-and-death importance in practical +life. The intermixing of dimensions leads to +wrong conclusions in our thought and wrong conclusions +lead to disasters. +</p> + +<pb n="134"/><anchor id="Pg134"/> + +<p> +Consider the classes of life as representing three +dimensions (as explained in an earlier chapter), then +human production belongs essentially to the human +or as I call it the third dimension. With the base +of (say) 5, we produce in the third dimension a +result of 125 units, and so when humans are paid +but 25 units in accordance with the standards of the +second dimension (that of animals), humanity is +deprived of the benefit of 100 units of produced +wealth. That is an illustration of what a part dimensions +play in practical life. The reflective reader +may analyse for himself what effect these same rules +would have, if expressed and applied in the human +<q>time-binding</q> dimension, time being the supreme +test. The following table gives the visual shock: +</p> + +<table> +<row><cell>1st Dimension</cell><cell>2nd Dimension</cell><cell>3rd Dimension</cell></row> +<row><cell>5</cell><cell>25</cell><cell>125</cell></row> +<row><cell>10</cell><cell>100</cell><cell>1,000</cell></row> +<row><cell>100</cell><cell>10,000</cell><cell>1,000,000</cell></row> +<row><cell>1,000</cell><cell>1,000,000</cell><cell>1,000,000,000</cell></row> +</table> + +<p> +This explains why the intermixing of dimensions +is the source of tremendous evil. +</p> + +<p> +Who can now assert that the problem of dimensions +is one only of theory? It is not even a question +of limitation of mind, but it becomes a +question of limitation of eyesight, not to be able to +see the overwhelming differences between the laws +of development of the first, second, and the third +dimension. +</p> + +<pb n="135"/><anchor id="Pg135"/> + +<p> +Dollars, or pounds sterling, or other units of +money follow the same rules: the strength and in +fact the source of power of modern capitalism, is +found in just this difference in dimensions—in the +difference between what is given and what is taken, +in the difference between what is earned and what is +<q>made.</q> The problem of dimensions is, therefore, +a key which unlocks the secrets of the power of capitalism +and opens the door to a new civilization where +the understanding of dimensions will establish order +out of the chaos. +</p> + +<p> +We have seen that kinetic and potential use-values, +produced mainly by the dead, are bound up in wealth, +which is measured and symbolized by money. This +being true, it is obvious that money is a measure and +symbol of power, of work done, of bound-up time. +</p> + +<p> +The <emph>space</emph>-binding <emph>animal</emph> standard of miscivilization +has brought us to an impasse—a blind alley—for +the simple physical reason that there is no more +space to <q>bind.</q> Practically all the habitable lands, +and practically all the natural resources, are already +divided among private legalistic owners. What hope +is there for the ever increasing population? +</p> + +<p> +But we have these 1,600,000,000 living men; +10,000,000,000 living man-powers of the dead; and +1,600,000,000 sun man-powers: that is indeed a tremendous +power to <hi rend="sc">produce wealth for all, if +wisely directed</hi>, but to-day it is ignorantly and +<pb n="136"/><anchor id="Pg136"/> +shamefully misdirected, because human beings are not +treated in accordance with their nature as the time-binding +class of life. +</p> + +<p> +Much more is to be gained in exploiting nature +aimfully, all the time, with a full mobilization of our +living, dead, and sun-powers, than by exploiting man +all the time and nature occasionally. Selfishness and +ignorance—is it these that prevent full mobilization +of the producing powers of the world? +</p> + +<p> +Such as contribute most to human progress and +human enlightenment—men like Gutenberg, Copernicus, +Newton, Leibnitz, Watts, Franklin, Mendeleieff, +Pasteur, Sklodowska-Curie, Edison, Steinmetz, +Loeb, Dewey, Keyser, Whitehead, Russell, Poincaré, +William Benjamin Smith, Gibbs, Einstein, and many +others—consume no more bread than the simplest +of their fellow mortals. Indeed such men are often +in want. How many a genius has perished inarticulate +because unable to stand the strain of social conditions +where animal standards prevail and <q>survival +of the fittest</q> means, not survival of the <q>fittest in +time-binding capacity,</q> but survival of the strongest +in ruthlessness and guile—in space-binding competition! +</p> + +<p> +Wealth is produced by those who work with hand +or brain and by no others. The great mass of the +wealth of the world has been thus produced by generations +that have gone. We know that the greatest +<pb n="137"/><anchor id="Pg137"/> +wealth producers—immeasurably the greatest—have +been and are scientific men, discoverers and inventors. +If an invention, in the course of a few +years after it is made, must become public property, +then the wealth produced by the <emph>use</emph> of the invention +should also become public property in the course +of a like period of years after it is thus produced. +Against this proposition no sophistry can avail. +</p> + +<p> +One of the greatest powers of modern times is +the Press; it commands the resources of space and +time; it affects in a thousand subtle ways the form +of our thoughts. It controls the exchange of news +throughout the world. Unfortunately the press is +often controlled by exploiters of the <q>living powers +of the dead,</q> and so what is presented as news is +frequently so limited, colored and distorted by selfish +interests as to be falsehood in the guise of truth. +Honest, independent papers are frequently starved +by selfish conspirators and forced to close down. +Thus the press, which is itself the product in the +main of dead men's toil, is made a means for the +deception and exploitation of the living. Indeed the +bitter words of Voltaire seem to be too true: <q>Since +God created man in his own image, how often has +man endeavored to render similar service to God.</q> +Those who want to use such <q>God-like</q> powers to +rule the world are modern Neros, who in their +wickedness and folly fancy themselves divine. To +<pb n="138"/><anchor id="Pg138"/> +deceive, and through deception, to exploit, rob and +subjugate living men and women, and to do it by +prostituting the living powers created by the dead, +is the work, I will not say of men, but of <emph>mad</emph> men, +greedy, ignorant and blind. What is the remedy? +Revolution? Revolution is also mad. The only +remedy is enlightenment—knowledge, knowledge of +nature, knowledge of human nature, scientific education, +science applied to all the affairs of man—the +science and art of Human Engineering. +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n="139"/><anchor id="Pg139"/> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" level1="Chapter VII. Survival of the Fittest"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="Chapter VII. Survival of the Fittest"/> +<head>Chapter VII. Survival of the Fittest</head> + +<p> +Humanity is a dynamic affair, nay, the most +dynamic known, because it is able to transform +and direct basic powers. Where power is produced +there must be an issue for it. Power must perforce +express itself in some form. Electricity produced in +the skies comes down in an often disastrous manner. +Electricity, produced aimfully, runs our railroads; +just so the enormous power produced by humanity +must be used aimfully, in a constructive way or it +will burst into insurrections, revolutions and wars. +</p> + +<p> +Hitherto we have been guided by those bottomless +sciences having only mythological ideas of power—by +ideas moulded by personal ambitions, personal +interests, or downright ignorance. Periodically we +have had all the evils of the lack of a common aim +and scientific guidance. Power has been held by the +<q>God-given</q> or the <q>cleverest</q>; seldom has the +power been given to the <q>fittest</q> in the sense of the +most capable <q>to do.</q> Those who speak of the +<q>survival of the fittest,</q> as in the Darwinian theory +of animals, bark an animal language. This rule, +being natural only in the life of plants and animals +<pb n="140"/><anchor id="Pg140"/> +and appropriate only to the lower forms of physical +life, cannot, except with profound change of meaning, +be applied to the time-binding class of life, without +disaster. +</p> + +<p> +The modern vast accumulation of wealth for private +purposes, justifies itself by using the argument +of the <q>survival of the fittest.</q> Very well, where +there is a <q>survival,</q> there must be victims; where +there are victims, there has been fighting. Is this +what the users of this argument mean? Like the +Kaiser, they talk peace and make war. This method +of doing things is not in any way new. The world +has been accustomed to it for a very long while. +</p> + +<p> +Personally I believe that most of the masters of +speculative semi-sciences, such as economics, law, +ethics, politics and government are honest in their +beliefs and speculations. Simply the right man believes +in the wrong thing; if shown the right way +out of the mess he will cease to hamper progress; he +will be of the greatest value to the new world built +by Human Engineers, where human capacities, exponential +functions of time, will operate naturally; +where economy, law, ethics, politics and government +will be <emph>dynamic</emph>, not <emph>static</emph>. There is a world of difference +between these two words. +</p> + +<p> +The immediate object of this writing is to show +the way to directing the time-binding powers of mankind +for the benefit of all. Human technology, as an +<pb n="141"/><anchor id="Pg141"/> +art and science, does not yet exist; some basic principles +were required as a foundation for such a +science. Especially was it necessary to establish a +<emph>human</emph> standard, and thus make it certain and clear +that <q>space-binders</q>—the members of the <emph>animal</emph> +world—are <q>outside of the human law</q>—outside +the natural laws for the human class of life. +</p> + +<p> +Present civilization is a very complicated affair; +although many of our social problems are very badly +managed, sudden changes could not be made without +endangering the welfare and life of all classes of +society. In the meantime, changes must be made +because the world can not proceed much longer under +pre-war conditions; they have been too well exposed +by facts for humanity to allow itself to be blindly +led again. +</p> + +<p> +In the World War humanity passed through a +tremendous trial and for those years was under the +strain of an extensive mobilization campaign. The +necessity of increasing power was manifest; the importance +of a common base or aim became equally +manifest. In this case the base, the common aim, +was found in <q>war patriotism.</q> This common base +enabled all the states to add up individual powers +and build maximum efficiency into a <emph>collective</emph> +power. This expression is used, not only as a social +truth, but as a known mathematical truth. Those +high ideals, which were given <q>Urbi et orbi</q> in thousands +<pb n="142"/><anchor id="Pg142"/> +of speeches and in millions of propaganda +papers, had a much greater educational importance +and influence than most people are aware of. People +have been awakened and have acquired the taste for +those higher purposes which in the past were available +only for the few. +</p> + +<p> +Many old worn-out idols, ideas and ideals have +fallen; but what is going to take their place? We +witness an unrest which will not be eliminated until +something essential is done to adjust it. Calm often +betokens a coming storm. The coming storm is not +the work of any <q>bad man,</q> but it is the inevitable +consequence of a <q>bad system.</q> It is dangerous +to hide our heads in the sand, like an ostrich, and +fancy we are safe. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Survival of the fittest</q> in the commonly used animal +sense is not a theory or principle for a <q>time-binding</q> +being. This theory is only for the physical +bodies of animals; its effect upon humanity is sinister +and degrading (see <ref target="Appendix_III">App. II</ref>). We see the principle +at work all about us in criminal exploitation and +profiteering. As a matter of fact, the ages-long application +of this animal principle to human affairs +has degraded the whole human morale in an inconceivably +far-reaching way. Personal greed and selfishness +are brazenly owned as principles of conduct. +We shrug our shoulders in acquiescence and proclaim +greed and selfishness to be the very core of human +<pb n="143"/><anchor id="Pg143"/> +nature, take it all for granted, and let it pass at that. +We have gone so far in our degradation that the +prophet of capitalistic principles, Adam Smith, in his +famous <hi rend='italic'>Wealth of Nations</hi>, arrives at the laws of +wealth, not from the phenomena of wealth nor from +statistical statements, but from the phenomena of +selfishness—a fact which shows how far-reaching in +its dire influence upon all humanity is the theory that +human beings are <q>animals.</q> Of course the effect +is very disastrous. The preceding chapters have +shown that the theory is false; it is false, not only +because of its unhappy effects, but it belies the characteristic +nature of man. Human nature, this time-binding +power, not only has the peculiar capacity +for perpetual progress, but it has, over and above +all animal propensities, certain qualities constituting +it a distinctive dimension or type of life. Not only +our whole collective life proves a love for higher +ideals, but even our dead <emph>give</emph> us the rich heritage, +material and spiritual, of all their toils. There is +nothing mystical about it; to call <hi rend="sc">such</hi> a class a +<emph>naturally</emph> selfish class is not only nonsensical but +monstrous. +</p> + +<p> +This capacity for higher ideals does not originate +in some <q><emph>super</emph>natural</q> outside factor; it is <emph>not</emph> of +extraneous origin, it is the expression of the time-binding +element which we <emph>inherently</emph> possess, independently +of our <q>will</q>; it is an inborn capacity—a +<pb n="144"/><anchor id="Pg144"/> +<emph>gift</emph> of nature. We simply are made this way and +not in any other. There is indeed a fine sense in +which we can, if we choose, apply the expression—survival +of the fittest—to the activity of the time-binding +energies of man. Having the peculiar capacity +to survive in our deeds, we have an inclination +to use it and we survive in the deeds of our +creation; and so there is brought about the <q>survival +in time</q> of higher and higher ideals. The moment +we consider Man in his proper dimension—active +in <hi rend="sc">time</hi>—these things become simple, stupendous, +and beautiful. +</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p> +<q>Note the radical character of the transformation to be +effected. The world shall no longer be beheld as an alien +thing, beheld by eyes that are not its own. Conception of +the whole and by the whole shall embrace <emph>us</emph> as <emph>part</emph>, really, +literally, consciously, as the latest term, it may be, of an +advancing sequence of developments, as occupying the highest +rank perhaps in the ever-ascending hierarchy of being, +but, at all events, as emerged and still emerging +<foreign lang="la" rend="font-style: italic">natura +naturata</foreign> from some propensive source within. I grant that +the change in point of view is hard to make—old habits, +like walls of rock, tending to confine the tides of consciousness +within their accustomed channels—but it can be made +and, by assiduous effort, in the course of time, maintained. +Suppose it done. By that reunion, the whole regains, while +the part retains, the consciousness the latter purloined.... +In the whole universe of events, none is more wonderful +than the birth of wonder, none more curious than the +nascence of curiosity itself, nothing to compare with the +dawning of consciousness in the ancient dark and the gradual +<pb n="145"/><anchor id="Pg145"/> +extension of psychic life and illumination throughout a cosmos +that before had only <emph>been</emph>. An eternity of blindly acting, +transforming, unconscious existence, assuming at length, +through the birth of sense and intellect, without loss or break +of continuity, the abiding form of fleeting time.</q> (C. J. +Keyser, loc. cit.) +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +It must be emphasized that the development of +higher ideals is due to the <emph>natural</emph> capacity of humanity; +the impulse is simply time-binding impulse. +As we have seen, by analysing the functions of the +different classes of life, every class of life has an +impulse to exercise its peculiar capacity or function. +Nitrogen resists compound combinations and if +found in such combinations it breaks away as quickly +as ever it can. Birds have wings—they fly. Animals +have feet—they run. Man has the capacity of time-binding—he +binds time. It does not matter whether +we understand the very <q>essence</q> of the phenomenon +or not, any more than we understand the <q>essence</q> +of electricity or any other <q>essence.</q> Life shows +that man has time-binding capacity as a natural gift +and is naturally impelled to use it. One of the best +examples is procreation. Conception is a completely +incomprehensible phenomenon in its <q>essence,</q> +nevertheless, having the capacity to procreate +we use it without bothering about its <q>essence.</q> +Indeed neither life nor science bothers about <q>essences</q>—they +leave <q>essences</q> to metaphysics, +which is neither life nor science. It is sufficient for +<pb n="146"/><anchor id="Pg146"/> +our purpose that idealization is in fact a natural +process of time-binding human energy. And however +imperfect ethics has been owing to the prevalence +of animal standards, such merits as our ethics +has had witness to the natural presence of <q>idealization</q> +in time-binding human life. +</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p> +<q>It is thus evident that ideals are not things to gush over +or to sigh and sentimentalize about; they are not what would +be left if that which is hard in reality were taken away; +ideals are themselves the very flint of reality, beautiful no +doubt and precious, without which there would be neither +dignity nor hope nor light; but their aspect is not sentimental +and soft; it is hard, cold, intellectual, logical, austere. Idealization +consists in the conception or the intuition of ideals and +in the pursuit of them. And ideals, I have said, are of two +kinds. Let us make the distinction clearer. Every sort of +human activity—shoeing horses, abdominal surgery, or painting +profiles—admits of a peculiar type of excellence. No sort +of activity can escape from its own type but within its type +it admits of indefinite improvement. For each type there is +an ideal—a dream of perfection—an unattainable limit of +an endless sequence of potential ameliorations within the type +and on its level. The dreams of such unattainable perfections +are as countless as the types of excellence to which they +respectively belong and they together constitute the familiar +world of our human ideals. To share in it—to feel the lure +of perfection in one or more types of excellence, however +lowly—is to be human; not to feel it is to be sub-human. +But this common kind of idealization, though it is very important +and very precious, does not produce the great events +in the life of mankind. These are produced by the kind of +idealization that corresponds to what we have called in the +mathematical prototype, limit-begotten generalization—a kind +<pb n="147"/><anchor id="Pg147"/> +of idealization that is peculiar to creative genius and that, +not content to pursue ideals within established types of excellences, +creates new types thereof in science, in art, in philosophy, +in letters, in ethics, in education, in social order, in +all the fields and forms of the spiritual life of man.</q> (Quoted +from the manuscript of the forthcoming book, <hi rend='italic'>Mathematical +Philosophy</hi>, by Cassius J. Keyser.) +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +<q>Survival of the fittest</q> has a different form for +different classes of life. Applying animal standards +to time-binding beings is like applying inches to +measuring weight. As a matter or fact, we cannot +raise one class to a higher class, unless we add an +entirely new function to the former; we can only +improve their lower status; but if we apply the +reverse method, we can degrade human standards +to animal standards. +</p> + +<p> +Animal standards belong to a class of life whose +capacity is <emph>not</emph> an <emph>exponential</emph> function of <emph>Time</emph>. +There is nothing theological or sentimental in this +fact; it is a purely mathematical truth. +</p> + +<p> +It is fatal to apply the <q>survival of the fittest</q> +theory in the same sense to two radically different +classes of life. The <q>survival of the fittest</q> for animals—for +<emph>space</emph>-binders—is survival <emph>in space</emph>, which +means fighting and other brutal forms of struggle; +on the other hand, <q>survival of the fittest</q> for +human beings <emph>as such</emph>—that is, for <emph>time-binders</emph>—is +survival <emph>in time</emph>, which means intellectual or spiritual +competition, struggle for excellence, for making the +<pb n="148"/><anchor id="Pg148"/> +<emph>best</emph> survive. The-fittest-in-time—those who make +the best survive—are those who do the most in producing +values for all mankind including <emph>posterity</emph>. +This is the scientific base for natural ethics, and +ethics from which there can be no side-stepping, or +escape. +</p> + +<p> +Therefore time-binders can not use <q><emph>animal</emph></q> logic +without degrading themselves from their proper +status as human beings—their status as established +by nature. <q>Animal</q> logic leads to <q>animal</q> ethics +and <q>animal</q> economics; it leads inevitably to +a brutalized industrial system in which cunning +contrives to rob the living of the fruit of the +dead. +</p> + +<p> +<emph>Human</emph> logic points to human ethics and human +economics; it will lead to a humanized industrial system +in which competition will be competition in science, +in art, in justice: a competition and struggle for +the attainment of excellence in human life. The time-binding +capacity, which manifests itself in drawing +from the <hi rend="sc">past</hi>, through the <hi rend="sc">present</hi> +for the <hi rend="sc">future</hi> +gives human beings the means of attaining a precious +kind of immortality; it enables them to fulfill the +law of their own class of life and to survive everlastingly +in the fruits of their toil, a perpetual blessing +to endless generations of the children of men. +This is the truth we instinctively recognize when we +call a great man <q>immortal.</q> We mean that he has +<pb n="149"/><anchor id="Pg149"/> +done deeds that <emph>survive in time</emph> for the perpetual +weal of mankind. +</p> + +<p> +Human logic—mathematical logic, the logic <emph>natural</emph> +for man—will thus show us that <q>good</q> and +<q>just</q> and <q>right</q> are to have their significance +defined and understood entirely in terms of human +<emph>nature</emph>. Human nature—not animal nature—is to +be the basis and guide of Human Engineering. Thus +based and guided, Human Engineering will eliminate +<q>wild-cat schemers,</q> gamblers and <q>politicians.</q> It +will put an end to industrial violence, strikes, insurrections, +war and revolutions. +</p> + +<p> +The present system of social life is largely built +upon misconceptions or misrepresentations. For all +work we need the human brain, the human time-binding +power, yet we continue to call it <q>hand-labor</q> +and treat it as such. Even in mechanical science, +in the use of the term <q>horse-power,</q> we are incorrect +in this expression. How does this <q>horse</q> look +in reality? Let us analyse this <q>horse.</q> All science, +all mechanical appliances have been produced by +<q>man</q> and man alone. Everything we possess is the +production of either dead men's or living men's +work. The enslavement of the solar man-power is +purely a human invention in theory and practice. +Everything we have is evidently therefore a time-binding +product. What perfect nonsense to call a +purely human achievement the equivalent of so much +<pb n="150"/><anchor id="Pg150"/> +<q>horse-power</q>! Of course it does not matter mathematically +what name we give to a unit of power; +we may call it a Zeus or a Zebra; but there is a very +vicious implication in using the name of an animal +to denote a purely human product. Everything in +our civilization was produced by <hi rend="sc">man</hi>; it seems only +reasonable that this unit of power which is the direct +product of Man's work, should be correctly named +after him. The educational effect would be wholesome +and tremendous. The human value in work +would be thus emphasized again and again, and respect +for human work would be taught, from the +beginning in the schools. This <q>horse-power</q> unit +causes us to forget the human part in it and it degrades +human work to the level of a commodity. +This is an example of the degrading influence of +wrong conceptions and wrong language. I said +<q>educational</q> because even our subconscious mind is +affected by this. (See <ref target="Appendix_II">App. II</ref>.) +</p> + +<p> +Human Engineering will not interfere with any +scientific research; on the contrary, it will promote +it in many ways. Grown-ups, it is to be hoped, will +stop the nonsense of intermixing dimensions, for +which we chastise children. It is the same kind of +blundering as when we intermix phenomena—measuring +<q>God</q> by human standards, or human beings +by animal standards. The relationship, if any, between +these phenomena or the overlapping of different +<pb n="151"/><anchor id="Pg151"/> +classes, is interesting and important; but in +studying such relationships of classes, it is fatal to +mix the classes; for example, if we are studying the +relations between surfaces and solids, it is fatal to +mistake solids for surfaces; just so, too, if we stupidly +confuse humans with animals. +</p> + +<p> +In the reality of life, we are interested only in the +values of the function of the phenomena by themselves +and to arrive at right conclusions we have to +use units appropriate to the phenomena. The intermixing +of units gives us a wrong conception of the +values of each phenomenon; the results of our calculations +are wrong and the outcome is a misconception +of the process of human life. The fact once +realized, we will cease applying animal measures to +man; even theology will abandon the monstrous +habit. +</p> + +<p> +Animal units and standards are to be applied to +animals, human standards to man, <q>Divine</q> standards +to <q>God.</q> +</p> + +<p> +In the dark ages, with the complete innocence or +misunderstanding of science, the <q>why</q> of things was +explained by the <q>who</q> of things; therein investigation +culminated; man was regarded as <hi rend='italic'>homo sapiens</hi> +and homo sapiens = animal × spark of <hi rend='italic'>super</hi>natural; +this monstrous formula was accepted as a final +truth—as an answer to the question: What is Man? +This type of answer became in the hands of church +<pb n="152"/><anchor id="Pg152"/> +and state a powerful instrument for keeping the +people in subjection. +</p> + +<p> +The tendency of the masses to let others think for +them is not really a <emph>natural</emph> characteristic—quite the +opposite. The habit of not thinking for one's self +is the result of thousands of years of subjection. +Those in authority, in general, used their ingenuity +to keep the people from thinking. The most vital +reason why many humans appear to be, and are often +called, <q>stupid,</q> is that they have been spoken to in +a language of speculation which they instinctively +dislike and distrust; thus there arose the proverb that +speech was made to conceal the truth. It is no wonder +that they appear <q>stupid,</q> the wonder is that +they are not more <q>stupid.</q> The truth is that they +will be found to be far less stupid when addressed +in the natural language of ascertainable fact. My +whole theory is based upon, and is in harmony with, +the natural feelings of man. The conceptions I introduce +are based on human <emph>nature</emph>. Natural language—so +different from the speech of metaphysical +speculation—will lead to mutual understanding and +the disappearance of warring factions. +</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p> +<q>Discrimination, as the proverb rightly teaches, is the beginning +of mind. The first psychic product of that initial +psychic act is <emph>numerical</emph>: to discriminate +is to produce <emph>two</emph>, +the simplest possible example of multiplicity. The discovery, +or better the invention, better still the production, +best of all the creation, of multiplicity with its correlate of +<pb n="153"/><anchor id="Pg153"/> +number, is, therefore, the most primitive achievement or manifestation +of mind.... Let us, then, trust the arithmetic +instinct as fundamental and, for instruments of thought that +shall not fail, repair at once to the domain of number.</q> (C. +J. Keyser, Loc. Cit.) +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +The thinking few knew the power there is in +<q>thinking</q>; they wanted to have it and to keep the +advantage of it for themselves; witness the late introduction +of public schools. Belief in the inferiority of +the masses became the unwritten law of the <q>privileged +classes</q>; it was forced upon, rubbed into, the +subconscious mind of the masses by church and state +alike, and was humbly and dumbly accepted by the +<q>lower orders</q> as their <q>destiny.</q> Ignorance was +proclaimed as a bliss. +</p> + +<p> +As time went on, this <q>coefficient of ignorance</q> +became so useful to some people and some classes of +people that no effort was spared to keep the world +in ignorance. It gave a legalistic excuse to imprison, +burn and hang people for expressing an opinion +which the ruling classes did not like. The elimination +from church, from school, from universities, of +any teacher, any professor or any minister who dared +to exemplify or encourage fearless investigation and +freedom of speech became very common. It is less +common in our generation, but there remains much +to win in the way of freedom. +</p> + +<p> +Freedom, rightly understood, is the aim of Human +<pb n="154"/><anchor id="Pg154"/> +Engineering. But freedom is not license, it is not +licentiousness. Freedom consists in <emph>lawful</emph> living—in +living in accord with the laws of human <emph>nature</emph>—in +accord with the <emph>natural</emph> laws of Man. A plant +is free when it is not prevented from living and +growing according to the natural laws of plant life; +an animal is free when it is not prevented from living +according to the natural laws of animal life; +human beings are free when and only when they are +not prevented from living in accord with the natural +laws of human life. I say <q>when not prevented,</q> +for human beings will live <emph>naturally</emph> and, therefore, +in freedom, when they are not prevented from thus +living by ignorance of what human nature is and by +artificial social systems established, maintained, and +protected by such ignorance. Human freedom consists +in exercising the time-binding energies of man +in accordance with the natural laws of such natural +energies. Human freedom is thus the aim of Human +Engineering because Human Engineering is to be +the science of human nature and the art of conducting +human affairs in accordance with the laws of +human nature. Survival of the fittest, where <emph>fittest</emph> +means <emph>strongest</emph>, is a <emph>natural</emph> law for brutes, for animals, +for the class of mere <emph>space</emph>-binders. Survival +of the fittest, where <emph>fittest</emph> means <emph>best</emph> in science and +art and wisdom, is a <emph>natural</emph> law for mankind, the +time-binding class of life. +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n="155"/><anchor id="Pg155"/> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" level1="Chapter VIII. Elements Of Power"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="Chapter VIII. Elements Of Power"/> +<head>Chapter VIII. Elements Of Power</head> + +<p> +In the World War Germany displayed tremendous +<emph>power</emph>. Restraining our emotions as much +as possible, let us endeavor to analyse that power +with mathematical dispassionateness. +</p> + +<p> +Why did Germany display more power than any +other single nation? Because in the establishment of +her <q>ethics,</q> her political system, and her economic +structure, Germany availed herself, in larger measure +than any other nation, of scientific achievements +and scientific methods. It is a very common, very +erroneous, and very harmful belief that war was created +solely by a <q>war-lord.</q> Every idea or movement +doubtless originates with somebody but back of +such <q>originations</q> or initiations there are favoring +conditions, forces and impulsions. The stage is set +by life and the ages; the actor enters and the show +begins. In the instance in question, the stage was +set by our whole modern system of civilization. The +war lords were the <q>Deus ex machina</q>—the show +was a real one—a tragedy. +</p> + +<p> +The true origin of this war must be looked for +<pb n="156"/><anchor id="Pg156"/> +in the economic field. Our economic system is the +very complicated result of all our creeds, philosophies +and social customs. It is therefore impossible +to understand the working of the economic forces +without understanding the foundation upon which +this system of forces is based. A short list of works +on the subject is given at the end of this book. A +plain statement here will be enough. +</p> + +<p> +Germany was committed to a policy of indefinite +industrial expansion. This artificial expansion had +reached its limits. Germany was on the verge of +bankruptcy. Only a victorious war could avoid a +national catastrophe; she played her last card, and +lost despite her gigantic power, the greatest ever +displayed by any nation. The leading European +states were not able to overpower her for a long +time. This writing is not intended as an apology +for Germany, much less to praise her or her war +lords. German purposes were nationally narrow +and nationally selfish to the root; her methods were +inhuman but Germany displayed power; and without +the understanding of power, Human Engineering is +impossible. +</p> + +<p> +It is possibly a fault of the writer's military training, +but it seems to him that the <q>General Staff</q> +point of view has as much claim to consideration as +any other among the many different interpretations +of history—perhaps it has more. It is not the primary +<pb n="157"/><anchor id="Pg157"/> +aim of the general staff to <q>fight,</q> very far +from it. Their primary aim is <q>victory</q> and all the +better if victory be possible without a fight. Strategy, +brain-work, intelligence, knowledge of facts—these +are the chief weapons; brutal fighting is only a last +resort. It is highly important to bear that in mind. +Soldiers and engineers do not argue—they act. Germany +affords the first example of a philosophy or a +society having for its main purpose the generating +of power to <q>do things.</q> It seems only reasonable +and intelligent to analyse the history of the war +from the engineer's point of view, which, in this case, +happens to coincide with the military point of view. +It must be clearly understood that the modern general +staff, or military, point of view has very little or +nothing to do with the romance or poetry of war. +War to-day is a grim business—but <q>business</q> before +all else. It has to mobilize all the resources of a +nation and generate power to the limit of its +capacity. The conduct of war to-day is a technological +affair—its methods have to be engineering +methods. To crush an obstacle, there is need of a +giant hammer, and the more mass that can be given +it and the greater the force put behind it, the more +deadly will be the blow. Prior to the World War +technology had not been mobilized on so vast a scale +nor confronted with a task so gigantic. Mobilized +technology has revealed and demonstrated the fact +<pb n="158"/><anchor id="Pg158"/> +that it is possible to generate almost unlimited power +and has shown the way to do it; at the same time +it has demonstrated the measureless potency of engineering +and our utter helplessness without it. Technology +is comparatively a new science; by some it is +called a <q>semi-science</q> because it deals primarily +with the application of science to practical issues. +But when it became necessary <q>to do things,</q> an +engineer had to be called; the general staff had to +adopt his view, and all other practices and traditions +were bent to his ideas. +</p> + +<p> +I have already repeatedly pointed out that the +progress of technology proceeds according to a law +like that of a rapidly increasing geometrical progression, +and I have stressed the danger of inattention +to any phenomena, force or movement that conforms +to such a law. We have only to recollect the story +of the simple but very greedy farmer who was very +happy to make a contract with a laborer for a +month's work, paying him only one cent the first day, +twice as much the second, twice for the third, and so +on to the end. Behold! The bill for the month ran +into millions of dollars and the farmer was ruined. +Such is the deadly secret of the geometrical progression. +Violent readjustments await any society whose +ethics, jurisprudence and the like do not keep pace +with the developments of engineering. +</p> + +<p> +Engineers are the wizards who, using the results +<pb n="159"/><anchor id="Pg159"/> +of scientific research, can subjugate or release the +concealed powers of nature. The supreme factor is +the use of the mind—the exponential function of time—the +time-binding energy of man. From that we +have to take our start because that is the source of +human power. +</p> + +<p> +The German philosophy, as a whole, has its definite +place in the history of philosophy; and the first +thing to consider are those philosophic writers who +directly and indirectly have contributed to the building +up of German power. Hegel greatly affected the +building up of the German mind—strange as it may +seem; but Hegel was greatly under the influence of +the work of Fichte, and Fichte in turn under that of +Spinoza. All of them were, in a way, mathematicians +in their methods and philosophy, as much as +they could be in their time. I said <q>strange,</q> because +it is significant that the mathematical part of +their philosophy was just the part which built up the +German power. But if we look into it, it is not +strange. +</p> + +<p> +It had to be so, because mathematical and mechanical +methods are the only ones by which power +can be understood and built. Hegel in 1805 lectured +on history of philosophy, pure mathematics and natural +law. It would be hard to find a better combination +for a philosophy of power. That is precisely +what this philosophy was. It influenced not only German +<pb n="160"/><anchor id="Pg160"/> +philosophy but even German theology, and +through these channels it sank deep into the national +consciousness. It affected every phase of life. An +immense cult of disciples arose. Each one added +something to that philosophy of power. One of the +most brilliant representatives of this movement is +Professor Oswald, who in his <hi rend='italic'>Monist Sermons</hi> gave +the famous advice: <q>Do not waste energy but give it +value.</q> The German understanding of the great +value of technology directly applied that principle to +their philosophy, law, ethics, politics, and so on. +</p> + +<p> +With increase of population, the problem of the +State becomes more and more pressing. There are +many theories about the state. For the purpose of +the moment it is important to realize that a state +is the governing center of an accumulation of human +beings—of time-binding powers—increasing exponential +functions of time. These powers, though +the same in kind, differ in degree and in respect of +individuality. If they are to be united so as to +constitute a whole, they must be given a common +aim; they must, so to speak, be reduced to a common +base; if they be respectively +<hi rend='italic'>X<hi rend="vertical-align: super">m</hi></hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Y<hi rend="vertical-align: super">n</hi></hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Z<hi rend="vertical-align: super">p</hi></hi>, and +so on, we can not unite them and compute the whole +by adding the exponents; but if we give them a common +base—a common aim or purpose—then we can +readily represent the magnitudes of the whole constituted +by them; if we take <hi rend='italic'>X</hi> to be their common +<pb n="161"/><anchor id="Pg161"/> +aim or base, then, if <hi rend='italic'>Y</hi> = <hi rend='italic'>aX</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Z</hi> = <hi rend='italic'>bX</hi>, and so on, we +shall have: +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>X<hi rend="vertical-align: super">m</hi></hi> × +<hi rend='italic'>Y<hi rend="vertical-align: super">n</hi></hi> × +<hi rend='italic'>Z<hi rend="vertical-align: super">p</hi></hi> ... = +<hi rend='italic'>X<hi rend="vertical-align: super">m</hi></hi> × +<hi rend='italic'>a<hi rend="vertical-align: super">n</hi></hi> × +<hi rend='italic'>X<hi rend="vertical-align: super">n</hi></hi> × +<hi rend='italic'>b<hi rend="vertical-align: super">p</hi></hi> × +<hi rend='italic'>X<hi rend="vertical-align: super">p</hi></hi> ... += (<hi rend='italic'>a<hi rend="vertical-align: super">n</hi></hi> × +<hi rend='italic'>b<hi rend="vertical-align: super">p</hi></hi> +...)<hi rend='italic'>X<hi rend="vertical-align: super">m+n+p</hi></hi> ... +</p> + +<p> +The last expression, where the parenthetical coefficient +is the product of individualities, serves to +represent the united powers of all in terms of <hi rend='italic'>X</hi>, +the common base, purpose or aim. +</p> + +<p> +Let us look at the matter in another way. One +mechanical <q>horse-power</q> is less than the power of +one living horse. One living horse can do more +work than one mechanical horse-power, but in using +more than one living horse at one time we get less +work than by using the same number of mechanical +horse-powers; the reason is very obvious. The mechanical +horse-powers are the same in kind, equal, +and constant, but living horses differ in character, +they are not equal, and each one is a variable. Hence +mechanical horse-powers can be added or multiplied +arithmetically, but the powers of living horses can +not, except very roughly; the living horses of a team +interfere with each other; they do not pull together, +as we say, and energy is lost. +</p> + +<p> +The German mathematical philosophy or theory +of the state did not express itself in just this way, +but the foregoing gives a clue to it. Germany united +the powers of living men and women and children; +<pb n="162"/><anchor id="Pg162"/> +it gave them a common base; it gave them one common +<q>social</q> mood and aim; they all became consolidated +in service of that which is called the State; +they studied and taught for the State; they worked, +lived and died for the State: the State was their idol, +King and God. +</p> + +<p> +Such was the aim of German philosophy, theology, +law and science. The establishment of <hi rend="sc">one aim</hi> for +all was the decisive factor. It is obvious that if we +want to inspire 60 Millions of individuals with one +aim, this aim can not be private or personal. It +must be a higher aim, collective, general, impersonal, +in some way uniting and including all personal aims. +I shall call it simply a <hi rend='italic'>collective</hi> aim. But collective +aims may differ profoundly in kind; out of personal +or egoistic aims there grows a series of collective +aims, increasing in generality, such as: (1) Family +aims; (2) association, congregation, club aims; (3) +class or professional aims; (4) national or race aims; +and finally (5) <hi rend="sc">human aims</hi>—the natural aims for +the time-binding class of life. The fatal error of +German political philosophy was an error of aim—her +aim was too low—too narrow—the welfare of +a state instead of the welfare of Humanity. +</p> + +<p> +In the case of Germany, the national aim was +equivalent to the state aim. German philosophy +made the <q>state</q> equivalent to the <q>good</q> and equivalent +to <q>power.</q> Of course such philosophy influenced +<pb n="163"/><anchor id="Pg163"/> +the whole national life in every detail; in consequence +Germany proclaimed herself the first nation +of the world, and this soon evolved into a plan for +the conquest of the world. The German General +Staff as an institution had, par excellence, as its aim +and first object, <q>power,</q> <q>concentration of power</q> +and <q>efficiency.</q> It took the leadership in all +branches of life and industry. Militarism and industrialism +are almost synonymous from the mechanical +point of view; they are both of them power. They +both have to use the same scientific methods and +in the <emph>present</emph> conditions of the world they are dependent +upon each other, for war cannot be waged +without strong industries. Here we have to face +the fact that geometrically progressing industry can +not live without new markets, which under present +conditions have been largely acquired, directly or indirectly, +by the power of the army; and this has been +the case with Germany. If we curse Germany for +being a <q>military nation</q> we can, with no less justice, +curse her for being a <emph>completely</emph> <q>industrialized +nation.</q> If we add to that her nationally selfish +and narrow national aim, we will readily understand +this <q>world peach.</q> Those who have tasted it know +something of its sweetness. +</p> + +<p> +There is no need to go into further details. Special +books give us all the data. That which is of interest +is the impersonal fact that what was the <emph>strength</emph> +<pb n="164"/><anchor id="Pg164"/> +and <emph>power</emph> of Germany is the best possible illustration +we have had of what science and a sort of mathematical +philosophy are able to accomplish, even +when directed, not to the welfare of Humanity, but +to that of a relatively small group of people. The +above-cited political philosophies had a very pronounced +effect upon Marx. One of the branches of +socialism is the so-called state socialism. State socialists, +as the name indicates, believe that the state should +assume the most important functions in society. It +is obvious that in monarchical countries where <q>god-given</q> +rulers represent the state, such a theory is not +unwelcome, as it gives the rulers an opportunity to +show a sort of <q>advanced liberalism,</q> which serves +to strengthen their power. The astute Bismarck can +not be suspected of being a progressionist in the +modern sense but, being a product of German culture +and philosophy, all his ideals were those of a strong +state. He was a proclaimed advocate of state socialism. +Since 1879 at least, Bismarck was considered +almost the leading spirit of paternal state socialism. +He was a believer and promoter of the close relation +of the state and the railways, keeping always +in view a thorough nationalization which he finally +accomplished. This fact eliminated from German +public life all that phase of corruption which private +ownership of railroads brings in any country, the +railroad being the very life of any country. +</p> + +<pb n="165"/><anchor id="Pg165"/> + +<p> +To sum up: Germany applied the most scientific +methods to build up her national power; she understood +the elements of <q>power,</q> for they were disclosed +to her by her science and her philosophy. She +applied technological methods in every part of her +civil life, and thus built her gigantic power. Her +industrial life followed the military way; her military +strength was built on industrial power. And +so the vicious circle. Germany adopted a <emph>collective</emph> +aim instead of a personal individualistic aim, and +because of this broader aim, she was able to mobilize +and to keep mobilized all her moral, political and +industrial forces for long years before the war. The +direct effect of this system of continuous mobilization +was over-production. For this she desperately +needed new markets. The cheapest and quickest way +to acquire them, if they were not to be grabbed otherwise, +was to conquer them by a victorious war. Her +plans progressed according to the program, all except +the victory in the battle fields. +</p> + +<p> +This war was a calamity of unprecedented magnitude +for the world and it is our duty to study it +dispassionately and learn the lesson of it, if we do +not want to be moral accomplices of this great modern +crime, by letting the world drift into an even +worse catastrophe. We have to arouse ourselves +from our inertia and go to the bottom of this problem +and analyse it ruthlessly, no matter whether the +<pb n="166"/><anchor id="Pg166"/> +analysis be pleasant or not. We must value everyone +of our <q>ten sacred dead</q> at least as much as +we value one rabbit killed in scientific laboratories, +and take the lesson to heart or be prepared for a +repetition of world slaughter. +</p> + +<p> +If Human Engineering had been established long +ago our social system would have been different, our +civilization would have been much higher, this war +would have been avoided. We do not need to delude +ourselves. The World War was the result of badly +balanced social and economic forces. The world +needs other <q>balances of power</q> than such as are +devised by lawyers and politicians, by single-selfish +or group-selfish interests. Humanity is reaching out +for a science and art of human guidance based upon +a right understanding of human nature. +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n="167"/><anchor id="Pg167"/> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" level1="Chapter IX. Manhood Of Humanity"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="Chapter IX. Manhood Of Humanity"/> +<head>Chapter IX. Manhood Of Humanity</head> + +<p> +In a previous chapter I have said that the World +War marks the end of one vast period in the +life of humankind and marks the beginning of +another. It marks the end of Humanity's Childhood +and the beginning of Humanity's Manhood. +</p> + +<p> +Our human Past is a mighty fact of our world. +Many facts are unstable, impermanent, and evanescent—they +are here to-day, and to-morrow they +are gone. Not so with the great fact of our human +Past. Our past abides. +</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p> +<q>It is permanent. It can be counted on. It is nearly +eternal as the race of man. Out of that past we have come. +Into it we are constantly returning. Meanwhile, it is of +the utmost importance to our lives. It contains the <emph>roots</emph> +of all we are, and of all we have of wisdom, of science, of +philosophy, of art, of jurisprudence, of customs and institutions. +It contains the record or ruins of all the experiments +that man has made during a quarter or a half million +years in the art of living in this world.</q> (Keyser, <hi rend='italic'>Human +Worth of Rigorous Thinking</hi>.) +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +In our relation to the past there are three wide-open +ways in which one may be a fool. One of the +ways is the way of ignoring the past—the way of +<pb n="168"/><anchor id="Pg168"/> +remaining blankly ignorant of the human past as the +animals are blankly ignorant of <emph>their</emph> past and so of +drifting through life as animals do, without reference +to the experience of bygone generations. Fools +of this type may be called drifting fools or Drifters. +Another way to be a fool—a very alluring way—is +that of falsifying the past by <emph>idealizing</emph> it—by stupidly +disregarding its vices, misery, ignorance, slothfulness, +and folly, and stupidly magnifying its virtues, +happiness, knowledge, achievements and wisdom; +it is the way of the self-complacent—the way +of those who, being comfortably situated and prosperous, +are opposed to change; the past, they say, +was wise for it produced the present and the present +is good—let us alone. Fools of this type may be +called idolatrous fools, worshiping the Past; or static +fools, contented with the Present; or cowardly fools, +opposed to change, fearful of the Future. A third +way to be a fool—which is also alluring—is the opposite +of the foregoing; it is the way of those who +falsify the past by stupidly and contemptuously disregarding +its virtues, its happiness, its knowledge, +its great achievements, and its wisdom, and by stupidly +or dishonestly magnifying its vices, its misery, +its ignorance, its great slothfulness, and its folly; +it is apt to be the way of the woeful, the unprosperous, +the desperate—especially the way of such as +find escape from the bore of routine life in the excitements +<pb n="169"/><anchor id="Pg169"/> +of unrest, turbulence, and change; the past, +they say, was all wrong, for it produced the present +and the present is thoroughly bad—let us destroy it, +root and branch. Fools of this type may be called +scorning fools, Scorners of the Past; or destroying +fools, Destroyers of the Present; or dynamic fools, +Revelers in the excitements of Change. +</p> + +<p> +Such are the children of folly: (1) Drifting fools—ignorers +of the past—disregarders of race experience—thoughtless +floaters on the shifting currents +of human affairs; (2) Static fools—idealizers of the +past—complacent lovers of the present—enemies of +change—fearful of the future; (3) Dynamic fools—scorners +of the past—haters of the present—destroyers +of the works of the dead—most <emph>modest</emph> of +fools, each of them saying: <q>What ought to be begins +with <emph>Me</emph>; I will make the world a paradise; but my +genius must be free; <emph>now</emph> it is hampered by the existing +<q>order</q>—the bungling work of the past; I will +destroy it; I will start with chaos; we need light—the +Sun casts shadows—I will begin by blotting out +the Sun; then the world will be full of glory—the +light of my genius.</q> +</p> + +<p> +In striking contrast with that three-fold division +of Folly, the counsel of Wisdom is one, and it is +one with the sober counsel of Common Sense. What +is that counsel? What is the united counsel of wisdom +and common sense respecting the past? The +<pb n="170"/><anchor id="Pg170"/> +answer is easy and easy to understand. The counsel +is this: Do not ignore the past but study it—study +it diligently as being the mightiest factor among the +great factors of our human world; endeavor to view +the past justly, to contemplate it as it was and is, +to see it <emph>whole</emph>—to see it in true perspective—magnifying +neither its good nor its evil, neither its +knowledge nor its ignorance, neither its enterprise +nor its slothfulness, neither its achievements nor its +failures; as the salient facts are ascertained, endeavor +to account for them, to find their causes, their favoring +conditions, to explain the facts to understand +them, applying always the question <emph>Why?</emph> Centuries +of centuries of cruel superstition—Why? Centuries +of centuries of almost complete ignorance of natural +law—Why? Centuries of centuries of monstrous +misconceptions of human nature—Why? +Measureless creations, wastings and destructions of +wealth—Why? Endless rolling cycles of enterprise, +stagnation, and decay—Why? Interminable alterations +of peace and war, enslavements and emancipations—Why? +Age after age of world-wide worship +of man-made gods, silly, savage, enthroned by myth +and magic, celebrated and supported by poetry and +the wayward speculations of ignorant "sages"—Why? +Age upon age of world-wide slow developments +of useful inventions, craftsmanship, commerce, +and art—Why? Ages of dark impulsive groping +<pb n="171"/><anchor id="Pg171"/> +before the slow discovery of reason, followed by centuries +of belief in the sufficiency of ratiocination unaided +by systematic observation and experiment—Why? +At length the dawn of scientific method and +science, the growth of natural knowledge, immeasurable +expansion of the universe <emph>in Time</emph> and <emph>in +Space</emph>, belief in the lawfulness of Nature, rapidly +increasing subjugation of natural forces to human +control, growing faith in the limitless progressibility +of human knowledge and in the limitless perfectibility +of human welfare—Why? The widely diverse +peoples of the world constrained by scientific progress +to live together as in one community upon a +greatly shrunken and rapidly shrinking planet, the +unpreparedness of existing ethics, law, philosophy, +economics, politics and government to meet the +exigencies thus arising—Why? +</p> + +<p> +Such I take to be the counsel of wisdom—the simple +wisdom of sober common sense. To ascertain +the salient facts of our immense human past and then +to explain them in terms of their causes and conditions +is not an easy task. It is an exceedingly difficult +one, requiring the labor of many men, of many +generations; but it must be performed; for it is only +in proportion as we learn to know the great facts +of our human past and their causes that we are +enabled to understand our human present, for the +present is the child of the past; and it is only in proportion +<pb n="172"/><anchor id="Pg172"/> +as we thus learn to understand the present +that we can face the future with confidence and competence. +Past, Present, Future—these can not be +understood singly and separately—they are welded +together indissolubly as <emph>one</emph>. +</p> + +<p> +The period of humanity's childhood has been long—300,000 +to 500,000 years, according to the witness +of human relics, ruins and records of the caves and +the rocks—a stretch of time too vast for our imaginations +to grasp. Of that immense succession of +ages, except a minute fraction of it including our own +time, we have, properly speaking, no history; we +have only a rude, dim, broken outline. Herodotus, +whom we call <q>the father of history</q> proper, lived +less than 2500 years ago. What is 2500 years compared +with the whole backward stretch of human +time? We have to say that the father of human +history lived but yesterday—a virtual contemporary +of those now living. Our humankind groped upon +this globe for probably 400,000 years before the +writing of what we call history had even begun. If +we regard history as a kind of <emph>racial memory</emph>, what +must we say of our race's memory? It is like that +of a man of 20 years whose recollection extends +back less than 3 months or like that of a man of 60 +years whose recollection fails to reach any event +of the first 59 years of his life. Owing to the work +of geologists, paleontologists, ethnologists and their +<pb n="173"/><anchor id="Pg173"/> +co-workers, the history of prehistoric man will grow, +just as we know to-day more about the life of mankind +in the time of Herodotus than Herodotus himself +knew. Meanwhile we must try to make the best +use of such historical knowledge of man as we now +possess. +</p> + +<p> +Even if the story of humanity's childhood were +fully recorded in the libraries of the world, it would +not be possible in this brief writing to recount the +story in even the most summary fashion. Except the +tale of recent years, the story is known as I have +said, only in outline, rude, dim and broken, but for +the present purpose this will suffice. Countless multitudes +of details are lost—most of them doubtless +forever. But we need not despair. The really great +facts of our racial childhood—the massive, dominant, +outstanding facts—are sufficiently clear for our +guidance in the present enterprise. And what do we +know? +</p> + +<p> +We know that the period of our human childhood +has been inconceivably long; we know that in +the far distant time, the first specimens of humankind—the +initial members of the time-binding race +of man—were absolutely without human knowledge +of the hostile world in which they found themselves; +we know that they had no conception of what they +themselves were; we know that they had neither +speech nor art nor philosophy nor religion nor science +<pb n="174"/><anchor id="Pg174"/> +nor tools nor human history nor human tradition; +we know, though we to-day can hardly imagine +it, that their <emph>sole</emph> equipment for <emph>initiating</emph> the career +of the human race was that peculiar faculty which +made them human—the capacity of man for binding +time; we know that they actually did that work of +initiation, without any guidance or example, maxim +or precedent; and we know that they were able to do +it just because the power of initiation—the power to +originate—is a time-binding power. +</p> + +<p> +What else do we know of the earliest part of +humanity's childhood? We know that in that far-distant +age, our ancestors—being, not animals, but +human creatures—not only <emph>began</emph> to live in the +human dimension of life—forever above the level of +animals—but <emph>continued</emph> therein, taking not only the +first step, but the second, the third, and so on indefinitely; +we know, in other words, that they were +progressive creatures, that they made advancement; +we know that their progress was <emph>natural</emph> to them—as +natural as swimming is to fishes or as flying is to +birds—for both the impulse and the ability to progress—to +make improvement—to do greater things +by help of things already done—are of the very +nature of the time-binding capacity which makes +humans human. +</p> + +<p> +We know that time-binding capacity—the capacity +for accumulating racial experience, enlarging it, +<pb n="175"/><anchor id="Pg175"/> +and transmitting it for future expansion—is the +peculiar power, the characteristic energy, the definitive +nature, the defining mark, of man; we know +that the mental power, the time-binding capacity, +of our pre-historic ancestors, was the same in <emph>kind</emph> +as our own, if not in degree; we know that it is +natural for this capacity, the highest known agency +of Nature, to produce ideas, inventions, insights, +doctrines, knowledge and other forms of wealth; +we know that progress in what we call civilization, +which is nothing but progress in the production and +right use of material and spiritual wealth, has been +possible and actual simply and solely because the +products of time-binding work not only <emph>survive</emph>, but +naturally tend to propagate their kind—ideas +begetting ideas, inventions leading to other inventions, +knowledge breeding knowledge; we therefore, +know that the amount of progress which a single +generation can make, if it have an adequate supply +of raw material and be unhampered by hostile circumstances, +depends, not only upon its native +capacity for binding time, but also—and this is of +the utmost importance—upon the total progress +made by preceding generations—upon the inherited +fruit, that is, of the time-binding toil of the dead; +accordingly we know that the amount of progress a +single generation can thus make is what mathematicians +call an increasing function of time, and not +<pb n="176"/><anchor id="Pg176"/> +only an increasing function but an increasing <emph>exponential</emph> +function of time—a function like +<hi rend='italic'>PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">T</hi></hi>, as +already explained; we know, too, that the <emph>total</emph> +progress which <hi rend='italic'>T</hi> successive generations can thus +make is: +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>R/R-1</hi>(<hi rend='italic'>PR<hi +rend="vertical-align: super">T-P</hi></hi>) +</p> + +<p> +which is also an increasing exponential function of +time; we know from the differential calculus that +these functions—which represent natural laws, laws +of human <emph>nature</emph>, laws of the time-binding energies +of man—are very remarkable functions—not only do +they increase with time but their <emph>rates</emph> of increase +are also exponential functions of time and so the +rates of increase themselves increase at rates which +are, again, exponential functions, and so on and on +without limit; that, I say, is a marvelous fact, and +it is for us a fact of immeasurable significance; for +it means that the time-binding power of man is such +that, if it be allowed to operate naturally, civilization—the +production and right use of material and +spiritual wealth—will not only grow towards infinity +(as mathematicians say), but will thus grow with +a <emph>swiftness</emph> which is not constant but which itself +grows towards infinity with a swiftness which, again, +is not constant but increases according to the same +law, and so on indefinitely. We thus see, if we will +<pb n="177"/><anchor id="Pg177"/> +only retire to our cloisters and contemplate it, that +the proper life of man <emph>as man</emph> is not life-in-space +like that of animals, but is life-in-time; we thus see +that in distinctively human life, in the life of man +as man, the past is present and the dead survive +destined to greet and to bless the unborn generations: +time, bound-up time, is literally of the core +and substance of civilization. So it has been since +the beginning of man. +</p> + +<p> +We know that the total progress made in the long +course of humanity's childhood, though it is absolutely +great, is relatively small; we know that, compared +with no-civilization, our present civilization is +vast and rich in many ways; we know, however, that, +if the time-binding energies of humanity had been +always permitted to operate unhampered by hostile +circumstances, they would long ere now have produced +a state of civilization compared with which +our present estate would seem mean, meagre, savage. +For we know that those peculiar energies—the civilization-producing +energies of man—far from being +always permitted to operate according to the laws +of their nature, have <emph>never</emph> been permitted so to +operate, but have always been hampered and are +hampered to-day by hostile circumstances. And, if +we reflect, we may know well enough what the +enemies—the hostile circumstances—have been and +are. We know that in the beginning of humanity's +<pb n="178"/><anchor id="Pg178"/> +childhood—in its babyhood, so to speak—there was, +as already said, no <emph>capital</emph> whatever to start with—no +material wealth—no spiritual wealth in the form +of knowledge of the world or the nature of man—no +existing fruit of dead men's toil—no bound-up +time—nothing but wild and raw material, whose +very location, properties and potencies had all to be +discovered; even now, because we have inherited so +much bound-up time and because our imaginations +have been so little disciplined to understand realities, +we can scarcely picture to ourselves the actual conditions +of that far-off time of humanity's babyhood; +still less do we realize that present civilization has +hardly begun to be that of enlightened men. We +know, moreover, that the time-binding energies of +our remote ancestors were hampered and baulked, +in a measure too vast for our imaginations, by immense +geologic and climatic changes, both sudden +and secular, unforeseen and irresistible—by earthquake +and storm, by age-long seasons of flood and +frost and heat and drought, not only destroying both +natural resources and the slowly accumulated products +of by-gone generations but often extinguishing +the people themselves with the centers and abodes of +struggling civilization. +</p> + +<p> +Of all the hostile circumstances, of all the causes +which throughout the long period of humanity's +childhood have operated to keep civilization and +<pb n="179"/><anchor id="Pg179"/> +human welfare from progressing in full accord with +the natural laws of the time-binding energies of man, +the most potent cause and most disastrous, a cause +still everywhere in operation, remains to be mentioned. +I mean human ignorance. I do not mean +ignorance of physical facts and the laws of physical +nature for this latter ignorance is in large measure +the effect of the cause I have in mind. The ignorance +I mean is far more fundamental and far more +potent. I mean human ignorance of <emph>Human Nature</emph>—I +mean man's ignorance of what Man is—I mean +false conceptions of the rightful place of man in the +scheme of life and the order of the world. What +the false conceptions are I have already pointed out. +They are two. One of them is the conception according +to which human beings are animals. The other +one is the conception according to which human +beings have no place in Nature but are hybrids of +natural and <emph>super</emph>natural, animals combined with +something <q>divine.</q> Both of them are characteristic +of humanity's childhood; both of them are erroneous, +and both of them have done infinite harm in +a thousand ways. Whose is the fault? In a deep +sense, it is the fault of none. Man started with no +capital—on knowledge—with nothing but his physical +strength and the natural stirring within of the +capacity for binding time; and so he had to grope. +It is not strange that he was puzzled by himself. It +<pb n="180"/><anchor id="Pg180"/> +is not strange that he thought himself an animal; +for he has animal propensities as a cube has surfaces, +and his animal propensities were so obtrusive, +so very evident to physical sense—he was born, grew, +had legs and hair, ate, ran, slept, died—all just like +animals—while his distinctive mark, his time-binding +capacity, was subtle; it was spiritual; it was not a +<emph>visible organ</emph> but an <emph>invisible function</emph>; it was the +energy called intellect or mind, which the physical +senses do not perceive; and so I say it is not strange—it +is indeed very sad and very pathetic—but it is +not to be wondered at that human beings have falsely +believed themselves to be animals. So, too, of the +rival belief—the belief that humans are neither natural +nor supernatural but are both at once, at once +brutal and divine, hybrid offspring of beast and god. +The belief is monstrous, it is very pathetic and very +sad, but its origin is easy to understand; once invented, +it became a powerful instrument for evil men, +for impostors, but it was not invented by them; it +was only an erroneous result of an honest effort to +understand and to explain. For the obvious facts +created a real puzzle to be explained: On the one +hand, men, women and children—animal-hunting +and animal-hunted human beings—certainly resembled +animals physically in a hundred unmistakable +ways; on the other hand, it became more and +more evident that the same animal-resembling +<pb n="181"/><anchor id="Pg181"/> +human beings could do many things which animals +never did and could not do. Here was a puzzle, a +mystery. Time-binding curiosity demanded an explanation. +What was it to be? Natural science had +not yet arisen; critical conception—conception that +avoids the mixing of dimensions—was in the state of +feeble infancy. It is easy to understand what the +answer had to be—childish and mythical; and so it +was—humans are neither animals nor gods, neither +natural nor <emph>super</emph>natural, they are both at once, a +mixture, a mysterious union of animal with something +<q>divine.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Such, then, are the two rival answers which, in the +long dark, groping course of humanity's childhood, +human beings have given to the most important of +all questions—the question: What is Man? I have +said that the answers, no matter how sincere, no +matter how honestly arrived at, are erroneous, false +to fact, and monstrous. I have said, and I repeat, +that the misconceptions involved in them have done +more throughout the by-gone centuries, and are +doing more to-day, than all other hindering causes, +to hamper and thwart the <emph>natural</emph> activity of the +time-binding energies of man and thus to retard the +<emph>natural</emph> progress of civilization. It is not merely +our privilege, it is our high and solemn duty, to +examine them. To perform the great duty is not an +easy task. The misconceptions in question have come +<pb n="182"/><anchor id="Pg182"/> +down to us from remote antiquity; they have not +come down singly, separately, clean-cut, clear and +well-defined; they have come <emph>entangled</emph> in the complicated +mesh of traditional opinions and creeds that +constitute the vulgar <q>philosophy</q>—the mental fog—of +our time. If we are to perform the duty of +examining them we have first of all to draw them +forth, to disengage them from our inherited tangle +of beliefs and frame them in suitable words; we have +next to bring ourselves to realize vividly and keenly +that the conceptions, thus disentangled and framed, +are in fact, whether they be true or false, at the +very heart of the social philosophy of the world; +we have in the third place to detect the fundamental +character of the blunder involved in them—to see +clearly and coldly wherein they are wrong and why +they are ruinous; we have, finally, to trace, if we can, +their deadly effects both in the course of human +history and in the present status of our human world. +</p> + +<p> +The task of disengaging the two monstrous misconceptions +from the tangled skein of inherited beliefs +and framing them in words, I have already +repeatedly performed. Let us keep the results in +mind. Here they are in their nakedness: (1) +Human beings—men, women, and children—are +animals (and so they are natural): (2) human +beings are neither natural nor <emph>super</emph>natural, neither +wholly animal nor wholly <q>divine,</q> but are <emph>both</emph> +<pb n="183"/><anchor id="Pg183"/> +natural and <emph>super</emph>natural <emph>at once</emph>—a sort of mysterious +hybrid compound of brute and gods. +</p> + +<p> +The second part of our task—which is the reader's +task as much as mine—is not so easy; and the reason +is evident. It is this: The false creeds in question—the +fatal misconceptions they involve—are so +<emph>familiar</emph> to us—they have been so long and so deeply +imbedded in our thought and speech and ways of +life—we have been so thoroughly <emph>bred</emph> in them by +home and school and church and state—that we +<emph>habitually</emph> and <emph>unconsciously</emph> take them for granted +and have to be virtually <emph>stung</emph> into an awareness of +the fact that we do actually hold them and that they +do actually reign to-day throughout the world and +have so reigned from time immemorial. We have, +therefore, to shake ourselves awake, to <emph>prick</emph> ourselves +into a realization of the truth. +</p> + +<p> +I assume that the reader is at once hard-headed, +rational, I mean, and interested in the welfare of +mankind. If he is not, he will not be a <q>reader</q> +of this book. He, therefore, knows that the third +task—the task of detecting and exposing the fundamental +error of the misconceptions in question—is +a task of the utmost importance. What is that error? +It is, I have said, an error in logic. But logical +errors are not all alike—they are of many kinds. +What is the <q>kind</q> of <emph>this</emph> one? It is the kind that +consists in what mathematicians call <q>confusion of +<pb n="184"/><anchor id="Pg184"/> +types,</q> or <q>mixing of dimensions.</q> The answer can +not be made too clear nor too emphatic, for its importance +in the criticism of <emph>all</emph> our thinking is great +beyond measure. There are millions of examples +that help to make the matter clear. I will again +employ the simplest of them—one so simple that a +child can understand it. It is a mathematical example, +as it ought to be, for the whole question of +logical types, or dimensions, is a mathematical one. +I beg the reader not to shy at, or run away from, +the mere word mathematical, for, although most of +us have but little mathematical <emph>knowledge</emph>, we all of +us have the mathematical <emph>spirit</emph>, for else we should +not be human—we are all of us mathematicians <emph>at +heart</emph>. Let us, then, proceed confidently and at once +to our simple example. Here is a <emph>surface</emph>, say a +<emph>plane</emph> surface. It has length and breadth—and so +it has, we say, <emph>two</emph> dimensions; next consider a <emph>solid</emph>, +say a <emph>cube</emph>. It has length, breadth and thickness—and +so <emph>it</emph> has, we say, <emph>three</emph> dimensions. Now we +notice that the cube <emph>has</emph> surfaces and so <emph>has certain +surface properties</emph>. Do we, therefore, say that a +solid <emph>is</emph> a surface? That the cube is a member of +the class of surfaces? If we did, we should be fools—type-confusing +fools—dimension-mixing fools. +That is evident. Or suppose we notice that solids +have certain <emph>surface</emph> properties and certain properties +that surfaces do <emph>not</emph> have; and suppose we say +<pb n="185"/><anchor id="Pg185"/> +the <emph>surface</emph> properties of solids are <emph>natural</emph> but the +other properties are so mysterious that they must +be <q><emph>super</emph>natural</q> or somehow <q>divine</q>; and suppose +we then say that solids are unions, mixtures, +compounds or hybrids of surfaces and something +divine or <emph>super</emph>natural; is it not evident that, if we +did that, we should be again blundering like fools? +Type-confusing fools? Dimension-mixing fools? +That such would be the case any one can see. Let +us now consider animals and human beings, and let +us look squarely and candidly at the facts. To get +a start, think for a moment of plants. Plants are +living things; they take, transform and appropriate +the energies of sun, soil, and air, but they have <emph>not</emph> +the <emph>autonomous</emph> power to move about in space; we +may say that plants constitute the lowest order or +class or type or dimension of life—the dimension +<emph>one</emph>; plants, we see are binders of the <emph>basic</emph> energies +of the world. What of animals? Like the plants, +animals, too, take in, transform and appropriate the +energies of sun, soil and air, though in large part +they take them in forms already prepared by the +plants themselves; but, <emph>unlike</emph> the plants, animals +possess the <emph>autonomous</emph> power to move about in +space—to creep or crawl or run or swim or fly—it +is thus evident that, compared with plants, animals +belong to a higher order, or higher class, or higher +type, or higher dimension of life; we may therefore +<pb n="186"/><anchor id="Pg186"/> +say that the type of animal life is a type of <emph>two</emph> +dimensions—a two-dimensional type; I have called +them space-binders because they are distinguished, or +marked, by their autonomous power to move about +in space, to abandon one place and occupy another +and so to appropriate the natural fruits of many +localities; the life of animals is thus a life-in-space +in a sense evidently not applicable to plants. And +now what shall we say of <emph>Man</emph>? Like the animals, +human beings have indeed the power of mobility—the +autonomous power to move—the capacity for +binding space, and it is obvious that, if they possessed +no capacity of higher order, men, women and +children would indeed be animals. But what are +the facts? The facts, if we will but note them and +reflect upon them, are such as to show us that the +chasm separating human nature from animal nature +is even wider and deeper than the chasm between +animal life and the life of plants. For man improves, +animals do not; man progresses, animals do +not; man invents more and more complicated tools, +animals do not; man is a creator of material and +spiritual wealth, animals are not; man is a builder +of civilization, animals are not; man makes the <emph>past +live in the present and the present in the future</emph>, +animals do not; man is thus a <emph>binder of time</emph>, animals +are not. In the light of such considerations, if +only we will attend to their mighty significance, it +<pb n="187"/><anchor id="Pg187"/> +is as clear as anything can be or can become, that +the life of man—the time-binder—is as radically distinct +from that of animals—mere space-binders—as +animal life is distinct from that of plants or +as the nature of a solid is distinct from that of +a surface, or that of a surface from that of a line. +It is, therefore, perfectly manifest that, when we regard +human beings as animals or as mixtures of animal +nature with something mysteriously <emph>super</emph>natural, +we are guilty of the same <emph>kind</emph> of blunder as if we +regarded animals as plants or as plants touched by +<q>divinity</q>—the same <emph>kind</emph> of blunder as that of regarding +a solid as a surface or as a surface miraculously +transfigured by some mysterious influence from +outside the universe of space. It is thus evident that +our guilt in the matter is the guilt of a blunder that +is <emph>fundamental</emph>—a confusing of types, a mixing of +dimensions. +</p> + +<p> +Nothing can be more disastrous. For what are +the consequences of that kind of error? Let the +reader reflect. He knows that, if our ancestors had +committed that kind of error regarding lines and +surfaces and solids, there would to-day be no science +of geometry; and he knows that, if there were no +geometry, there would be no architecture in the +world, no surveying, no railroads, no astronomy, no +charting of the seas, no steamships, no engineering, +nothing whatever of the now familiar world-wide +<pb n="188"/><anchor id="Pg188"/> +affairs made possible by the scientific conquest of +space. I say again, let the reader reflect; for if he +does not, he will here miss the gravity of a most +momentous truth. He readily sees, in the case supposed, +how very appalling the consequences would +have been if, throughout the period of humanity's +childhood, there had occurred a certain confusion +of types, a certain mixing of dimensions, and he is +<emph>enabled</emph> to see it just because, happily, the blunder +was <emph>not</emph> made or, if made, was not persisted in, for, +if it had been made and persisted in, then the great +and now familiar things of which it would have deprived +the world would not be here; we should not +now be able even to imagine them, and so we could +not now compute even roughly the tremendous magnitude +of the blunder's disastrous consequences. Let +the reader not deviate nor falter nor stagger here; +let him shoulder the burden of the mighty argument +and bear it to the goal. He easily perceives the truly +appalling consequences that <emph>would</emph> have inevitably +followed from the error of confusing types—the +error of mixing dimensions—in the matter of lines +and surfaces and solids, <emph>if</emph> that error had been +committed and persisted in throughout the centuries; +he <emph>can</emph> perceive those consequences just +because the error was <emph>not</emph> made and hence the +great things of which (had the blunder been made) +it would have deprived the world are here, so that +<pb n="189"/><anchor id="Pg189"/> +he can say: <q>Behold those splendid things—the +science of geometry and its manifold applications +everywhere shining in human affairs—imagine all of +them gone, imagine the world if they had never been, +and you will have a measure of the consequences that +would have followed violation of the law of types, +the law of dimensions, in the matter of lines, surfaces +and solids.</q> But, now, in regard to the exactly similar +error respecting the nature of man, the situation +is reversed; for this blunder, unlike the other one, +is not merely hypothetical; we have seen that it was +actually committed and has been actually persisted in +from time immemorial; not merely for years or for +decades or for centuries but for <emph>centuries</emph> of <emph>centuries</emph> +including our own day, it has lain athwart the course +of human progress; age after age it has hampered +and baulked the natural activity of the time-binding +energies—the civilization-producing energies—of +humanity. How are we to estimate its consequences? +Let the reader keep in mind that the error is fundamental—a +type-confusing blunder (like that supposed +regarding geometric entities); let him reflect, +moreover, that it affects, not merely one of our human +concerns, but <emph>all</emph> of them, since it is an error regarding +the <emph>center</emph> of them all—regarding the very <emph>nature</emph> +of man himself; and he will know, as well as anything +can be known, that the consequences of the +ages-old blunder have been and are very momentous +<pb n="190"/><anchor id="Pg190"/> +and very terrible. Their measure is indeed beyond +our power; we cannot describe them adequately, we +cannot delineate their proportions, for we cannot +truly imagine them; and the reason is plain: it is that +those advancements of civilization, those augmentations +of material and spiritual wealth, all of the +glorious achievements of which the tragic blunder +has deprived the world, are none of them here; they +have not been produced; and so we cannot say, as in +the other case: <q>Look upon these splendid treasures +of bound-up time, imagine them taken away, and +your sense of the appalling loss will give you the +measure required.</q> It is evident that the glories of +which the misconceptions of human nature have deprived +manhood must long remain, perhaps forever, +in the sad realm of dreams regarding great and noble +things that might have been. +</p> + +<p> +I have said that the duty of examining the misconceptions +imposes upon us four obligations. Three +of these we have performed: we have disengaged the +beliefs in question from the complicated tangle of +opinions in which they have come down to us from +remote antiquity; we have recognized the necessity +and the duty of virtually stinging ourselves into an +awareness of the fact that we have actually held +them for true and that from time immemorial they +have poured their virus into the heart of ethics, economics, +politics and government throughout the +<pb n="191"/><anchor id="Pg191"/> +world; we have seen not only that the beliefs are +false but that their falseness is due to a blunder of +the most fundamental kind—the blunder of mixing +dimensions or confusing types. As already said, the +fourth one of the mentioned tasks is that of tracing, +if we can, the blunder's deadly effects both in human +history and in the present status of the world. We +have just reached the conclusion that this task cannot +be <emph>fully</emph> performed; for there can be no doubt, +as we have seen, that, if the blunder had not been +committed and persisted in, the world would now +possess a civilization so far advanced, so rich in the +spiritual fruits of time and toil, as to be utterly +beyond our present power to conceive or imagine it. +</p> + +<p> +But, though we cannot perform the task fully, our +plight is far from hopeless. The World War has +goaded us into thinking as we never thought before. +It has constrained us to think of realities and especially +to think of the supreme reality—the reality +of Man. That is why the great Catastrophe marks +the close of humanity's childhood. The period has +been long and the manner of its end is memorable +forever—a sudden, flaming, world-wide cataclysmic +demonstration of fundamental ignorance—human +ignorance of human nature. It is just that tragic +<emph>demonstration</emph>, brutal as an earthquake, pitiless as +fate or famine, that gives us ground for future hope. +It has forced us to think of realities and it is thought +<pb n="192"/><anchor id="Pg192"/> +of reality that will heal the world. And so I say +that these days, despite their fear and gloom, are the +beginning of a new order in human affairs—the order +of permanent peace and swift advancement of human +weal. For we know at length what human beings +are, and the knowledge can be taught to men and +women and children by home and school and church +and press throughout the world; we know at length, +and we can teach the world, that man is neither an +animal nor a miraculous mixture of angel and beast; +we know at length, and we can teach, that, throughout +the centuries, these monstrous misconceptions +have made countless millions mourn and that they +are doing so to-day, for, though we cannot compute +the <emph>good</emph> of which they have <emph>deprived</emph> mankind, +we can trace the dark ramifications of their positive +<emph>evil</emph> in a thousand ways; we know at length, and we +can teach, that man, though he is not an animal, +is a natural being, having a definite place, a rank +of his own, in the hierarchy of natural life; we know +at length, and we can teach the world, that what +is <emph>characteristic</emph> of the human class of life—that +which makes us <emph>human</emph>—is the power to create +material and spiritual wealth—to beget the light of +reasoned understanding—to produce civilization—it +is the unique capacity of man for binding time, uniting +past, present and future in a <emph>single growing +reality</emph> charged at once with the surviving creations +<pb n="193"/><anchor id="Pg193"/> +of the dead, with the productive labor of the living, +with the rights and hopes of the yet unborn; we +know at length, and we can teach, that the <emph>natural</emph> +rate of human progress is the rate of a swiftly increasing +exponential function of time; we know, and +we can teach, that what is good in <emph>present</emph> civilization—all +that is precious in it, sacred and holy—is +the fruit of the time-binding toil struggling blindly +through the ages against the perpetual barrier of +human ignorance of human nature; we know at +length, we can teach, and the world will understand, +that in proportion as we rid our ethics and social +philosophy of monstrous misrepresentations of +human nature, the time-binding energies of humanity +will advance civilization in accordance with their +natural law <hi rend='italic'>PR<hi rend="vertical-align: super">T</hi></hi>, +the forward-leaping function of time. +</p> + +<p> +Such knowledge and such teaching will inaugurate +the period of humanity's manhood. It can be made +an endless period of rapid developments in True +civilization. All the developments must grow out +of the true conception of human beings as constituting +the time-binding class of life, and so the work +must begin with a campaign of education wide +enough to embrace the world. The cooperation of +all educational agencies—the home, the school, the +church, the press—must be enlisted to make known +the fundamental truth concerning the nature of man +<pb n="194"/><anchor id="Pg194"/> +so that it shall become the guiding <emph>light</emph> and <emph>habit</emph> +of men, women, and children everywhere. Gradual +indeed but profound will be the transformations +wrought in all the affairs of mankind, but especially +and first of all in the so-called arts and sciences of +ethics, economics, politics and government. +</p> + +<p> +The ethics of humanity's manhood will be neither +<q>animal</q> ethics nor <q><emph>super</emph>natural</q> ethics. It will be +a natural ethics based upon a knowledge of the laws +of human nature. It will not be a branch of zoology, +the ethics of tooth and claw, the ethics of profiteering, +the ethics of space-binding beasts fighting for <q>a +place in the sun.</q> It will be a branch of humanology, +a branch of Human Engineering; it will be a +time-binding ethics, the ethics of the entirely natural +civilization-producing energies of humanity. Whatever +accords with the natural activity of those energies +will be <emph>right</emph> and <emph>good</emph>; whatever does not, will +be <emph>wrong</emph> and <emph>bad</emph>. <q>Survival of the fittest</q> in the +sense of the <emph>strongest</emph> is a space-binding standard, +the ethical standard of beasts; in the ethics of +humanity's manhood survival of the fittest will mean +survival of the <emph>best</emph> in competitions for excellence, +and excellence will mean time-binding excellence—excellence +in the production and right use of material +and spiritual wealth—excellence in science, in art, in +wisdom, in justice, in promoting the weal and protecting +the rights both of the living and of the unborn. +<pb n="195"/><anchor id="Pg195"/> +The ethics that arose in the dark period of +humanity's childhood from the conception of human +beings as mysterious unions of animality and divinity +gave birth to two repulsive species of traffic—traffic +in men regarded as animals, fit to be slaves, and +traffic in the <q>supernatural,</q> in the sale of indulgences +in one form or another and the <q>divine wisdom</q> +of ignorant priests. It is needless to say that +in the natural ethics of humanity's manhood those +species of commerce will not be found. +</p> + +<p> +And what shall we say in particular of economics, +of <q>industry,</q> <q>business as usual,</q> and the <q>finance</q> +of <q>normalcy</q>? There lies before me an established +handbook of <hi rend='italic'>Corporation Finance</hi>, by Mr. E. +S. Mead, Ph.D. (Appleton, N. Y.), whose purpose +is not that of adverse criticism but is that of showing +the generally accepted <q>sound</q> bases for prosperous +business. I can hardly do better than to ask the +reader to ponder a few extracts from that work, +showing the established, and amazing theories, for +then I have only to say that in the period of humanity's +manhood the moral blindness of such <q>principles,</q> +their space-binding spirit of calculating selfishness +and greed, will be regarded with utter loathing as +slavery is regarded to-day. Behold the picture: +</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p> +<q>Since the bondholder is solely interested in the security +of his principal, and regular payment of his interest, and +since both security and interest depend upon the permanence +<pb n="196"/><anchor id="Pg196"/> +of income, other things being equal the companies with the +most stable earnings or a market ... furnish the best +security for bonds. Stability of earnings depends upon (1) +the possession of a monopoly.... <emph>Monopoly is exclusive +or dominant control over a market. The more complete +this control, the more valuable is the monopoly.</emph> The advantage +of monopoly lies in the fact that the prices of services +or commodities are controlled by the producers (<emph>meaning +owners—Author</emph>), rather than by the consumer.... Monopolies +are of various origins. The most familiar are (1) +franchises, the right to use <emph>public property</emph> for +<emph>private purposes</emph>, +for example, the furnishing of light, water and transportation, +(2) <emph>control of sources of raw material</emph> ... , (3) +patents, ... (4) high cost of duplicating plant.... In +manufacturing industries, for example, those enterprises +which <emph>produce raw materials</emph> and the <emph>necessities of life</emph> have +a more stable demand.... Railroads furnish perhaps the +best basis of bond issue because of the stability of the demand +for the transportation service ... the high cost of duplicating +the railroad plant, ... enables them to fix their +rates on freight and passenger traffic.... The security of +the creditors is here the profitableness of the business <emph>which +is carried on in the factory</emph>. Furthermore, a business is not +an aggregate of physical property but consists of physical +property—buildings, boilers, machine tools—plus an industrial +opportunity, plus the organization and ability to operate +business.</q> (Italics indicated by the author.) +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +There we see the animal standards in their studied +perfection. Comment would be superfluous. +</p> + +<p> +In the period of humanity's manhood, the so-called +<q>science</q> of economics, the <q>dismal science</q> +of political economy, will become a genuine science +based upon the laws of the time-binding energies of +<pb n="197"/><anchor id="Pg197"/> +humanity; it will become the light of Human Engineering—promoter, +guardian, and guide of human +weal. For it will discover, and will teach that a +<emph>human</emph> life, a time-binding life, is not merely a <emph>civilized</emph> +life but a <emph>civilizing</emph> life; it will know and will +teach that a civilizing life is a life devoted to the +production of potential and kinetic use-values—to the +creation, that is, of material and spiritual wealth; +it will know and will teach that wealth—both material +and spiritual wealth—is a natural phenomenon—offspring +of the marriage of Time and human +Toil; it will know and will teach that the wealth in +the world at any given moment is almost wholly the +<emph>inherited</emph> fruit of time and the labor of the dead; +and so it will ask: To whom does the inheritance +rightly belong? Does it of right belong to Smith +and Brown? If so, <emph>why</emph>? Or does it of right belong +to man—to humanity? If so, <emph>why</emph>? And what does +<q>humanity</q> include? Only the living, who are relatively +few? Or both the living and unborn? The +Economics of humanity's manhood will not only ask +these questions but it will answer them and answer +them aright. In seeking the answers, it will discover +some obvious truths and many old words will acquire +new meanings consistent with the time-binding nature +of man. It will discover and will teach that the +time-binders of a given generation are <emph>posterity</emph> and +<emph>ancestry</emph> at once—posterity of the dead, ancestry of +<pb n="198"/><anchor id="Pg198"/> +all the generations to come; it will discover and will +teach that in this time-binding double relationship +uniting past and future in a single living growing +Reality, are to be found the obligations of time-binding +ethics and the seat of its authority; economics +will know and will teach that <emph>human</emph> posterity—time-binding +posterity—can not inherit the fruits of +time and dead men's toil <emph>as animals inherit the wild +fruits of the earth, to fight about them and to devour +them</emph>, but only as <emph>trustees</emph> for the generations to +come; it will know and will teach that "capitalistic" +lust to <emph>keep</emph> for <hi rend="sc">self</hi> and +<q>proletarian</q> lust to <emph>get</emph> +for <hi rend="sc">self</hi> are both of them <emph>space-binding</emph> lust—animal +lust—beneath the level of time-binding life. +The economics of humanity's manhood will know and +will teach that the characteristic energies of man as +man are by <emph>nature</emph> civilizing energies, wealth-producing +energies, time-binding energies, the peaceful +energies of inventive mind, of growing knowledge +and understanding and skill and light; it will know +and will teach that these energies of existing men +united with one billion six hundred million available +<q>sun-man</q> powers united with the ten billion living +<q>man-powers of the dead,</q> if they be not wasted +by ignorance and selfishness, by conflict and competition +characteristic of beasts, are more than sufficient +to produce a high order of increasing prosperity +<pb n="199"/><anchor id="Pg199"/> +everywhere throughout the world; in the +period of its manhood economics will discover and +will teach that to produce world prosperity, cooperation—not +the fighting of man against man—but +the peaceful cooperation of all is both <emph>necessary</emph> and +sufficient; it will know and will teach that such cooperation +demands <emph>scientific</emph> leadership and a common +<emph>aim</emph>; it will know, however, and will teach, for the +lesson of Germany is plain, that scientific knowledge +and a common aim are not alone sufficient; it will +know and teach and all will understand that the +common aim, the unifying principle, the basis of cooperation, +cannot be the welfare of a family nor that +of a province or a state or a race, but must be the +welfare of <emph>all</emph> mankind, the prosperity of humanity, +the weal of the world—the peaceful production of +Wealth without the destruction of War. +</p> + +<p> +In humanity's manhood, patriotism—the love of +country—will not perish—far from it—it will grow +to embrace the world, for your country and mine +will be the world. Your <q>state</q> and mine will be +the Human State—a Cooperative Commonwealth +of Man—a democracy in fact and not merely in +name. It will be a natural organic embodiment of +the civilizing energies—the wealth-producing energies—characteristic +of the human class of life. Its +larger affairs will be guided by the science and art +<pb n="200"/><anchor id="Pg200"/> +of Human Engineering—not by ignorant and grafting +<q>politicians</q>—but by scientific men, by honest +men who <emph>know</emph>. +</p> + +<p> +Is it a dream? It <emph>is</emph> a dream, but the dream will +come true. It is a scientific dream and science will +make it a living reality. +</p> + +<p> +How is the thing to be done? No one can foresee +all the details, but in general outline the process is +clear. Violence is to be avoided. There must be a +period of transition—a period of adjustment. A +natural first step would probably be the establishment +of a new institution which might be called a +Dynamic Department—Department of Coordination +or a Department of Cooperation—the name is +of little importance, but it would be the <emph>nucleus</emph> of +the new civilization. Its functions would be those +of encouraging, helping and protecting the people +in such cooperative enterprises as agriculture, manufactures, +finance, and distribution. +</p> + +<p> +The Department of Cooperation should include +various sections, which might be as follows: +</p> + +<p> +(1) <hi rend='italic'>The Section of Mathematical Sociology</hi> or +<hi rend='italic'>Humanology</hi>: composed of at least one sociologist, +one biologist, one mechanical engineer, and one mathematician. +Their work would be the development +of human engineering and mathematical sociology +or humanology; promoting the progress of science; +providing and supervising instruction in the theory +<pb n="201"/><anchor id="Pg201"/> +of values and the rudiments of humanology for elementary +schools and the public at large. <emph>The members +of the section would be selected by the appropriate +scientific societies for a term fixed by the selectors.</emph> +</p> + +<p> +(2) <hi rend='italic'>The Section of Mathematical Legislation</hi>: +composed of (say) one lawyer, one mathematician, +one mechanical engineer, selected as above. Their +task would be to recommend legislation, to provide +means for eliminating <q>Legalism</q> from the theory +and practice of law, and to bring jurisprudence into +accord with the laws of time-binding human nature +and the changing needs of human society. Their +legislative proposals, if ratified in a joint session +of sections (1) and (2), would then be recommended +to the appropriate legislative bodies. +</p> + +<p> +(3) <hi rend='italic'>The Educational Section</hi>: composed of two +or three teachers, one sociologist, one mechanical +engineer, one mathematician, selected as above. +They would elaborate educational projects and revise +school methods and books; their decisions being subject +to the approval of the joint session of sections +(1), (2), and (3). +</p> + +<p> +(4) <hi rend='italic'>The Cooperative Section</hi>: composed of +mechanical engineers, chemical engineers, production +engineers, expert bookkeepers, accountants, +business managers, lawyers and other specialists in +their respective lines. This section would be an <q>Industrial +<pb n="202"/><anchor id="Pg202"/> +Red Cross</q> (Charles Ferguson) giving expert +advice when asked for by any cooperative +society. +</p> + +<p> +(5) <hi rend='italic'>The Cooperative Banking Section</hi>: composed +of financial experts, sociologists, and mathematicians; +its task being to help with expert advice new +cooperative people's banks. +</p> + +<p> +(6) <hi rend='italic'>The Promoters' Section</hi>: composed of engineers +whose duty would be to study all of the +latest scientific facts, collect data, and elaborate +plans. Those plans would be published, and no private +person, but only cooperative societies, would be +permitted by law to use them. The department +would also study and give advice respecting the general +conditions of the market and the needs in the +various lines of production. This section would regulate +the duplication of production. +</p> + +<p> +(7) <hi rend='italic'>The Farming Section</hi>: composed of specialists +in scientific and cooperative agriculture. +</p> + +<p> +(8) <hi rend='italic'>The Foreign Section</hi>: for inter-cooperative +foreign relations. +</p> + +<p> +(9) <hi rend='italic'>The Commercial Section</hi>. +</p> + +<p> +(10) <hi rend='italic'>The News Section</hi>: to edit a large daily +paper giving <emph>true</emph>, <emph>uncolored</emph> news with a special +supplement relating to progress in the work of +Human Engineering. This paper would give daily +news about the whole cooperative movement, markets, +etc., etc. +</p> + +<pb n="203"/><anchor id="Pg203"/> + +<p> +All men selected to the places for this work +should be the very best men in the nation. They +should be well paid to enable them to give their full +energy and time to their duties. All the selections +for this work should be made in the same manner +as mentioned above—through proven merits not +clever oratory. Such appointments should be considered +the highest honor that a country can offer +to its citizens. Every selection should be a demonstration +that the person selected was a person of the +highest attainments in the field of his work. +</p> + +<p> +The outline of this plan is vague; it aims merely +at being suggestive. Its principal purpose is to +accentuate the imperative necessity of establishing a +national time-binding agency—a Dynamic Department +for stimulating, guiding and guarding the +civilizing energies, the wealth producing energies, +the time-binding energies, in virtue of which human +beings are human. For then and only then human +welfare, unretarded by monstrous misconceptions of +human nature, by vicious ethics, vicious economics +and vicious politics, will advance peacefully, continuously, +and rapidly, under the leadership of human +engineering, happily and without fear, in accord with +the exponential law—the <emph>natural</emph> law—of the time-binding +energies of Man. +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n="204"/><anchor id="Pg204"/> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" level1="Chapter X. Conclusion"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="Chapter X. Conclusion"/> +<head>Chapter X. Conclusion</head> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p> +<q>In Europe we know that an age is dying. Here it +would be easy to miss the signs of coming changes, but +I have little doubt that it will come. A realization of +the <emph>aimlessness</emph> of life lived to labor and to die, having +achieved nothing but avoidance of starvation, and the +birth of children also doomed to the weary treadmill, +has seized the minds of millions.</q> +<hi rend='italic'>Sir Auckland Geddes, British Ambassador to the U. S. 1920.</hi> +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +In conclusion let me say very briefly, as I said in +the beginning, that this little book has aimed to +be only a sketch. The Problem of Life is old. I +have endeavored to approach it afresh, with a new +method, in a new spirit, from a new point of view. +The literature of the subject is vast. It displays +great knowledge and skill. Much of it is fitted to +inform and to inspire such as really read with a +genuine desire to understand. Its weakness is due +to the absence of a true conception of what human +beings are. That is what I miss in it and it is that +lack of fundamental and central thought that I have +striven to supply. If I have succeeded in that, I +have no fear—all else will follow quickly, inevitably, +as a matter of course. For a fundamental conception, +once it is formed and expressed, has a strange +power—the power of enlisting the thought and cooperation +<pb n="205"/><anchor id="Pg205"/> +of many minds. And no conception can +have greater power in our human world than a <emph>true</emph> +conception of the nature of Man. For that most +important of truths the times are ripe; the world +is filled with the saddest of memories, with gloom, +forebodings and fear. Without the truth in this +matter, there can be no rational hope—history must +go on in its dismal course; but <emph>with</emph> the truth, there +is not only hope but certitude that the old order has +passed and that humanity's manhood dates from the +present day. That I have here presented the truth +in this matter—the true conception of the human +class of life—I have personally no doubt; and I have +no doubt that that conception is to be the base, the +guide, the source of light, of a new civilization. +Whether I am mistaken or not, time will decide. I +feel as Buckle felt in writing his <hi rend='italic'>History of Civilization</hi>: +</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p> +<q>Whether or not I have effected anything of real value ... +is a question for competent judges to decide. Of this, at +least, I feel certain, that whatever imperfections may be +observed, the fault consists, not in the method proposed, but +in the extreme difficulty of any single man putting into full +operation all the parts of so vast a scheme. It is on this +point, and on this alone, that I feel the need of great indulgence. +But, as to the plan itself, I have no misgivings. Of +defects in its execution I am not unconscious. I can only +plead the immensity of the subject, the shortness of a single +life and the imperfection of every single enterprise. I, therefore, +wish this work to be estimated, not according to the +<pb n="206"/><anchor id="Pg206"/> +finish of its separate parts, but according to the way in which +those parts have been fused into a complete and symmetrical +whole. This, in an undertaking of such novelty and magnitude, +I have a right to expect, and I would moreover, add, +that if the reader has met with opinions adverse to his own, +he should remember, that his views are, perhaps, the same +as those which I too once held, and which I have abandoned, +because, after a wider range of study, I found them unsupported +by solid proof, subversive of the interest of Man, and +fatal to the progress of his knowledge. To examine the +notions in which we have been educated, and to turn aside +from those which will not bear the test, is a task so painful, +that they who shrink from the sufferings should pause before +they reproach those by whom the suffering is undergone.... +Conclusions arrived at in this way are not to be overturned +by stating that they endanger some other conclusions; nor +can they be even affected by allegation against their supposed +tendency. The principles which I advocate are based upon +distinct arguments supported by well ascertained facts. The +only points, therefore, to be ascertained, are, whether the +arguments are fair, and whether the facts are certain. If +these two conditions have been obeyed, the principles follow +by an inevitable inference.</q> +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +And why have I sought throughout to follow the +spirit of mathematics? Because I have been dealing +with ideas and have desired, above all things else, +to be right and clear. Ideas have a character of their +own—they are right or wrong independently of our +hopes and passions and will. In the connection of +ideas there is an unbreakable thread of destiny. That +is why in his <hi rend='italic'>Mathematical Philosophy</hi> Professor +Keyser has truly said: +</p> + +<pb n="207"/><anchor id="Pg207"/> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p> +<q>Mathematics is the study of Fate—not fate in a physical +sense, but in the sense of the binding thread that connects +thought with thought and conclusions with their premises. +Where, then, is our freedom? What do you love? Painting? +Poetry? Music? The muses are <emph>their</emph> fates. Whoso +loves them is free. Logic is the muse of Thought.</q> +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +No doubt mathematics is truly impersonal in +method; too impersonal maybe to please the sentimentalists +before they take the time to think; mathematical +analysis of life phenomena elevates our +point of view above passion, above selfishness in any +form, and, therefore, it is the only method which can +tell us genuine truths about ourselves. Spinosa even +in the 17th Century had well realized this fact and +although imperfect in many ways, his was an effort in +the right direction and this quoted conclusion may +well be a conclusion for ourselves in the 20th century: +</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p> +<q>The truth might forever have remained hid from the +human race, if mathematics, which looks not to the final cause +of figures, but to their essential nature and the properties +involved in it, had not set another type of knowledge before +them.... When I turned my mind to this subject, I did +not propose to myself any novel or strange aim, but simply +to demonstrate by certain and indubitable reason, those things +which agree best with practice. And in order that I might +enquire into the matters of the science with the same freedom +of mind with which we are wont to treat lines and +surfaces in mathematics; I determined not to laugh or to +weep over the actions of men, but simply to understand them; +and to contemplate their affections and passions, such as love, +hate, anger, envy, arrogance, pity and all other disturbances +<pb n="208"/><anchor id="Pg208"/> +of soul not as vices of human nature, but as properties pertaining +to it in the same way as heat, cold, storm, thunder +pertain to the nature of the atmosphere. For these, though +troublesome, are yet necessary, and have certain causes +through which we may come to understand them, and thus, +by contemplating them in their truth, gain for our minds +much joy as by the knowledge of things that are pleasing to +the senses.</q> +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +If only this little book will <emph>initiate</emph> the scientific +study of Man, I shall be happy; for then we may +confidently expect a science and art that will know +how to direct the energies of man to the advancement +of human weal. +</p> + +<p> +What else? Many topics have not even been +broached. Time-binding energy—what may it not +achieve in course of the aeons to come? What light +may it not yet throw upon such fundamental phenomena +as <emph>Space</emph>, <emph>Time</emph>, <emph>Infinity</emph>, and so on? What, +if any, are the limits of Time-binding? In it are +somehow involved all the higher functions of mind. +Is Time identical with Intelligence? Is either of +them the other's cause? Is Time <emph>in</emph> the Cosmos or +is the latter in the former? Is the Cosmos intelligent? +Many no doubt and marvelous are the fields +which the scientific study of man will open for +research. +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n="209"/><anchor id="Pg209"/> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" level1="Appendix I. Mathematics And Time-Binding"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="Appendix I. Mathematics And Time-Binding"/> +<anchor id="Appendix_I"/> +<head>Appendix I. Mathematics And Time-Binding</head> + +<p> +The purpose of this appendix is to give an expression of +some new ideas which evolve directly out of the fact +that humans are time-binders and which may serve as suggestions +for the foundation of <hi rend='italic'>scientific psychology</hi>. The +problem is of exceeding difficulty to give expression to in any +form and therefore much more difficult to express in any +exact or correct form, and so I beg the reader's patience in +regard to the language because some of the ideas are in themselves +correct and sometimes very suggestive in spite of the +language used. I am particularly interested that mathematicians, +physicists and metaphysicians should read it carefully, +forgive me the form, and look into the suggestions, because +scientific psychology if such a science is to exist, would by +necessity have to be a branch of physics. I particularly beg +the mathematicians and physicists not to discard this appendix +with too hasty a judgment of <q>Oh! metaphysics,</q> and also +the metaphysicians not to do the same with an equally hasty +judgment <q>Oh! mathematics.</q> I hope that if this appendix +is sympathetically understood, mathematicians and physicists +will be moved to investigate the problem. If mathematicians +and physicists would be more tolerant toward metaphysics +and if metaphysicians would be moved to study mathematics, +both would find tremendous fields to work in. +</p> + +<p> +Some scientists are very pedantic and therefore intolerant +in their pedantry and they may say <q>the fellow should learn +first how to express himself and then ask our attention.</q> My +answer is that the problems involved are too pressing, too +vital, too fundamental for humankind, to permit me to delay +<pb n="210"/><anchor id="Pg210"/> +for perhaps long years before I shall be able to present the +subject in a correct and satisfactory form, and also that the +problems involved cover too vast a field for a single man +to work it conclusively. It seems best to give the new ideas +to the public in a suggestive form so that many people may +be led to work on them more fully. +</p> + +<p> +The old word <q>metaphysics</q> is an illegitimate child of +ignorance and an unnecessary word in the scientific study of +nature. Every phenomenon of nature can be classed and +studied in physics or chemistry or mathematics; the problem, +therefore, is not in any way <emph>super</emph>natural or <emph>super</emph>physical, +but belongs rather to an unknown or an undeveloped branch +of physics. The problem, therefore, may be not that of some +<emph>new</emph> science, but rather that of a new branch of mathematics, +or physics, or chemistry, etc., or all combined. +</p> + +<p> +It is pathetic that only after many aeons of human existence +the dimensionality of man has been discovered and his +proper status in <emph>nature</emph> has been given by the definition +of <q>time-binder.</q> The old metaphysics, in spite of its being +far from exact, accomplished a great deal. What prevented +metaphysics from achieving more was its use of unmathematical +method, or, to be more explicit, its failure to understand +the importance of dimensions. Metaphysics used words +and conceptions of multi-dimensional meanings which of necessity +resulted in hopeless confusion, in <q>a talking</q> about +words, in mere verbalism. An example will serve to make +this clear. If we were to speak of a cow, a man, an automobile, +and a locomotive as <q>pullers,</q> and if we were not +to use any other names in connection with them, what would +happen? If we characterized these things or beings, by one +common characteristic, namely, <q>to pull,</q> havoc would be +introduced into our conceptions and in practical life; we +would try to milk an automobile or we would try to extract +gasoline from a cow, or look for a screw in a man, or we +would speculate about any or all of these things. Too obviously +<pb n="211"/><anchor id="Pg211"/> +nonsensical—but exactly the same thing happens, in a +much more subtle way, when we use such words as <q>life in +a crystal</q> or <q>memory in animals</q>; we are thus mentally +making a mistake no less nonsensical than the talk of <q>milking +an automobile</q> would be. Laymen are baffled by the +word dimension. They imagine that dimensions are applicable +only to space, which is three dimensional, but they are +mistaken; a moving object is four-dimensional—that is, it +has three dimensions as any object at rest, but, when the +object is moving, a fourth dimension is necessary to give its +<emph>position</emph> at any one instant. We see, therefore, that a moving +body has four dimensions, and so on. As a matter of +fact, scientific psychology will very much need mathematics, +but a special <emph>humanized</emph> mathematics. Can this be produced? +It seems to me that it can. +</p> + +<p> +It is a well known fact that experimental sciences bring +us to face facts which require further theoretical elaboration; +in this way experimental sciences are a permanent source of +inspiration to mathematicians because new facts bring about +the need of new methods of analysis. +</p> + +<p> +In this book a new and experimental fact has been disclosed +and analysed. It is the fact that humanity is a time-binding +class of life where the time-binding capacity or the +time-binding <hi rend="sc">energy</hi> is the highest function of humanity, +including all the so-called mental, spiritual, will, etc., powers. +In using the words mental, spiritual, and will powers, I deliberately +accept and use them in the popular, ordinary sense +without further analysing them. +</p> + +<p> +Once the word and concept <emph>Time</emph> enters, the ground for +analysis and reasoning at once becomes very slippery. Mathematicians, +physicists, etc., may feel that the expression is just +a <q>well adapted one,</q> and they may not be very much +inclined to look closer into it or attentively to analyse it. +Theologians and metaphysicians probably will speculate a +great deal about it vaguely, with undefined terms and incoherent +<pb n="212"/><anchor id="Pg212"/> +ideas with incoherent results; which will not lead us +toward a scientific or true solution, but will keep us away +from the discovery of truth. +</p> + +<p> +In the meantime two facts remain facts: namely, mathematicians +and physicists have almost all agreed with Minkowski +<q>that space by itself and time by itself, are mere +shadows, and only a kind of blend of the two exists in its +own right.</q> The other fact—psychological fact—is that <emph>time</emph> +exists psychologically by itself, undefined and not understood. +One chief difficulty is always that humans have to sit in +judgment upon their own case. The psychological time as +such, is our own human time; scientific time as such, is also +our own human time. Which one of them is the best concept—which +one more nearly corresponds to the truth about +<q>time</q>? What is time (if any) anyway? Until now we +have gone from <q>Cosmos</q> to <q>Bios,</q> from <q>Bios</q> to +<q>Logos,</q> now we are confronted with the fact that +<q>Logos</q>—Intelligence—and +Time-binding are dangerously near to +akin to each other, or may be identical. Do we in this way +approach or go back to <q>Cosmos</q>? Such are the crucial +questions which arise out of this new concept of Man. One +fact must be borne in mind, that <q>the principles of dynamics +appeared first to us, as experimental truths; but we have been +obliged to use them as definitions. It is by definition that +force is equal to the product of mass by acceleration, or that +action is equal to reaction.</q> (<hi rend='italic'>The Foundation of Science</hi>, +by Henri Poincaré); and mathematics also has its whole +foundation in a few axioms, <q>self evident,</q> but <emph>psychological +facts</emph>. It must be noted that the time-binding energy—the +higher or highest energies of man (one of its branches anyway, +for sake of discrimination let us call it <q><hi rend='italic'>M</hi></q>) when it +works properly, that is, mathematically, does <emph>not</emph> work +<emph>psychologically</emph> but works +<hi rend="sc">abstractly</hi>: the higher the abstraction +the less there is of the psychological element and +the more there is, so to say, of the pure, impersonal time-binding +<pb n="213"/><anchor id="Pg213"/> +energy (<hi rend='italic'>M</hi>). The definition of a man as a time-binder—a +definition based on facts—suggests many reflections. +One of them is the possibility that one of the functions +of the time-binding energy in its pure form, in the +highest abstraction (<hi rend='italic'>M</hi>), works automatically—machine-like, +as it were, shaping <emph>correctly</emph> the product of its activity, +but whether <emph>truly</emph> is another matter. Mathematics does not +presume that its conclusions are true, but it does assert that +its conclusions are correct; that is the inestimable value of +mathematics. This becomes a very comprehensive fact if we +approach and analyse the mathematical processes as some +branch (<hi rend='italic'>M</hi>) of the time-binding process, which they are; +then this process at once becomes impersonal and cosmic, +because of the time-binding involved in it, no matter what +<emph>time</emph> is (if there is such a thing as time). +</p> + +<p> +Is the succession of cosmos, bios, logos, time-binding taking +us right back to cosmos again? Now if we put <emph>psychological</emph> +axioms into the time-binding apparatus, it will thrash out +the results <emph>correctly</emph>, but whether the results are <emph>true</emph> is +another question. +</p> + +<p> +To be able to talk about these problems I have to introduce +three new definitions, which are introduced only for +practical purposes. It may happen that after some rewording +these definitions may become scientific. +</p> + +<p> +I will try to define <q>truth</q> and for this purpose I will +divide the concept <q>truth</q> into three types: +</p> + +<p> +(1) Psychological, or private, or relative truth, by which +I will mean such conceptions of the truth as any one +person possesses, but different from other types of truth +(α<hi rend="vertical-align: sub">1</hi>, +α<hi rend="vertical-align: sub">2</hi>, ... +α<hi rend="vertical-align: sub">n</hi>) +</p> + +<p> +(2) Scientific truth (α<hi rend="vertical-align: sub">s</hi>), +by which I will mean a psychological +truth when it is approved by the time-binding faculties +or apparatus in the present stage of our development. +This scientific truth represents the <q>bound-up-time</q> in our +present knowledge; and finally, +</p> + +<pb n="214"/><anchor id="Pg214"/> + +<p> +(3) The absolute truth, which will be the <emph>final definition</emph> +of a phenomenon based upon the final knowledge of <emph>primal +causation valid in infinity</emph>. +</p> + +<p> +For simplicity's sake I will use the signs +α<hi rend="vertical-align: sub">1</hi>, +α<hi rend="vertical-align: sub">2</hi>, ... +α<hi rend="vertical-align: sub">n</hi> for the +<q>psychological,</q> <q>private,</q> or <q>relative</q> truths, between +which, for the moment, I will not discriminate. +</p> + +<p> +α<hi rend="vertical-align: sub">s1</hi>, +α<hi rend="vertical-align: sub">s2</hi>, ... +α<hi rend="vertical-align: sub">sn</hi>, +will be used for scientific truths, and finally +α<hi rend="vertical-align: sub">infinity</hi> +for the absolute truth valid in infinity. +</p> + +<p> +To make it easier to explain, I will illustrate the suggestions +by an example. Let us suppose that the human time-binding +capacities or energies in the <emph>organic</emph> chemistry correspond +to radium in the <emph>inorganic</emph> chemistry; being of course +of different dimensions and of absolutely different character. +It may happen, for it probably is so, that the complex time-binding +energy has many different stages of development and +different kinds of <q>rays</q> <hi rend='italic'>A</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>B</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>C</hi>, ... <hi rend='italic'>M</hi>.... +</p> + +<p> +Let us suppose that the so-called mental capacities are the +<hi rend='italic'>M</hi> rays of the time-binding energy; the <q>spiritual</q> +capacities, the <hi rend='italic'>A</hi> rays; the <q>will</q> powers, the +<hi rend='italic'>B</hi> rays; and so on. Psychological +truths will then be a function of all rays together, +namely <hi rend='italic'>A</hi> <hi rend='italic'>B</hi> <hi rend='italic'>C</hi> ... +<hi rend='italic'>M</hi> ... or <hi rend='italic'>f</hi> (<hi rend='italic'>A</hi> +<hi rend='italic'>B</hi> <hi rend='italic'>C</hi> ... <hi rend='italic'>M</hi> ...), +the character of any <q>truth</q> in question will largely depend +upon which of these elements prevail. +</p> + +<p> +If it were possible to isolate completely from the other +rays the <q>mental</q> process—the <q>logos</q>—the +<hi rend='italic'>M</hi> rays—and +have a complete abstraction (which in the present could only +be in mathematics), then the work of <hi rend='italic'>M</hi> could be compared +to the work of an impersonal machine which always gives +the same <emph>correctly</emph> shaped product <emph>no matter what is</emph> the +material put into it. +</p> + +<p> +It is a fact that mathematics is correct—impersonal—passionless. +Again, as a matter of fact, all the basic axioms +which underlie mathematics are "psychological axioms"; +therefore it may happen that these "axioms" are not of the +α<hi rend="vertical-align: sub">infinity</hi> +type but are of the <hi rend='italic'>f</hi> (<hi rend='italic'>A</hi> +<hi rend='italic'>B</hi> <hi rend='italic'>C</hi> ...) personal type and +<pb n="215"/><anchor id="Pg215"/> +this may be why mathematics cannot account for psychological +facts. If psychology is to be an <emph>exact science</emph> it must be +mathematical in principle. And, therefore, mathematics must +find a way to embrace psychology. Here I will endeavor to +outline a way in which this can be done. To express it +correctly is more than difficult: I beg the mathematical reader +to tolerate the form and look for the sense or even the feelings +in what I attempt to express. To make it less shocking +to the ear of the pure mathematician, I will use for the +<q>infinitesimals</q> the words <q>very small numbers,</q> for the +<q>finite</q> the words <q>normal numbers</q> and for the <q>transfinite</q> +the words <q>very great numbers.</q> Instead of using +the word <q>number</q> I will sometimes use the word <q>magnitude</q> +and under the word <q>infinity</q> I will understand the +meaning as <q>limitless.</q> The base of the whole of mathematics +or rather the starting point of mathematics was +<q>psychological truths,</q> axioms concerning normal numbers, +and magnitudes that were tangible for the senses. Here to +my mind is to be found the kernel of the whole trouble. The +<emph>base</emph> of mathematics was <hi rend='italic'>f</hi> +(<hi rend='italic'>A</hi> <hi rend='italic'>B</hi> <hi rend='italic'>C</hi> ... +<hi rend='italic'>M</hi> ...); the <emph>work</emph>, +or the development, of mathematics is <hi rend='italic'>f</hi> +(<hi rend='italic'>M</hi>); this is the +reason for the <q>ghosts</q> in the background of mathematics. +The <hi rend='italic'>f</hi> (<hi rend='italic'>M</hi>) evolved from this +<hi rend='italic'>f</hi> (<hi rend='italic'>A</hi> <hi rend='italic'>B</hi> +<hi rend='italic'>C</hi> ... <hi rend='italic'>M</hi> ...) <emph>base</emph> +a wonderful abstract theory absolutely correct for the normal, +the very small, and for the very great numbers. But the +rules which govern the small numbers, the normal, or psychological +numbers, and the great numbers, are not the same. +As a matter of fact, in the meantime, the physical world, +the psychological world, is composed exclusively of very great +numbers and of very small magnitudes (atoms, electrons, +etc.). It seems to me that, if we want really to understand +the world and man, we shall have to start from the beginning, +from 0, then take the next very small number as the first +<emph>finite</emph> or <q>normal number</q>; then the old finites or the normal +numbers would become very great numbers and the old very-great +<pb n="216"/><anchor id="Pg216"/> +numbers would become the very great of the second +order and so on. Such transposed mathematics would become +psychological and philosophic mathematics and mathematical +philosophy would become philosophic mathematics. The +immediate and most vital effect would be, that the <emph>start</emph> +would be made not somewhere in the middle of the magnitudes +but from the beginning, or from the limit <q>zero,</q> +from the <q>0</q>—from the intrinsic <q>to be or not to be</q>—and +the next to it would be the very first small magnitude, +the physical and therefore psychological continuum (I use +the words physical continuum in the way Poincaré used them) +would become a mathematical continuum in this new philosophic +mathematics. This new branch of philosophic, psychological +mathematics would be absolutely rigorous, correct and +<emph>true</emph> in addition to which, maybe, it would change or enlarge +and make humanly tangible for the layman, the concept of +numbers, continuum, infinity, space, time and so on. Such +a mathematics would be the mathematics for the time-binding +psychology. Mathematical philosophy is the highest philosophy +in existence; nevertheless, it could be changed to a +still higher order in the way indicated here and become philosophic +or psychological mathematics. This new science, of +course, would not change the ordinary mathematics for +ordinary purposes. It would be a special mathematics for the +study of Man dealing only with the <q>natural finites</q> (the +old infinitesimals) and great numbers of different orders +(including the normal numbers), but starting from a real, +common base—from 0, and next to it very small number, +which is a common <emph>tangible</emph> base for <emph>psychological</emph> as well +as <emph>analytical</emph> truths. +</p> + +<p> +This new philosophic mathematics would eliminate the +concept of <q>infinitesimals</q> as such, which is an <emph>artificial</emph> concept +and is not as a <emph>concept</emph> an element of Nature. The so-called +<emph>infinitesimals are Nature's real, natural finites</emph>. In +mathematics the infinitesimals were an analytical—an +<q><hi rend='italic'>M</hi></q>—time-binding—necessity, +<pb n="217"/><anchor id="Pg217"/> +because of our starting point. I +repeat once again that this transposition of our starting point +would not affect the normal mathematics for normal purposes; +it would build rather a new philosophic mathematics +rigorously correct where analytical facts would be also psychological +facts. This new mathematics would not only give +correct results but also <emph>true</emph> results. Keeping in mind <emph>both</emph> +conceptions of time, the scientific time and the psychological +time, we may see that the human capacity of <q>Time-binding</q> +is a very practical one and that this time-binding faculty is a +<emph>functional</emph> name and definition for what we broadly mean +by human <q>intelligence</q>; which makes it obvious that time +(in any understanding of the term) is somehow very closely +related to intelligence—the mental and spiritual activities +of man. <emph>All we know about <q>time</q> will explain to us a +great deal about Man, and all we know about Man will +explain to us a great deal about time</emph>, if we consider <emph>facts</emph> +alone. The <q>ghosts</q> in the background will rapidly vanish +and become intelligible facts for philosophic mathematics. +The most vital importance, nevertheless, is that taking zero +as the limit and the next to it very small magnitude for the +real starting point, it will give us a mathematical science from +a natural base where <emph>correct</emph> formulas will be also true formulas +and will correspond to psychological truths. +</p> + +<p> +We have found that man is an exponential function where +time enters as an exponent. If we compare the formula for +organic growth <hi rend='italic'>y==e<hi rend="vertical-align: super">kt</hi></hi>, +with the formula <q><hi rend='italic'>P +R<hi rend="vertical-align: super">T</hi></hi>,</q> we see +that they are of the same type and the <emph>law of organic growth</emph> +applies to the human <emph>time-binding energy</emph>. We see, too, that +the time-binding energy is also <q><emph>alive</emph></q> and multiplying in +larger and larger families. The formula for the decomposing +of radium is the same—only the exponent is negative +instead of positive. This fact is indeed very curious and suggestive. +Procreation, the organic growth, is also some function +of time. I call <q>time-linking</q> for the sake of difference. +<pb n="218"/><anchor id="Pg218"/> +Whether the energy of procreation or that of +<q>time-linking</q> can be accounted for in units of chemical +energy taken up in food, I do not know. Not so with the +mind—this <q>time-binding,</q> higher exponential energy, <q>able +to direct basic powers.</q> If we analyse this energy, free from +any speculation, we will find that this higher energy which +is somehow directly connected with <q>time</q>—no matter what +time is—is able to <emph>produce</emph>, by transformation or by drawing +on other sources of energy, new energies unknown +to nature. Thus the solar energy transformed into coal +is, for instance, transformed into the energy of the drive +of a piston, or the rotary energy in a steam engine, and +so on. It is obvious that no amount of <emph>chemical</emph> energy +in food can account for such an energy as the time-binding +energy. There is only one supposition left, namely, that the +time-binding apparatus has a source for its tremendous energy +in the <emph>transformation of organic atoms</emph>, and—what is very +characteristic—the results are <emph>time</emph>-binding energies. +</p> + +<p> +This supposition is almost a certainty because it seems to +be the only possible supposition to account for that energy. +This supposition, which seems to be the only supposition, +would bring us to face striking facts, namely, the transformation +of organic atoms, which means a direct drawing upon +the cosmic energy; and this cosmic energy—time—and intelligence +are somehow connected—if not indeed equivalent. +Happily these things can be verified in scientific laboratories. +Radium was discovered only a few years ago and is still +very scarce, but the results for science and life are already +tremendous because scientific methods were applied in the +understanding and use of it. We did not use any zoological +or theological methods, but just direct, correct and scientific +methods. There is no scarcity in <q>human radium,</q> but, to +my knowledge, physicists have never attempted to study this +energy from that point of view. I am confident that, if once +they start, there will be results in which all the so-called +<pb n="219"/><anchor id="Pg219"/> +<q>supernatural, spiritual, psychic</q> phenomena, such as are not +fakes, will become scientifically understood and will be consciously +utilized. Now they are mostly wasted or only +played with. It may happen that the science of Man—as +the science of time-binding—will disclose to us the inner and +final secrets—the final truth—of nature, valid in infinity. +</p> + +<p> +It is very difficult to give in such a book as this an adequate +list of the literature which may help to orient the +reader in a general way in the great advance science has +made in the last few years. This book is a pioneer book in +its own way, and so there are no books dealing directly with +its subject. There are two branches of science and one art +which are fundamental for the further development of the +subject; these two sciences are (1) Mathematical philosophy +and (2) Scientific biology, the art is the art of creative engineering. +</p> + +<p> +In mathematical philosophy there are to my knowledge only +four great mathematical writers who treat the subject as a +distinct science. They are two English scientists, Bertrand +Russell and A. N. Whitehead; one Frenchman, Henri Poincaré +(deceased); and one American, Professor C. J. Keyser. +Messrs. Russell and Whitehead approach the problems from +a purely logical point of view and therein lies the peculiar +value of their work. Henri Poincaré was a physicist (as +well as a mathematician) and, therefore, approaches the problems +somewhat from a physicist's point of view, a circumstance +giving his philosophy its particular value. Professor +Keyser approaches the problems from both the logical and +the warmly human points of view; in this is the great human +and practical value of his work. +</p> + +<p> +These four scientists are unique in their respective elaborations +and elucidations of mathematical philosophy. It is not +for me to advise the reader what selections to make, for if +a thorough knowledge of the subject is desired the reader +should read all these books, but not all readers are willing +<pb n="220"/><anchor id="Pg220"/> +to make that effort toward clear thinking (which in the +meantime will remain of the <emph>highest</emph> importance in science). +Some readers will wish to select for themselves and to facilitate +their selection I will lay out a <q>Menu</q> of this intellectual +feast by giving in some cases the chapter heads. +</p> + +<p> +For many temporary reasons I was not able, before going +into print, to give a fuller list of the writings of those four +unique men; but there is no stroke of their pen but which +should be read with great attention—besides which there is +a very valuable literature about their work. +</p> + +<div> +<head>(1) The purely mathematical foundation:</head> + +<div> +<head><hi rend="sc">Russell, Bertrand.</hi></head> + +<p> +<q>The Principles of Mathematics.</q> Cambridge University, +1903. +</p> + +<p> +(I am not giving any selections from the contents of +this book because this book should, without doubt, +be read by every one interested in mathematical +philosophy.) +</p> + +<p> +<q>The Problems of Philosophy.</q> H. Holt & Co., N. Y., +1912. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Our Knowledge of the External World, as a Field for +Scientific Method in Philosophy.</q> Chicago, 1914. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Introduction to Mathematical Philosophy.</q> Macmillan, +N. Y. +</p> + +<p> +Selection from contents: +Definition of number. The Definition of order. +Kinds of relations. Infinite cardinal numbers. Infinite +series and ordinals. Limits and continuity. +The axiom of infinity and logical types. Classes. +Mathematics and logic. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Mysticism and Logic.</q> Longmans Green & Co. 1919. +N. Y. +</p> + +<p> +Selection from contents: +Mathematics and the metaphysicians. On scientific +method in philosophy. The ultimate constituents +of matter. On the notion of cause. +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n="221"/><anchor id="Pg221"/> + +<div> +<head><hi rend="sc">Whitehead, Alfred N.</hi></head> + +<p> +<q>An Introduction to Mathematics.</q> Henry Holt & Co. +1911. N. Y. +</p> + +<p> +<q>The Organization of Thought Educational and Scientific.</q> +London, 1917. +</p> + +<p> +Selections from contents: +The principles of mathematics in relation to elementary +teaching. The organization of thought. The +anatomy of some scientific ideas. Space, time, and +relativity. +</p> + +<p> +<q>An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Natural +Knowledge.</q> Cambridge, 1919. +</p> + +<p> +Selection from contents: +The traditions of science. The data of science. The +method of extensive abstraction. The theory of +objects. +</p> + +<p> +<q>The Concept of Nature.</q> Cambridge, 1920. +</p> + +<p> +Selection from contents: +Nature and thought. Time. The method of extensive +abstraction. Space and motion. Objects. The +ultimate physical concepts. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Principia Mathematica.</q> By A. N. Whitehead and +Bertrand Russell. Cambridge, 1910-1913. +</p> + +<p> +This monumental work stands alone. <q>As a work +of constructive criticism it has never been surpassed. +To every one and especially to philosophers and men +of natural science, it is an amazing revelation of how +the familiar terms with which they deal plunge their +roots far into the darkness beneath the surface of +common sense. It is a noble monument to the critical +spirit of science and to the idealism of our time.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Human Worth of Rigorous Thinking.</q> C. J. Keyser. +</p> + +</div> + +</div> + +<div> +<head>(2) The physicist's point of view:</head> + +<div> +<head><hi rend="sc">Poincaré, Henri.</hi></head> + +<p> +<q>The Foundations of Science.</q> The Science Press, +N. Y., 1913. +</p> + +<p> +Selection from contents: +Science and hypothesis. Number and magnitude. +<pb n="222"/><anchor id="Pg222"/> +Space. Force. Nature. II. The value of science. +The mathematical sciences. The physical sciences. +The objective value of science. III. Science and +method. Science and the scientist. Mathematical reasoning. +The new mechanics. Astronomic science. +</p> + +</div> + +</div> + +<div> +<head>(3) The human, civilizing, practical life, point of view:</head> + +<div> +<head><hi rend="sc">Keyser, Cassius J.</hi></head> + +<p> +<q>Science and Religion: The Rational and the Super-rational.</q> +The Yale University Press. +</p> + +<p> +<q>The New Infinity and the Old Theology.</q> The Yale +University Press. +</p> + +<p> +<q>The Human Worth of Rigorous Thinking.</q> Essays +and Addresses. Columbia University Press, 1916. +</p> + +<p> +Selection from contents: +The human worth of rigorous thinking. The human +significance of mathematics. The walls of the world; +or concerning the figure and the dimensions of the +Universe of space. The universe and beyond. The +existence of the hypercosmic. The axiom of infinity: +A new presupposition of thought. Research in American +Universities. Mathematical productivity in the +United States. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Mathematical Philosophy, the Study of Fate and Freedom. +Lectures for Educated Laymen.</q> Forthcoming +Book. +</p> + +<p> +Selection from contents of general interest: +The mathematical obligations of philosophy. Humanistic +and industrial education. Logic the muse of +thought. Radiant aspects of an over-world.—Verifiers +and falsifiers. Significance and nonsense.—Distinction +of logical and psychological. A diamond +test of harmony.—Distinction of doctrine and method.—Theoretical +and practical doubt.—Mathematical +philosophy in the rôle of critic. A world uncriticised—the +garden of the devil. <q>Supersimian</q> Wisdom. +Autonomous truth and autonomous falsehood. Other +Varieties of truth and untruth. Mathematics as the +study of fate and freedom. The prototype of reasoned +discourse often disguised as in the Declaration +of Independence, the Constitution of the United +<pb n="223"/><anchor id="Pg223"/> +States, the Origin of Species, the Sermon on the Mount.—Nature +of mathematical transformation. No transformation, +no thinking. Transformation law essentially +psychological, Relation function and transformation +as three aspects of one thing. Its study, +the common enterprise of science. The static and +the dynamic worlds. The problem of time and +kindred problems. Importation of time and suppression +of time as the classic devices of sciences.—The +nature of invariance. The ages-old problem of +permanence and change. The quest of what abides +in a fluctuant world as the binding thread of human +history. The tie of comradeship among the enterprises +of human spirit.—The concept of a group. +The notion simply exemplified in many fields, is +<q>Mind</q> a group. The philosophy of the cosmic +year.—Limits and limit processes omnipresent as +ideals and idealization, in all thought and human +aspiration. Ideals the flint of reality.—Mathematical +infinity, its dynamic and static aspects. Need of +history of the Imperious concept. The rôle of infinity +in a mighty poem.—Meaning of dimensionality. +Distinction of imagination and conception. Logical +existence and sensuous existence. Open avenues to +unimaginable worlds.—The theory of logical types. +A supreme application of it to definition of man, and +the science of human welfare.—The psychology of +mathematics and the mathematics of psychology. +Both of them in their infancy. Consequent retardation +of science. The symmetry of thought. The +asymmetry of imagination.—Science and engineering. +Science as engineering in preparation. Engineering +as science in action. Mathematics the guide of the +engineer. Engineering the guide of humanity. Humanity +the civilizing or Time-Binding class of life. +Qualities essential to engineering leadership. The +ethics of the art. The engineer as educator, as +scientist, as philosopher, as psychologist, as economist, +as statesman, as mathematical thinker—as a Man. +</p> + +</div> + +</div> + +</div> + +<pb n="224"/><anchor id="Pg224"/> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" level1="Appendix II. Biology And Time-Binding"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="Appendix II. Biology And Time-Binding"/> +<anchor id="Appendix_II"/> +<head>Appendix II. Biology And Time-Binding</head> + +<p> +The life of one man is short, and to very few is it given +to achieve much in their lifetime. Extensive achievements +are made almost entirely by many men taking up the work +done by a discoverer. In such a case, we arrive at a <emph>complete</emph> +<q>truth,</q> not by the production of one man but by a +chain of men, but the initial discovery not only has to be +produced but correctly defined before it can be used and +that is the important point to be made. What we do not +realize is the tremendous amount of mental work that is lost +by an incorrect use of words. +</p> + +<p> +Human thought—that unique, subtle and yet most energetic +phenomenon of nature—is in the main wantonly wasted, +because we do not use, or take pains to use, suitable language; +at the same time, false definitions lead to consequences +not merely wasteful but positively harmful. When ideas and +facts are falsely defined, they tend to bring us to false conclusions, +and false conclusions lead us in wrong directions, +and life and knowledge greatly suffer in consequence. Our +progress is not a well ordered pursuit after truth, as pure +chance plays too large a part in it. +</p> + +<p> +Until lately, logic was supposed to be the science of correct +thinking, but modern thought has progressed so far that the +old logic is not able to handle the great accumulated volume—the +great complicated mass of existing ideas and facts—and +so we are forced to look for another instrument much more +expedient and powerful. There is no need to establish a +new science to replace logic; we simply have to look closer +<pb n="225"/><anchor id="Pg225"/> +into the sciences at hand and realize the fact, which was +with us all the time, namely, that mathematics and mathematical +reasoning is nothing else than the true logic of nature—nature's +universal tongue—the one means of expression that +is the same for all peoples. This is not a play on words, +it is a fact which, after investigation, everybody must admit. +Everybody who wants to think logically must think mathematically +or give up any pretense of correct thinking—there +is no escape and all who refuse to investigate the justice of +this statement put themselves outside the pale of logically +thinking people. The application of rigorous thinking to life +will even revolutionize scientific methods by the introduction +of right definitions, correct classifications, just language, and +so will lead to trustworthy results. Very probably all our +doctrines and creeds will have to be revised; some rejected, +some rectified, some broadened; bringing about unanimity +of all sciences and thus greatly increasing their effectiveness +in the pursuit of truth. This application of mathematics to +life will even revolutionize mathematics itself. In App. I +it is suggested tentatively how this may be accomplished. +</p> + +<p> +As the seemingly ultimate and highest experimentally +known energy is the human time-binding energy, this new +concept may lead to a change in our present concepts of +matter, space and time, in much the same way as the discovery +of radium has affected them. This problem can be +solved only by <emph>scientific</emph> experiments with the <emph>time</emph>-binding +energy. +</p> + +<p> +In many, even in most, of the cases, the analysis of these +phenomena presents great technical difficulty, but why confuse +our minds by being afraid of, or being a slave of words? +If instead of calling wine <emph>wine</emph>, we called it by its chemical +formula, would this, in any way, change the quality of wine? +Of course not. All the <q>qualities</q> will remain because they +are facts, and cannot be altered by words. +</p> + +<p> +A most pathetic picture of the havoc and chaos which +<pb n="226"/><anchor id="Pg226"/> +wrong use of words brings into life and science is exhibited +in all fields of thought by the endless and bitter fighting over +words not well defined. Mathematics has been able to make +its most stupendous achievements because of its method of +exact analysis of the continuum, dimensions, classes, relations, +functions, transfinite numbers, etc., and also of space +and time. Hitherto, not all of these conceptions in their +sharply defined form have had direct application to our daily +life or to our world conception. The thoughts expressed in +App. I may suggest this <q>missing link</q>—connecting mathematics +more intimately with life. +</p> + +<p> +Modern science knows that all energies can be somehow +transformed from one kind to another and that all of them +represent one type of energetic phenomena, no matter what +is the origin of each. For example, a galvanic or chemical +battery produces the same kind of electricity as the mechanical +process of friction or the interaction of cosmic laws as +in the dynamo. In some instances, when our systems are suitably +adjusted, the transformations are reversible, that is, the +energy results in a chemical process—an accumulator; the +chemical process results in electricity—the galvanic battery; +motion results in electricity—the dynamo; electricity results +in motion—the electric motor; etc. We know all energies +are somehow related to each other, in that their transformation +is possible. The effects produced by the same type of +energy are absolutely the same—no matter what its origin. +The marvel of an electric lamp is the same marvel, whether +the origin of the electricity be chemical, mechanical or cosmic +as in the dynamo. The experiments in scientific biology +have proved this to be true in living organisms and just this +is the tremendous importance of the discoveries in scientific +biology. Light and other energies react on organisms in the +same way as the chemical reactions and these phenomena +are reversible. More than that, living complex organisms +have been produced which grew to maturity through a chemical +<pb n="227"/><anchor id="Pg227"/> +or mechanical treatment of the egg, and this has been +accomplished in the infancy of scientific biology! (See <hi rend='italic'>The +Organisms as a Whole</hi>, by Jacques Loeb.) +</p> + +<p> +All phenomena <emph>in nature</emph> are <emph>natural</emph> and should be approached +as <emph>such</emph>. The human mind is at least an energy +which can direct other energies; it is incorrect and misleading +to call it <emph>super</emph>natural. It is of course true that we do +not fully understand the nature of the human mind and we +shall learn to understand it when and only when we acquire +sense enough to recognize it as <emph>natural</emph>. If we persist in +saying and believing that the <q>spiritual evidences cannot be +explained on a material base,</q> this statement should be equally +applicable to electricity or radium. If this statement is false +for these phenomena, it is equally false for the mind or the +so-called spiritual and will powers. The scientific understanding +of these phenomena will not <q>degrade</q> these phenomena, +<emph>because that cannot be done. Facts remain facts and +no scientific explanation of a phenomenon can lower or degrade +that which is a fact.</emph> Electricity is electricity and +nothing else, no matter what its origin; human time-binding +energies (embracing all faculties) are the highest of the +known energies—equally magnificent and astonishing—no +matter what the base; and the scientific understanding of them +will only <emph>add</emph> to our respect for them and for ourselves; it +will unmistakably help us to develop them indefinitely by +mathematical analysis. The <emph>base</emph> is not the phenomenon—sulphuric +acid and zinc <emph>are not</emph> electricity; time-binding +energies <emph>are not</emph> a pound of beefsteak, although a pound of +beefsteak may help to save life and be therefore <emph>instrumental</emph> +in the production of a poem or of a sonata; but by no means +can a beefsteak be taken for either of them. +</p> + +<p> +I have attempted, with some measure of success I trust, +to solve these problems in science and life; the results are +astonishing, as they lead us to a much higher and more embracing +ethics than society has ever had. By this analysis +<pb n="228"/><anchor id="Pg228"/> +I prove that the understanding of this most stupendous but +<hi rend="sc">natural</hi> phenomenon of human life brings us to the scientifical +source of ethics and I prove that the so-called <q>highest +ideals of humanity</q> have nothing of <q>sentimentalism</q> or of +the <q><emph>super</emph>natural</q> in them, +but are exclusively the <emph>fulfilment</emph> +of the <emph>natural laws</emph> for the <emph>human class of life</emph>. +The recognition of the fact that the phenomena of the human mind +are natural and as such conform to natural law has the further +advantage over the <q>supernatural</q> attitude in that we +can no more evade a law of human nature than the law of +gravity; in other words, human ethics will have the validity +of natural law. With the supernatural attitude, it was simple +enough to avoid the issues of life, by a simple statement—<q>I +do not believe</q>—and that was enough to break all bonds and +be free from the <q>supernatural morale</q>—but to get away +from the <q>natural morale</q> and <emph>remain</emph> +<hi rend="sc">human</hi> is <hi rend="sc">impossible</hi>. +Whereas, with an artificially formulated morale it +was easy enough to break away by a simple mental speculation, +and feel perfectly satisfied as long as one escaped the +jail; with a morale made clear that it is a <hi rend="sc">natural law</hi> for +the human class of life, the curtain of sophistry and speculation +is removed and everyone who breaks away from the +<hi rend="sc">natural laws for humans, will know by himself, +that he is outside the law—for humans</hi>. +</p> + +<p> +Engineers are not metaphysicians, their field is not one of +clever argument but one of proved facts; their work is not +to befog the air with cloudy expressions or sophistry, but to +create; their method is scientific and their tool is mathematics. +It is known that in remote antiquity, in some temples +electrical phenomena were known and were used to keep +the ignorant masses in awe and obedience. Shall we follow +the methods used by those magicians or shall we squarely +face facts? Shall we look upon life, and the usually so-called +mental, spiritual phenomena, etc., as <emph>super</emph>natural, simply +because we do not understand them? It seems evident that +<pb n="229"/><anchor id="Pg229"/> +everything which <emph>exists in nature, is natural</emph>, no matter how +simple or complicated a phenomenon it is; and on no occasion +can the so-called <q><emph>super</emph>natural</q> be anything else than +a completely natural law, though it may, at the moment, be +above or beyond our present understanding. The attitude +of mind which admits the <emph>super</emph>natural blinds and frustrates +any analysis or any attempt at analysis. The unprejudiced +analysis of the so-called <q>supernatural</q> does not <emph>alter</emph> any +part of the strange and high functions of it. The phenomena +of the human time-binding energy are and will remain the +most precious, subtle and highest of known functions, no +matter what the origin. <emph>Facts</emph> may not be <emph>denied</emph> +or <emph>falsified</emph> +if analysis is to arrive at correct conclusions. The high +dimensionality of the human mind, the so-called spiritual and +will powers, <emph>are facts</emph> and must be <emph>accepted</emph> as such. It is +about time to establish an exact science to deal with them. +The problems of animal life were approached without prejudice, +no supernatural <q>spark</q> was bothering us in our analysis—an +animal was an animal and nothing else—we did not +intermix dimensions, therefore we see that the <q>social structure</q> +of the animals on a farm never breaks down as they +are managed on a scientific base with an understanding of +<emph>their</emph> proper standards. Animals to-day live more happily +than man. We don't allow animals to practice the <q>survival +of the fittest,</q> or <q>competition,</q> which is far too destructive. +Our present social system imposes these disastrous methods +upon man alone, and the result is that the hideous proverb +<q>Homo homini lupus</q> has become true. +</p> + +<p> +In modern science facts are not wanting, we have first but +to know them. If we take, for example, sulphuric acid and +zinc and make what we call a galvanic battery, we see that +from two chemical substances a third—a salt—is made in +addition to which we have a peculiar energy produced called +electricity. Who does not know the marvelous properties +of this phenomenon? +</p> + +<pb n="230"/><anchor id="Pg230"/> + +<p> +Scientific biology has made tremendous progress lately; +engineers cannot afford to ignore the facts established in laboratory +researches. The problem of <q>life</q> and of other energies, +hitherto considered <q><emph>super</emph>natural,</q> is well in hand, and +proves to be none the less astonishing though entirely natural. +A number of scientists all over the world are working at this +problem and the scientific facts which they have established, +and which cannot now be denied, belong to-day to the realm +of practical life. Engineers, of course, have to know these +facts; mathematicians have to establish correct dimensions in +the study of all the sciences and people will have to study +mathematical philosophy; only then can the process of integration +in any phase of thought be made without mistakes. +There is no escape from that, if <emph>truth</emph> is what we really want. +But here one objection may be raised, an objection which +for some is a serious one indeed; namely, what will take the +place of the old philosophy, law and ethics, if human life +is nothing else than a physico-chemical process? To quote +Doctor Jacques Loeb from his <hi rend='italic'>Mechanistic Conception of +Life</hi>: <q>If on the basis of a serious survey, this question (<emph>that +all life phenomena can be unequivocally explained in physico-chemical +terms</emph>—Author) can be answered in the affirmative, +our social and ethical life will have to be put on a scientific +basis and our rules of conduct must be brought into harmony +with the results of scientific biology. Not only is the mechanistic +conception of life compatible with ethics, it seems the +only conception of life which can lead to an understanding of +the source of ethics.</q> +</p> + +<p> +I hope to have proved in this book that <emph>scientific</emph> ethics is +based on natural laws for the human class of life; that it is +based on the experimentally proved fact that Man is a Time-binder, +naturally active as such in time; and that this concept +or definition of Man is rigorously scientific and accounts +for the highest functions of man—the highest of the mental +<pb n="231"/><anchor id="Pg231"/> +and spiritual perfections—without the need of +any <q><emph>super</emph>natural</q> +hypothesis. +</p> + +<p> +Scientific biology proves the fact that life and all of its +phenomena are the results of some special physico-chemical +processes, which manifest themselves in some peculiar energies, +of which the human mind is the highest known form. These +processes are known to be reversible, in that some of these +peculiar energies cause physico-chemical changes in their own +base; the process involved I propose to call biolysis, as I propose +to call biolyte the substances produced. These phenomena +have a parallel analogy in inorganic chemistry—in electricity—the +difference being only in the scale or dimension. +When an electric current is passed through a special battery +called an accumulator or reversible battery, chemical changes +occur, in that new compounds are formed which possess a +reversible capacity; namely, in reproducing the former materials—that +is, electricity is generated. This process of forming +chemical substances by the passing of an electrical current +is called electrolysis and the product so produced is called +electrolyte. At the same time it is a known fact that organic +chemistry is infinitely more complicated and variable than +inorganic chemistry. The energy produced by the reactions +of some organic chemical groups are, therefore, of a more +complicated character and of another dimension. One of +these energies of organic chemistry which lately has come into +the scope of scientific analysis is called life—its physico-chemical +base is the protoplasm, which <emph>result</emph> I call the +<q>time-linking</q> capacity or energy. This name is important +for the consequences it will bring about later on. The time-binding +capacity or energy of man (no matter what time +is—if it is), which is unique to man, is a most subtle complex; +it is the highest known energy and probably has many +subdivisions. Ears are sensitive to the vibration of the +air. Eyes are sensitive to the more subtle vibrations of +<pb n="232"/><anchor id="Pg232"/> +light; in a similar way, the time-binding apparatus is sensitive +to the most subtle energies; besides which it has the +capacity to register not only all of our sensations but also +the time-binding energies of other people; and it apparently +has the capacity to register the energies of the universe. +</p> + +<p> +Here again we see the same continuity of phenomena; the +protoplasm as a complex organic physico-chemical unit which +has the peculiarity to <q>live,</q> to grow and multiply <q>autonomously</q> +and this same autonomous peculiarity <emph>applies</emph> to the +<emph>time-binding energy</emph>; it grows and multiplies <q>autonomously</q> +in its own dimension. The time-binding energy is a complex +radiating energy somewhat like the emanations of radium +and it probably also has many different subdivisions. <emph>Note +that the transformation of the atom</emph> or the transformation of +<emph>radio-active substances after passing different stages, is not +complete but probably ends in lead, whereas the transformation +which occurs in the production of the time-binding energy +probably is complete or nearly complete and is that which I +call the time-binding energy. (See <ref target="Appendix_I">App. I</ref>.)</emph> +All the higher +characteristics of man which it is customary to call the <q>mental, +spiritual and will powers,</q> etc., are embraced in this +exact definition of energy—in the capacity of time-binding. +A diagram will better explain the continuity, evolution and +mechanism of this time-binding energy. +</p> + +<figure url="images/233.png" rend="width: 100%"> + <head>Biology and Time-Binding.</head> + <figDesc> + A series of circles, connected by lines, the leftmost circle being + C<hi rend="vertical-align: sub">1</hi>, then next + C<hi rend="vertical-align: sub">2</hi>, and so on to + C<hi rend="vertical-align: sub">7</hi>. + The first is connected to the second by line + T<hi rend="vertical-align: sub">1</hi>, the second to the third by + T<hi rend="vertical-align: sub">2</hi>, etc. + Each circle after the first has within it an energy indication, + E<hi rend="vertical-align: sub">1</hi>, + E<hi rend="vertical-align: sub">2</hi>, etc. + </figDesc> +</figure> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>C<hi rend="vertical-align: sub">1</hi></hi> +is the physico-chemical base (for simplicity I represent +the whole complex as one base) of the human time-binding +energy. <hi rend='italic'>T<hi rend="vertical-align: sub">1</hi></hi> +is the thought produced by a physico-chemical +process (corresponding, for illustration's sake only, to electricity +produced by a galvanic battery). The thought +<hi rend='italic'>T<hi rend="vertical-align: sub">1</hi></hi> +in turn produces a physico-chemical effect +<hi rend='italic'>E<hi rend="vertical-align: sub">1</hi></hi> on the base +<hi rend='italic'>C<hi rend="vertical-align: sub">1</hi></hi> +(corresponding for the same reason to electrolysis and +electrolyte in electricity). +<hi rend='italic'>C<hi rend="vertical-align: sub">1</hi></hi> and +<hi rend='italic'>E<hi rend="vertical-align: sub">1</hi></hi> combined, or +<hi rend='italic'>C<hi rend="vertical-align: sub">2</hi></hi> produces +<hi rend='italic'>T<hi rend="vertical-align: sub">2</hi></hi> +which again in turn affects the base and produces a physico-chemical effect +<hi rend='italic'>E<hi rend="vertical-align: sub">2</hi></hi>, +this new combination produces the energy +<hi rend='italic'>T<hi rend="vertical-align: sub">3</hi></hi>, +and so on ... theoretically without limits, +<pb n="234"/><anchor id="Pg234"/> +as long as there is <emph>any source</emph> of energy upon which this +special energy can draw. This theory which I call the +<q>spiral theory</q> represents a suggestive working mechanism +of the time-binding energy and is in accord with the latest +scientific discoveries. It explains the processes of all the +mental and so-called spiritual energies which have been such +a puzzle to humanity, and it also explains other phenomena +which, until now, have had no scientific explanation whatever. +</p> + +<p> +The animals are <emph>not</emph> time-binding, they have <emph>not</emph> the +capacity of the <q>spiral</q>; therefore, they have not autonomous +progress. At the same time, it will be obvious that if we +teach humans false ideas, we affect their time-binding capacities +and energies very seriously, by affecting in a wrong +way the physico-chemical base. This energy is so peculiar +that it embraces, if I may use the old expression, the highest +ideals (when the time-binding energy is unobstructed and is +allowed to work normally), and also the most criminal ideas +(when the time-binding energy is obstructed by false teachings +and in consequence works abnormally). We cannot make +animals moral or immoral because they have not this time-binding +capacity. Whereas human progress can be very +seriously affected by false ideas; in other words, the biolyte +of false teachings in the animal dimension must be very different +from the biolyte of true ideas in the human dimension. +Nature or nature's laws happily cannot be completely deviated +from or violated—the time-binding energy cannot be +completely suppressed in the time-binding class of life. The +false teachings that we are animals and essentially brutal and +selfish can, of course, degrade human nature not only down +to the animal level but lower still. Happily now science can +explain and prove how fundamentally fiendish in effect are +these teachings in the life and progress of human beings. +It will be a shock to those who teach, preach and practice +animal standards and in the same breath contradict themselves +in any talking about <q>immortality</q> and <q>salvation</q>; +<pb n="235"/><anchor id="Pg235"/> +a little thought makes it perfectly clear that <q>animal standards</q> +and <q>salvation</q> or <q>immortality</q> simply exclude each +other. With the natural law of time-binding realized, the +way is open to entering scientifically upon the problem of +immortality. The time-binding energies as well as <q>life</q> +follow the same type of exponential function. <q>The constant +synthesis then of specific material from simple compounds +of a non-specific character is the chief feature by +which living matter differs from non-living matter.... This +problem of synthesis leads to the assumption of immortality +of the living cell, since there is no <hi rend='italic'>a priori</hi> reason why this +synthesis should ever come to a standstill of its own accord +as long as enough food is available and the proper outside +physical conditions are guaranteed.... The idea that the +body cells are naturally immortal and die only if exposed +to extreme injuries such as prolonged lack of oxygen or too +high a temperature helps to make one problem more intelligible. +The medical student, who for the first time realizes +that life depends upon that one organ, the heart, doing its +duty incessantly for the seventy years or so allotted to man, +is amazed at the precariousness of our existence. It seems +indeed uncanny that so delicate a mechanism should function +so regularly for so many years. The mysticism connected +with this and other phenomena of adaptation would disappear +if we would be certain that all cells are really immortal +and that the fact which demands an explanation is not the +continued activity but the cessation of activity in death. Thus +we see that the idea of the immortality of the body cell if +it can be generalized may be destined to become one of the +main supports for a complete physico-chemical analysis of life +phenomena since it makes the durability of organisms intelligible....</q> +(<hi rend='italic'>The Organism as a Whole</hi>, by Jacques Loeb.) +</p> + +<p> +The outlook for those who live and profess selfish, greedy, +<q>space-binding animal standards</q> is not very promising as +disclosed by the <q>spiral,</q> but unhappily we cannot help them; +<pb n="236"/><anchor id="Pg236"/> +only time-binding—only fulfilling the natural laws for +humans—can give them the full benefit of their natural +capacities by which they will be able to raise themselves above +animals and their fate. +</p> + +<p> +The results obtained in scientific biological researches are +growing very rapidly and every advance in their knowledge +proves this theory to be true. If they differ in a few instances +it is not because the principles of this theory are wrong, but +because they intermix dimensions and use words not sufficiently +defined which always results in confusion and the +checking of the progress of science. +</p> + +<p> +Most of the problems touched upon in this appendix from +a mathematical point of view are based upon laboratory facts. +We have only to collect them and there is little need of +imagination to see their general bearing. Since we have discovered +the fact that Man is a time-binder (no matter what +time is) and have introduced the sense of dimensionality into +the study of life phenomena in general, a great many facts +which were not clear before become very clear now. +</p> + +<p> +I wrote this book on a farm without any books at hand +and I had been out of touch with the progress of science for +the five years spent in the war service and war duties. My +friend Dr. Grove-Korski, formerly at Berkeley University, +drew my attention particularly to the books of Dr. Jacques +Loeb. I found there a treasury of laboratory facts which +illustrate as nothing better could, the correctness of my theory. +I found with deep satisfaction that the new <q>scientific biology</q> +is scientific because it has used mathematical methods with +notable regard to dimensionality—they do not <q>milk an automobile.</q> +</p> + +<p> +For the mathematician and the engineer, the <q>tropism +theory of animal conduct,</q> founded by Dr. J. Loeb, is of +the greatest interest, because this is a theory which analyses +the functions and reactions of an organism <emph>as a whole</emph> and +<pb n="237"/><anchor id="Pg237"/> +therefore there is no chance for confusion of ideas or the +intermixing of dimensions. +</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p> +<q>Physiologists have long been in the habit of studying not +the reactions of the whole organism but the reactions of isolated +segments; the so-called reflexes. While it may seem justifiable +to construct the reactions of the organism as a whole from +the individual reflexes, such an attempt is in reality doomed to +failure, since the reactions produced in an isolated element +cannot be counted upon to occur when the same element is part +of the whole, on account of the mutual inhibitions which the +different parts of the organism produce upon each other when +in organic connection; and it is, therefore, impossible to express +the conduct of a whole animal as the algebraic sum of the reflexes +of its isolated segments.... It would, therefore, be a misconception +to speak of tropism as of reflexes, since tropisms are +reactions of the organism as a whole, while reflexes are reactions +of isolated segments. Reflexes and tropisms agree, however, in +one respect, inasmuch as both are obviously of a purely physico-chemical +character.</q> <hi rend='italic'>Forced Movements—Tropism and Animal +Conduct.</hi> By Jacques Loeb. +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +I will quote here only a very few passages, but these books +are of such importance that every mathematician and engineer +should read them. They are, if I may say so, a <q>mathematical +biology</q>—the survey of a life long study of <q>tropisms,</q> +which is the name given to express <q>forced movements</q> +in organisms. They give the quintessence of laboratory experiments +as to what are the effects of different energies such +as light (heliotropism), electricity (galvanotropism), gravity +(geotropism), etc., in their reaction and influence upon the +movements and actions of living organisms. These experiments +are conclusive and the conclusions arrived at cannot +be overlooked or evaded. The tremendous practical results +of such scientific methods are based upon two principles, +namely: that, (1) the scientists must think mathematically, +their studies of the phenomena must be in <q>systems</q> as a +complex whole, and they must not intermix dimensions; (2) +<pb n="238"/><anchor id="Pg238"/> +they must see the danger and not be afraid of old words +with wrong meanings, but must use clear and rigorous thinking +to eliminate the prejudices in science—the poison of metaphysical +speculating with words, or verbalism. These books +give ample proofs of how misleading and obscuring are the +words used and how basically wrong are the conclusions +arrived at by such scientists as still persist in using the +anthropomorphic or teleological methods of analysis. If a sceptical +or doubtful reader is interested to see an ample proof +of how deadly is the effect which an incorrect or unmathematical +manner of thinking brings into science and life—he +also may be referred to these books. The following quotations +prove biologically that man is of a totally different +dimension—a totally different being than an animal. From +Dr. Conklin I quote only from his <hi rend='italic'>Heredity and Environment</hi> +and to save a repetition of the title of the book, I +will indicate the quotations by using only his name. (All +italics are indicated by A. K.) +</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p> +<q>It would be of the greatest importance to show directly +that the <emph>homologous proteins of different species are different</emph>. +<emph>This has been done</emph> for hemoglobins of the blood by Reichert and +Brown, who have shown by crystallographic measurements +that the hemoglobins of any species are definite substances for +that species.... The following sentences by Reichert and +Brown seem to indicate that this may be true for the crystals of +hemoglobin. <q><emph>The hemoglobins of any species are different substances +for that species.</emph> But upon comparing the corresponding +substances hemoglobins in different species of a genus it is +generally found that they differ the one from the other to a +greater or less degree; the differences being such that when +complete crystallographic data are available the different <emph>species +can be distinguished</emph> by these <emph>differences in their +hemoglobins</emph></q>.... +The facts thus far reported imply the suggestion that heredity +of the genus is determined by the proteins of a definite constitution +differing from the proteins of other genera. This constitution +of the proteins would therefore be responsible for the genus +heredity. The different species of a genus have all the same +genus proteins, but the proteins of each species of the same +genus are apparently different again in chemical constitution +<pb n="239"/><anchor id="Pg239"/> +and hence they may give rise to the specific biological or immunity +reactions.</q> <hi rend='italic'>The Organism as a Whole</hi>, by Jacques Loeb. +</p> +<p> +<q><emph>All peculiarities which are characteristic of a race, species, +genus, order, class and phylum are of course inherited</emph>, otherwise +there would be no constant characteristics of these groups and +no possibility of classifying organisms. The chief characters +of every living thing are unalterably fixed by heredity. Men +do not gather grapes of thorns nor figs of thistles. Every living +thing produces off-spring after its own kind, Men, horses, cattle; +birds, reptiles, fishes; insects, mollusks, worms; polyps, sponges, +micro-organisms,—all of the million known species of animals and +plants differ from one another because of inherited peculiarities, +<emph>because they have come from different kinds of germ cells</emph>.</q> Conklin. +</p> +<p> +<q>The entire organism consisting of structures and functions, +body and mind, develops out of the germ, and the organization +of the germ determines all the possibilities of development of +the mind no less than of the body, though the actual realization +of any possibility is dependent also upon environmental stimuli.</q>... +Conklin. +</p> +<p> +<q rend="pre">The development of the mind <emph>parallels that of the body</emph>; +whatever the ultimate relation of the mind and body may be, +there can be <emph>no</emph> reasonable <emph>doubt</emph> that the two develop together +from the germ. It is a curious fact that many people who are +seriously disturbed by scientific teaching as to the evolution or +gradual development of the human race accept with equanimity +the universal observation as to the development of the human +individual,—mind as well as body. The animal ancestry of +the race is surely no more disturbing to philosophical or religious +beliefs than the germinal origin of the individual, and yet the +latter is a fact of universal observation which cannot be relegated +to the domain of hypothesis or theory, and which can not be +successfully denied.... Now we know that the child comes +from the germ cells which are not made by the bodies of the +parents but have arisen by the division of the antecedent germ +cell. <emph>Every cell comes from a pre-existing cell</emph> by a process of +division, and <emph>every germ cell comes from a pre-existing germ cell</emph>. +Consequently it is not possible to hold, that the body generates +germ cells, nor that the soul generates souls. The only possible +scientific position is that the <emph>mind</emph> or soul as well as the body +develops from the <emph>germ</emph>.</q> +</p> +<p> +<q>No fact in human experience is more certain than that the +mind develops by gradual and natural processes from a simple +condition which can scarcely be called mind at all; no fact +in human experience is fraught with greater practical and philosophical +<pb n="240"/><anchor id="Pg240"/> +significance than this, and yet no fact is more generally +disregarded.</q> Conklin. +</p> +<p> +<q>Doubtless the elements of which <emph>consciousness</emph> develops are +<emph>present in the germ cells</emph>, in the same sense that the elements of +the other psychic processes or of the organs of the body are +there present; not as a miniature of the adult condition, but +rather in the form of elements or factors, which by long series of +combinations and transformations, due to interactions with one +another and with the environment, give rise to the fully developed +condition.... It is an interesting fact that in man, and in +several other animals which may be assumed to have a sense of +identity, the nerve cells, especially those of the <emph>brain</emph>, +<emph>cease dividing</emph> at an early age, and these identical cells persist throughout +the remainder of life.</q>... +</p> +<p> +<q>The hen does not produce the egg, but the egg produces the +hen and also other eggs. Individual traits are not transmitted +from the hen to the egg, but they develop out of germinal +factors which are carried along from <emph>cell to cell, and from generation +to generation</emph>....</q> +</p> +<p> +<q>The germ is the undeveloped organism which forms the +bond between successive generations; the person is the developed +organism which arises from the germ under the influence of +environmental conditions, the person develops and dies in each +generation; the germ-plasm is the continuous stream of living +substance which connects all generations. The person nourishes +and protects the germ, and in this sense the person is +merely the carrier of the germ-plasm, the <emph>mortal trustee</emph> of an +immortal substance.</q> Conklin. +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +This is what I call <q>time-linking.</q> (Author.) +</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p> +<q>Through intelligence and social cooperation he is able to +control environment for particular ends, in a manner quite +impossible in other organisms.... Other animals develop +much more rapidly than man but that development sooner +comes to an end. The children of lower races of man develop +more rapidly than those of higher races but in such cases they +also cease to develop at an earlier age. The prolongation of the +period of infancy and of immaturity in the human race greatly +increases the importance of environment and training as <emph>factors +of development</emph>.</q> Conklin. +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +Another sidelight given on the <q>Spiral theory.</q> (Author.) +</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p> +<q>In education also we are strangely blind to proper aims and +methods. Any education is bad which leads to the formation +<pb n="241"/><anchor id="Pg241"/> +of habits of idleness, carelessness, failure, instead of habits of +industry, thoroughness and success. Any religious or social +institution is bad which leads to habits of pious make-believe, +insincerity, slavish regard for authority and disregard for evidence, +instead of habits of sincerity, open-mindedness and independence....</q> +</p> +<p> +<q>All that man now is he has come to be without conscious +human guidance. If evolution has progressed from the am[oe]ba +to man without human interference, if the great progress from +ape-like men to the most highly civilized races has taken place +without conscious human control, the question may well be +asked: Is it possible to improve on the natural method of evolution? +It may not be possible to improve on the method of +evolution and yet by intelligent action it may be possible to +facilitate that method. <emph>Man can not change a single law of nature +but he can put himself into such relations to natural laws that he +can profit by them.</emph></q> Conklin. +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +This proves the great importance of <hi rend="sc">knowing the natural +laws</hi> for the human class of life, and making natural +time-binding impulses conscious, for then only will the spiral +give a logarithmical accumulation of the right kind, otherwise +the biolyte will be <q>animal</q> in substance as well as in +effect. Here it is immaterial how the first <q>time-binder</q> was +produced; the fact that he is of another dimension is of the +greatest importance. +</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p> +<q>From sands to stars, from the immensity of the universe to +the minuteness of the electron, in living things no less than in +lifeless ones, science recognizes everywhere the inevitable +sequence of cause and effect, the universality of natural processes, +the reign of natural law. <emph>Man also is a part of Nature, +a part of the great mechanism of the</emph> universe, and all that he is +and <emph>does is limited and prescribed by laws of nature</emph>. Every human +being comes into existence by a process of development, every +step of which is determined by antecedent causes.... Our +anatomical, physiological, psychological possibilities were predetermined +in the <emph>germ cells</emph> from which we came....</q> +Conklin. +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +This shows the importance of keeping the study of humans +in their own dimensionality, and also the importance of finding +<pb n="242"/><anchor id="Pg242"/> +the <hi rend="sc">impersonal natural laws</hi> for the human class of +life. Now it can be realized that all the so-called human +ideals are none else than the ever growing fulfillment of the +<hi rend="sc">natural <q>time-binding</q> laws</hi>. This understanding will +enable man to discover new <q>time-binding</q> laws for their +conduct, their business relations, their state, which will not +be a contradiction of the real, <hi rend="sc">natural laws</hi> but will be in +accord with them; then and only then human progress will +have a chance to develop peacefully. +</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p> +<q>Adult characteristics are potential and not actual in the +germ, and their actual appearance depends upon many complicated +reactions of the germinal units with one another and +with the environment. In short, our actual personalities are +not predetermined in the germ cells, but our possible personalities +are.... The influence of environment upon the minds +and morals of men is especially great. To a large extent our +habits, words, thoughts; our aspirations, ideals, satisfactions; +our responsibility, morality, religion are the results of the +environment and education of our early years....</q> +</p> +<p> +<q>Owing to this vastly greater power of memory, reflection +and inhibition man is much freer than any other animal. Animals +which learn little from experience have little freedom and +the more they learn the freer they become....</q> Conklin. +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +It may be added here that the <q>spiral theory</q> explains how +our reactions can be accelerated and elaborated by ourselves, +and how truly we are the masters of our destinies. +</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p> +<q>Because we can find no place in our philosophy and logic +for self determination shall we cease to be scientists and close +our eyes to the evidence? The first duty of science is to appeal +to fact and to settle later with logic and philosophy....</q> +Conklin. +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +There will be no difficulty in the settlement of facts with +the new philosophy of <q>Human Engineering.</q> +</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p> +<q>The analysis of instinct from a purely physiological point of +view ultimately furnishes the data for a scientific ethics. +Human happiness is based upon the possibility of a natural and +harmonious satisfaction of the instincts.... It is rather +<pb n="243"/><anchor id="Pg243"/> +remarkable that we should still be under the influence of an +ethics which considers the human instincts in themselves low +and their gratification vicious. That such an ethics must have +had a comforting effect upon the orientals, whose instincts were +inhibited or warped through the combined effects of an enervating +climate, despotism and miserable economic conditions is +intelligible, and it is perhaps due to a continuation of the unsatisfactory +economic conditions that this ethics still prevails to +some extent.... Lawyers, criminologists and philosophers +frequently imagine that only want makes man work. This is +an erroneous view. We are instinctively forced to be active in +the same way as ants or bees. The instinct of workmanship +would be the greatest source of happiness if it were not for the +fact that our present social and economic organization allows +only a few to satisfy this instinct. Robert Mayer has pointed +out that any successful display or setting free of energy is a +source of pleasure to us. This is the reason why the satisfaction +of the instinct of workmanship is of such importance in the +economy of life, for the play and learning of the child, as well as +for the scientists or commercial work of the man.... We can +vary at will the instincts of animals. A number of marine +animals ... go away from the light, can be forced to go to +light in two ways, first by lowering the temperature and second +by increasing the concentration of the sea water, whereby the +cells of the animals lose water. This instinct can be again +reversed by raising the temperature or by lowering the concentration +of the sea water. I have found repeatedly that by the +same conditions by which phenomena of growth and organization +can be controlled the instincts are controlled also. This +indicates that there is a common basis for both classes of life +phenomena. This common base is the physical and chemical +character of the mixture of substances which we call protoplasm.... +<emph>The greatest happiness in life</emph> can be obtained only if <emph>all +instincts</emph>, that of workmanship included, can be maintained at a +certain <emph>optimal intensity</emph>. But while it is certain that the individual +can ruin or diminish the value of its life by a onesided +development of its instincts, e.g., dissipation, it is at the same +time true that the <emph>economic and social conditions can ruin or +diminish the value of life for a great number of individuals</emph>. It +is no doubt true that in our present social and economic conditions +more than ninety per cent of human beings lead an existence +whose value is far below what it should be. They are +compelled by want to sacrifice a number of instincts especially +the most valuable among them, that of workmanship, in order +<pb n="244"/><anchor id="Pg244"/> +to save the lowest and most imperative, that of eating. If +those who amass immense fortunes could possibly intensify their +lives with their abundance, it might perhaps be rational to let +many suffer in order to have a few cases of true happiness. But +for an increase of happiness only that amount of money is of +service which can be used for the harmonious development and +satisfaction of inherited instincts. For this, comparatively little is +necessary. The rest is of no more use to a man than the surplus +of oxygen in the atmosphere. As a matter of fact, the only true +satisfaction a multimillionaire can possibly get from increasing +his fortunes, is the satisfaction of the instinct of workmanship +or the pleasure that is connected with a successful display of +energy. The scientist gets this satisfaction without diminishing +the value of life of his fellow being, and the same should be +true for the business man.... Although we recognize no metaphysical +free-will, we do not deny personal responsibility. We +can fill the memory of the young generation with such associations +as will prevent wrong doing or dissipation.... Cruelty +in the penal code and the tendency to exaggerate punishment +are sure signs of a low civilization and of an imperfect educational +system.... It seems to me that we can no more expect +to unravel the mechanism of associative memory by histological +or morphological methods than we can expect to +unravel the dynamics of electrical phenomena by microscopic +study of cross-sections through a telegraph wire or by counting +and locating the telephone connections in a big city. If we are +anxious to develop a dynamic of the various life-phenomena, +we must remember that the colloidal substances are the machines +which produce the life phenomena, but the physics of these +substances is still a science of the future.... Physiology gives +us no answer to the latter question. The idea of specific energy +has always been regarded as the terminus for the investigation +of the sense organs. Mach expressed the opinion that chemical +conditions lie at the foundation of sensation in general....</q> +<hi rend='italic'>Comparative Physiology of the Brain</hi>, by Jacques Loeb. +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +Here it may be added that the <q>Instinct of Workmanship</q> +in the animal class, becomes in the time-binding class of life +the instinct of <emph>creation</emph>, and is nothing else than the expression +of the natural impulse of the <q>Time-binding</q> energy. In +the present social and economic system very few have a possibility +to satisfy this instinct; scientific management is or +<pb n="245"/><anchor id="Pg245"/> +may be satisfying the animal instinct of workmanship, but +it is not satisfactory to the instinct of creation. <q>Time-binding</q> +in its last analysis is creation and only such a social +and economic system as will satisfy this want—this natural +impulse—will satisfy Humans—the <q>Time-binders</q>—and +will bring about their fullest growth in work and happiness. +</p> + +<p> +<q><hi rend="sc">Laws Of Growth</hi></q> (from <hi rend='italic'>Unified Mathematics</hi>, by +Louis C. Karpinski, Ph.D.). <q rend="pre"><hi rend='italic'>Compound interest +function</hi>.—The +function <hi rend='italic'>S</hi> = <hi rend='italic'>P</hi>(1 + +<hi rend='italic'>i</hi>)<hi rend="vertical-align: super"><hi rend='italic'>n</hi></hi> +is of fundamental importance +in other fields than in finance. Thus the growth of timber +of a large forest tract may be expressed as a function of this +kind, the assumption being that in a large tract the rate of +growth may be taken as uniform from year to year. In +the case of bacteria growing under ideal conditions in a +culture, <hi rend='italic'>i.e.</hi> with unlimited food supplied, the increase in the +number of bacteria per second is proportional to the number +of bacteria present at the beginning of that second. Any +function in which the rate of change or rate of growth at +any instant <hi rend='italic'>t</hi> is directly proportional to the value of the +function at the instant <hi rend='italic'>t</hi> obeys what has been termed the <q>law +of organic growth,</q> and may be expressed by the equation,</q> +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>y = ce<hi rend="vertical-align: super">kt</hi></hi>, +</p> + +<p> +wherein <hi rend='italic'>c</hi> and <hi rend='italic'>k</hi> +are constants determined by the physical +facts involved, and <hi rend='italic'>e</hi> is a constant of +nature analogous to π. +The constant <hi rend='italic'>k</hi> is the proportionality constant and is negative +when the quantity in question decreases; <hi rend='italic'>c</hi> is commonly positive; +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>e</hi> = 2.178.... +</p> + +<p> +<q rend="pre">The values of the function of <hi rend='italic'>x, +ce<hi rend="vertical-align: super">kx</hi>, increase according to +the terms of a geometrical progression as the variable x increases +in arithmetical progression</hi>....</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend="pre">The most immediate application of a function in which the +<pb n="246"/><anchor id="Pg246"/> +growth is proportional to the function itself is to the air. The +decrease in the pressure of the air at the distance <hi rend='italic'>h</hi> above +the earth's surface is proportional to <hi rend='italic'>h</hi>.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend="pre">The expression <hi rend='italic'>P = 760 +e<hi rend="vertical-align: super">-h/7990</hi></hi> gives the numerical value +of the pressure in millimeters of mercury for <hi rend='italic'>h</hi> measured in +meters. The negative exponent indicates that the pressure +decreases as <hi rend='italic'>h</hi> increases. In inches as units of length of the +mercury column, <hi rend='italic'>h</hi> in feet,</q> +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>P = 29.92e<hi rend="vertical-align: super">-h/26200</hi></hi> +</p> + +<p> +This is known as Halley's law. +</p> + +<p> +<q rend="pre">The growth of bean plants within limited intervals and the +growth of children, again between quite restricted limits, +follow approximately the law of organic growth. Radium in +decomposing follows the same law; the rate of decrease at +any instant being proportional to the quantity. In the case +of vibrating bodies, like a pendulum, the rate of decrease of +the amplitude follows this law; similarly in the case of a noise +dying down and in certain electrical phenomena, the rate of +decrease is proportional at any instant to the value of the +function at the instant....</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend="pre"><hi rend='italic'>The Curve of Healing of a Wound.</hi>—Closely +allied to the +formulas expressing the law of organic growth, <hi rend='italic'>y = +e<hi rend="vertical-align: super">kt</hi></hi>, and +the law of <q>organic decay,</q> <hi rend='italic'>y = +e<hi rend="vertical-align: super">-kt</hi></hi>, is a recently discovered +law which connects algebraically by an equation and graphically +by a curve, the surface-area of a wound, with time expressed +in days, measured from the time when the wound +is aseptic or sterile. When this aseptic condition is reached, +by washing and flushing continually with antiseptic solutions, +two observations at an interval commonly of four days give +the <q>index of the individual,</q> and this index, and the two +measurements of area of the wound-surface, enable the +physician-scientist to determine the normal progress of the +wound-surface, the expected decrease in area, for this wound-surface +<pb n="247"/><anchor id="Pg247"/> +of this individual. The area of the wound is traced +carefully on transparent paper, and then computed by using +a mathematical machine, called a planimeter, which measures +areas.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend="pre">The areas of the wound are plotted as ordinates with the +respective times of observation measured in days as abscissas. +After each observation and computation of area the point so +obtained is plotted to the same axes as the graph which gives +the ideal or prophetic curve of healing.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend="pre">When the observed area is found markedly greater than +that determined by the ideal curve, the indication is that there +is still infection in the wound.... A rather surprising and +unexplained situation occurs frequently when the wound-surface +heals more rapidly than the ideal curve would indicate; +in this event secondary ulcers develop which bring the +curve back to normal....</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend="pre">This application of mathematics to medicine is largely due +to Dr. Alexis Carrel of the Rockefeller Institute of Medical +Research. He noted that the larger the wound-surface, the +more rapidly it healed, and that the rate of healing seemed +to be proportional to the area. This proportionality constant +is not the same for all values of the surface or we would +have an equation of the form,</q> +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>S = +S<hi rend="vertical-align: sub">1</hi>e<hi rend="vertical-align: super">-kt</hi></hi> +</p> + +<p> +in which <hi rend='italic'>S</hi>, is the area at the time that the wound is rendered +sterile and observations to be plotted really begin.... +</p> + +<p> +<q rend="pre">The data given are taken from the Journal of Experimental +Medicine, reprints kindly furnished by Major George +A. Stewart of the Rockefeller Institute. The diagrams are +reproduced from the issue of Feb. 1, 1918, pp. 171 and 172, +article by Dr. T. Tuffier and R. Desmarres, Auxiliary Hospital +75, Paris....</q> +</p> + +<figure url="images/248.png" rend="width: 100%"> + <head>Progress of healing of a surface wound of the right leg, patient's + age 31 years.</head> + <figDesc> + A graph, showing the progress of healing of a surface wound of the right + leg of a 31-year-old patient. It shows that as time passes, the wounded + area decreases. + </figDesc> +</figure> + +<p> +<q rend="pre"><hi rend="sc">Wave Motion.</hi> General.—In nature there are two +types of recurrent motion, somewhat closely connected mathematically, +<pb n="249"/><anchor id="Pg249"/> +in which repetition of motion occurs at regular intervals.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend="pre">One type of this motion, in cycles as we may say, repeats +the motion in one place, and is in a sense stationary. The +tuning fork in motion moves through the same space again +and again; a similar movement is the motion of a vibrating +string. Of this stationary type may be mentioned the heartbeats, +the pulse, the respiration, the tides, and the rotation +of a wheel about its axis.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend="pre">The second type of recurrent motion transmits or carries +the vibratory impulse over an extent of space as well as time. +The waves of the sea are of this character. Sound waves, +electrical vibrations or waves, and radiant energy vibrations +are transmitted by a process similar to that by which the +waves of the sea are carried.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend="pre">Both of these types of motion are representable mathematically +by equations involving a sequence of trigonometric +functions. To the fundamental and basic function involved, +<hi rend='italic'>y</hi> = sin <hi rend='italic'>x</hi>, +we will direct our attention in the next section and +to simple applications in other sections of this chapter....</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend="pre">Sound Waves.—If a tuning fork for note lower C is set +to vibrating, the free bar makes 129 complete, back-and-forth, +vibrations in one second. By attaching a fine point +to the end of the bar and moving under this bar at a uniform +rate, as it vibrates, a smoke-blackened paper, a sinusoidal +curve is traced on the paper. Our curve is traced by a bar +vibrating 50 times in 1 second.</q> +</p> + +<figure url="images/249.png" rend="width: 100%"> + <head>Tuning fork vibrations recorded on smoked paper.</head> + <figDesc> + A graph, showing a wavy line. <q>Tuning fork vibrations recorded on + smoked paper.</q> + </figDesc> +</figure> + +<p> +<q rend="pre">Corresponding to each movement of the vibrating rod there +is a movement of the air. As the bar moves to the right +<pb n="250"/><anchor id="Pg250"/> +it compresses the layer of air to its right and that <emph>compression</emph> +is immediately communicated to the layer of air to the +right; as the bar moves back and to the left, the pressure +on the adjacent air is released and a <emph>rarefaction</emph> takes place. +In 1/50 of 1 second you have the air adjacent to the rod <emph>compressed</emph>, +back to normal, and <emph>rarefied</emph>; during this time the +neighboring air is affected and the compression is communicated +a distance which is the <emph>wave length</emph> of this given +sound wave. In 1 second this disturbance is transmitted +1100 feet at 44° Fahrenheit. The wave length for this sound +wave then is 1100/50 = 22 feet.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>The wave length is commonly designated by λ. +If <hi rend='italic'>V</hi> +is the velocity, and <hi rend='italic'>t</hi> the time of one vibration, +λ = <hi rend='italic'>Vt</hi>.</q> +</p> + +<figure url="images/250.png" rend="width: 100%"> + <head><q>Vibration records produced by the voice: <q>a</q> as in <q>ate</q>; + <q>ou</q> as in <q>about</q>; <q>r</q> in <q>relay</q>; <q>e</q> in + <q>be</q>; and <q>a</q> in <q>father</q>. The tuning fork record, + frequency 50 per second, gives the vibration frequencies.</q></head> + <figDesc> + A graph, showing five wavy lines, labeled <q>a</q>, <q>ou</q>, <q>r</q>, + <q>E</q>, and <q>a</q>. <q>Vibration records produced by the voice: <q>a</q> + as in <q>ate</q>; <q>ou</q> as in <q>about</q>; <q>r</q> in <q>relay</q>; + <q>e</q> in <q>be</q>; and <q>a</q> in <q>father</q>. The tuning fork record, + frequency 50 per second, gives the vibration frequencies.</q> + </figDesc> +</figure> + +<p> +This last drawing may help to visualize the fact in what +manner wrong expressions and untrue teachings hamper the +true progress of humanity. Every word has its energy and +produces some physico-chemical effects in the time-binding +apparatus in accord with the idea which we associate with +the sound of the word. If we teach ideas which are untrue, +<pb n="251"/><anchor id="Pg251"/> +then the physico-chemical effects produced are not proper—in +other words the human mind does <hi rend="sc">not work properly</hi>, +that is, it does not work <emph>naturally</emph> or <emph>normally</emph> or true to the +human dimension. There is every reason why the standards +in our civilization are so low, because we have <q>poisoned,</q> +in a literal sense of the word, our minds with the physico-chemical +effects of wrong ideas. This correct <hi rend="sc">natural +approach</hi> to the <q>Time-binding</q> energies will make it obvious +how unmeasured is the importance of the manner in +which we handle this subtle mechanism, as the poisoning with +wrong ideas or with careless or incorrect words does not in +any way differ in consequences from poisoning with any other +stupor-producing or wrongly stimulating poison. +</p> + +<p>Monographs on Experimental Biology and Physiology</p> + +<p> +<hi rend="sc">Loeb</hi>, J.: <q>Comparative Physiology of the Brain and Comparative +Psychology.</q> New York, 1900. +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend="sc">Loeb</hi>, J.: <q>Studies in General Physiology.</q> Chicago, 1905. +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend="sc">Loeb</hi>, J.: <q>The Dynamics of Living Matter.</q> New York, +1906. +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend="sc">Loeb</hi>, J.: <q>The Mechanistic Conception of Life.</q> Chicago, +1912. +</p> + +<p> +Selection from contents: +I. The Mechanistic Conception of Life. +II. The Significance of Tropisms for Psychology. +III. Some Fundamental Facts and Conceptions concerning +the Comparative Physiology of the Central +Nervous System. +IV. Pattern Adaptation of Fishes and the Mechanism of +Vision. +V. On Some Facts and Principles of Physiological +Morphology. +VI. On the Nature of the Process of Fertilization. +VII. On the Nature of Formative Stipulation (Artificial +Parthenogenesis). +VIII. The Prevention of the Death of the Egg through the +Act of Fertilization. +<pb n="252"/><anchor id="Pg252"/> +IX. The Rôle of Salts in the Preservation of Life. +X. Experimental Study of the Influence of Environment on Animals. +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend="sc">Loeb, J</hi>.: The Organism as a Whole. G. P. Putnam's Sons. New York, 1916. +</p> + +<p> +Selection from contents: +I. Introductory Remarks. +II. The Specific Difference between Living and Dead Matter and the +Question of the Origin of Life. +III. The Chemical Basis of Genus and Species: +1. The Incompatibility of Species not Closely Related. +2. The Chemical basis of Genus and Species and of Species Specificity. +IV. Specificity in Fertilization. +V. Artificial Parthenogenesis. +VI. Determinism in the Formation of an Organism from an Egg. +VII. Regeneration. +VIII. Determination of Sex, Secondary Sexual Characters and Sexual Instincts: +1. The Cytological Basis of Sex Determination. +2. The Physiological Basis of Sex Determination. +IX. Mendelian Heredity and its Mechanism. +X. Animal Instincts and Tropisms. +XI. The Influence of Environment. +XII. Adaptation to Environment. +XIII. Evolution. +XIV. Death and Dissolution of the Organism. +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend="sc">Loeb, J</hi>.: <q>Forced Movements, Tropisms, and Animal Conduct.</q> +J. B. Lippincott, Philadelphia, 1918. +</p> + +<p> +Selection from contents: +I. Introduction. +II. The Symmetry Relations of the Animal Body as the Starting Point +for the Theory of Animal Conduct. +III. Forced Movements. +IV. Galvanotropism. +V. Heliotropism. The Influence of One Source of Light. +<pb n="253"/><anchor id="Pg253"/> +1. General Facts. +2. Direct Proof of the Muscle Tension Theory of +Heliotropism in Motile Animals. +3. Heliotropism of Unicellular Organisms. +4. Heliotropism of Sessile Animals. +VI. An Artificial Heliotropic Machine. +VII. Asymmetrical Animals. +VIII. Two Sources of Light of Different Intensity. +IX. The Validity of the Bunsen-Roscoe Law for the Heliotropic +Reactions of Animals and Plants. +X. The Effect of Rapid Changes in Intensity of Light. +XI. The Relative Heliotropic Efficiency of Light of Different +Wave Lengths. +XII. Change in the Sense of Heliotropism. +XIII. Geotropism. +XIV. Forced Movements Caused by Moving Retina +Images: Rheotropism: Anemotropism. +XV. Stereotropism. +XVI. Chemotropism. +XVII. Thermotropism. +XVIII. Instincts. +XIX. Memory Images and Tropisms. +</p> + +<p> +A list of <emph>554 books on this subject</emph>, in which any +reader interested will find a vast storehouse of exact +knowledge in this line. Author. +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend="sc">Conklin, Edwin Grant:</hi> <q>Heredity and Environment in the +Development of Men.</q> Princeton University Press, +1915. +</p> + +<p> +Selection from contents: +I. Facts and Factors of Development. +Introduction. +A. Phenomena of Development. +B. Factors of Development. +II. Cellular Basis of Heredity and Development. +A. Introductory. +B. The Germ Cells. +C. The Mechanism of Heredity. +D. The Mechanism of Development. +III. Phenomena of Inheritance. +A. Observations on Inheritance. +B. Statistical Study of Inheritance. +C. Experimental Study of Inheritance. +<pb n="254"/><anchor id="Pg254"/> +IV. Influence of Environment. +A. Relative Importance of Heredity and Environment. +B. Experimental Modifications of Development. +C. Functional Activity as a Factor of Development. +D. Inheritance or Non-inheritance of Acquired +Characters. +E. Applications to Human Development: Euthenics. +V. Control of Heredity: Eugenics. +A. Domesticated Animals and Cultivated Plants. +B. Control of Human Heredity. +VI. Genetics and Ethics. +</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +Glossary of books on this subject; for those who +desire to be more fully acquainted with the subjects +of heredity and development. Author. +</quote> + +<p> +<hi rend="sc">Morgan, T. H.</hi>, <q>Physical Basis of Heredity.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend="sc">East, E. M.</hi>, and <hi rend="sc">Jones, D. F.</hi>, +<q>Inbreeding and Outbreeding,</q> +etc. +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend="sc">Parker, G. H.</hi>, <q>The Elementary Nervous System.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend="sc">Harvey, E. N.</hi>, <q>The Nature of Animal Light.</q> +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n="255"/><anchor id="Pg255"/> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" level1="Appendix III. Engineering And Time-Binding"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="Appendix III. Engineering And Time-Binding"/> +<anchor id="Appendix_III"/> +<head>Appendix III. Engineering And Time-Binding</head> + +<p> +The Arts of Engineering, by their very nature, are derived +from the work of dead men and destined to serve not +only the present but the future. They are freer than any +other human activity from the errors of intermixing dimensions +and from the fallacy of belief in individualistic accomplishment +and pride. The simple steel structure of a bridge, +familiar to us in every day life, is a clear reminder to us +all of the arts of Hephæstus and the bound-up knowledge +of countless generations of smiths and mechanics, metallurgists +and chemists, mathematicians and builders, teachers and engineers +who toiled for many thousands of years to make possible +the riveted steel beams which are the elements of modern +structure. These structures do not collapse unless the +natural laws for their construction are transgressed; which +seldom happens—for no one is entrusted with the work unless +he has bound up in his knowledge the accumulated experience +of the past; yet the transgressors of these natural laws are +punished with all the severity of the common law. When a +bridge is opened and tested, the written laws in some +countries and the unwritten in others, and the pride and the +sense of responsibility of the designer and builder of the +bridge demand that he, the creator of the bridge, be the +first to enter it and the last to leave it; and should the bridge +collapse, he has to take the immediate consequences of his +neglect of the time-binding laws. +</p> + +<p> +Rarely are the affairs of engineering done with the entirely +selfish motive of merely acquiring immediate selfish gain, +<pb n="256"/><anchor id="Pg256"/> +for even when this could be traced—this unworthy thought +disappears in the halo of the glory of the accomplishment. +Mr. Eiffel did not erect his tower to haunt Paris with the +sight of a steel skeleton towering over the city of daring +thoughts. His tower stands to-day as a mechanical proof of +mathematical formulas proving the possibility of erecting tall, +self-supporting structures and thereby serving future humanity. +The Time-binding capacity of humans creates and formulates +new values for the service of mankind. Again, no +student of the Arts of Engineering could ever forget himself +to the point of claiming his accomplishments, no matter how +marvelous, all to himself. No wondrous discovery of modern +electricity, not even the talking from one hemisphere to +another, is rightly the accomplishment of any one man, for +the origin of the discovery can be traced at least as far back +as the days of that barefooted shepherd boy Magnus, who first +observed the phenomena of magnetism. +</p> + +<p> +In an attempt to trace and evaluate the time-binding faculties +manifested in the Arts of Engineering, one is at once +astonished, and bewildered, at the confusion and contradictions +unrealized in the mass of evidence, and how pathetic +and deplorable is the sight of hundreds of thousands of workers +in the field of engineering toil and creation who unconsciously +submit to the degradation, in silent consent, of seeing +their marvelous collective achievements chained to space-binding +aims. +</p> + +<p> +Upon the completion of this book I was astonished that +there are such a small number of engineers who have the +intuitive feeling of the greatness of the assets at their command +and of the gravity of their liabilities concerning affairs +of humanity. I was eager to have my book read and analysed +by a few leading engineers. The late H. L. Gantt being no +more with us, I then turned to Walter N. Polakov, Doctor +of Engineering; Industrial Counselor; Chairman of Committee +on Service and Information, Fuels Section, A.S.M.E., +<pb n="257"/><anchor id="Pg257"/> +and Robert B. Wolf, Vice-President of A.S.M.E. In them +I found, to the full, a very sympathetic understanding and +my esteem grew as I became more intimately acquainted with +the character of their work and their accomplishments. Both +have done a most remarkable work in their respective lines. +It will not be an exaggeration to say that their work, together +with the work of the late H. L. Gantt and Charles P. +Steinmetz, may be considered as the first—to my knowledge—corner-stones +of the science and art of Human Engineering, +and form the first few volumes and writings for the New +Library of the Manhood of Humanity. These books and +pamphlets are based on facts analysed scientifically, marking +the parting of the way of engineering thought from the past +subjection to speculative fetishes. +</p> + +<p> +Of all the pure and applied sciences, engineering alone has +the distinction of being the first to have the <emph>correct</emph> insight +into the human problem. The task of engineers was to convert +knowledge—brain work—<q>bound-up time</q>—into daily +bread by means of conserving time and effort. This concept +is naught else but the working out of the imperfect formulation +of the time-binding principle. It was inevitable, therefore, +that some engineers had already beaten the path in the +right direction. How straight and how far this sense of +dimensionality has led some of them in their practical work +may be seen from the work of Walter N. Polakov, in his +<hi rend='italic'>Mastering Power Production</hi>, Engineering Magazine, N. Y., +1921. +</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p> +<q rend="pre">It was not my intention to compile a text book on power +engineering; it was rather my care to avoid the treatment of +any technical subject which could be found elsewhere in engineering +literature; but I could not avoid trespassing in the +adjoining fields of psychology and economics, for without +familiarity with these sciences the mastery of power production +is a futile attempt.</q> +</p> +<p> +<q rend="pre">I do not hold that the principles upon which the method is +laid out are subject to choice or opinions, for they are based on +<pb n="258"/><anchor id="Pg258"/> +facts. Yet work of this character cannot be complete, or +examples may be illy chosen, for it deals with living and constantly +reshaping relations and applies to things in process of +development.</q> +</p> +<p> +<q>If this work and its underlying idea will facilitate the solving +of some of the problems now in the course of rapid evolution in +our industrial relations, I shall feel that my own and my readers' +time have not been altogether lost.</q> +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +Indeed the readers' time will not be lost. This book gives +an engineering, scientific—in the meantime practical—analysis +of all human problems. It is a deep and practical treatise +on all great questions concerning modern industrialism and +so-called economic problems and is a foundation for a new +scientific industrial philosophy. Another very clear outline +of the <hi rend='italic'>Principles of Industrial Philosophy</hi> was given by Mr. +Polakov in his paper presented at the annual meeting of the +American Society of Mechanical Engineers, December 7-10, +1920. Anyone who has anything to do with industrial or +economic problems cannot afford to overlook the important +and fundamental work in this book. +</p> + +<p> +It is obvious that a scientific knowledge of facts, is of the +greatest importance for anyone who cares to approach any +problem in a serious way. Statistics which are up-to-date are +therefore of primary importance. I had the privilege of reading +the manuscript of <hi rend='italic'>Quo Vadis America</hi>, the forthcoming +book of Mr. Polakov, where a most valuable statistical picture +of facts in modern America is given and the astonishing conclusions +which are to be drawn therefrom. I can only regret +that in Europe we have not such a knowledge written down +concerning European conditions. If more such books had +been written and <emph>read</emph> by the public, many crises and catastrophes +would have been avoided. +</p> + +<p> +The outstanding contribution of Mr. Robert B. Wolf to +engineering was made in his study of physiology, biology, +psychology and philosophy as applied to engineering. +</p> + +<pb n="259"/><anchor id="Pg259"/> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p> +<q rend="pre">If anyone wishes to inquire into the forces which have led +up to the individual development of mankind, he will find himself +at once plunged into the realm of psychology and mental +philosophy. I can heartily recommend such a course as immensely +profitable and of practical value.</q> +</p> +<p> +<q rend="pre">The five important facts, however, that have to do with the +subject in hand are:</q> +</p> +<p> +<q rend="pre"><hi rend='italic'>1st.</hi> That the human body is +such a wonderful organization +because it is the product of the forces of creation, acting through +millions of years of evolution.</q> +</p> +<p> +<q rend="pre"><hi rend='italic'>2nd.</hi> That its capacity for +progress depends upon the maintenance +of the unity resulting from this creative evolution and +upon a conscious recognition of this unity.</q> +</p> +<p> +<q rend="pre"><hi rend='italic'>3d.</hi> That this unity +would not have been possible without the +development of the nervous system.</q> +</p> +<p> +<q rend="pre"><hi rend='italic'>4th.</hi> That the conscious +intelligent progress made by mankind +could not have reached its present level until in the process +of evolution a mechanism had been built up in the nervous system +itself capable of recording the various impressions which the +senses are constantly receiving.</q> +</p> +<p> +<q rend="pre"><hi rend='italic'>5th.</hi> That the recording of +past events, with the power of +consciously recalling them for the solution of problems immediately +confronting it, is absolutely essential to its development.</q> +</p> +<p> +<q>Now, what I want to point out is that inasmuch as man's +progress depends upon the perfect co-ordination of his forces to +produce unity of action, we have no right to expect an industrial +organization to make progress which it must do as a unit +without the establishment of a conscious co-ordinating mechanism +similar to the nervous system in the human body.</q> <hi rend='italic'>Individuality +in Industry.</hi> By Robert B. Wolf. +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +Doctor Charles P. Steinmetz has given in his <hi rend='italic'>America and +the New Epoch</hi> a most correct engineering picture of the +political situation in the world, with a fine characterization +of the psychological peculiarities of the different races. +Although this book was written in 1916, that is, before the +end of the World War, it will be of permanent value; +because of its deep psychological analysis of the peoples and +their institutions which ultimately shape the development of +any nation and which do not change with victory or defeat. +</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p> +<q rend="pre">My tribute to the memory of Gantt will be, not only the +homage of a friend and admirer, but the proof that his philosophy +<pb n="260"/><anchor id="Pg260"/> +is scientifically true. A rigorous proof is necessary, +because the word <q>service</q> belongs to that category of words, +the meaning of which can be completely reversed by the verb, +be it <q>give</q> or <q>take.</q> Gantt took <q>rendering service</q> as an +axiom; my observation, shared with many others, is that our +civilization had quite another axiom, <q>we preach give, we +practice take.</q> The problem which interested me, was how to +find a way out of this contradiction that would be irrefutable. +If one of them is true and natural law for humans, then the +other is not; if our words are true, then our deeds are not true, +or if our deeds are true then the words are camouflage. I found +the solution, by applying mathematically rigorous thinking. +Mathematics, with its exact concept of dimensions, gave me the +method. The method we use in studying phenomena is analysis, +or speaking mathematically, differentiation. I soon found, that +the methods of differentiation are mostly correct, but our synthesis, +or process of integration made by the use of metaphysics +was faulty. The differentiation correctly lowered the dimensions, +but our faulty integration did not restore the original +dimensions. The investigation had to be made from the beginning, +by defining the phenomena of life, in a specific way, which +would not permit of any blunders in dimensions.</q> +</p> +<p> +<q rend="pre">I defined the classes of life by emphasizing their incontestable, +dimensional characteristics: plants are <q>Chemistry-binding,</q> +animals are <q>Space-binding,</q> Humans are <q>Time-binding</q> +classes of life.</q> +</p> +<p> +<q rend="pre">These definitions have the peculiarity that they make it +obvious, that: 1. The classes of life have different dimensions, +and that the intermixing of dimensions, as in mathematics it +makes a correct solution impossible, so in life, the results of such +elementary mistakes, produce tragic consequences.</q> +</p> +<p> +<q rend="pre">2. The old formula on which our civilization is built, +<hi rend="sc">human</hi> +equal <hi rend="sc">animal</hi> plus or multiplied by +<hi rend="sc">spark of divinity</hi> +is basically and elementarily wrong, and is mathematical nonsense, +which is identical to such an absurdity as <hi rend='italic'>x</hi> square inches +equal <hi rend='italic'>y</hi> linear inches plus or multiplied by +<hi rend='italic'>z</hi> cubic inches.</q> +</p> +<p> +<q rend="pre">3. A basically wrong formula on which our civilization +rests, is the cause of all the periodical collapses, wars and +revolutions.</q> +</p> +<p> +<q rend="pre">4. The old system was built on animal <q>space-binding</q> +standards, and human <q>time-binding</q> impulses were, all the +time, in rebellion.</q> +</p> +<p> +<q rend="pre">5. As the theory of gravitation and the calculus made engineers +and mathematicians masters of inanimate nature, so these +<pb n="261"/><anchor id="Pg261"/> +tangible and incontestable definitions give them a positive base +which will enable them to approach and solve human living +problems, by establishing the mathematical fact that man is +man, not an animal.</q> +</p> +<p> +<q rend="pre">6. All of those who are blinded by traditions and refuse to +investigate, or to know these mathematical truths, are a danger +to humanity in directly helping to obscure issues, and in helping +to maintain the faulty structure which, as in the past, is bound +to collapse again and again in the future.</q> +</p> +<p> +<q rend="pre">7. The duty of mathematically thinking people is to throw +such light on this problem as will stop the stupid, or willfully +destructive, and show whether they are working for, or against, +mankind.</q> +</p> +<p> +<q rend="pre">8. For the <q>time-binding</q> class of life, it is obvious then +that in this dimension, <q>time-binding</q> is the natural law, and, +if understood and analysed, it is the highest human aim.</q> +</p> +<p> +<q rend="pre">9. Such <q>natural laws</q> as <q>survival of the fittest</q> for animals, +which is the <q>survival of the fittest in space,</q> result in +fight, or the survival of the strongest; whereas such a law to be a +<hi rend="sc">natural law for humans</hi>, must be in the human +dimension which obviously would be the <q>Survival of the fittest +in <hi rend="sc">time</hi>,</q> resulting in the survival of the best.</q> +</p> +<p> +<q rend="pre">10. All known facts must be brought to the light, to be +summed up, and correlated by mathematicians and engineers +with the strictest attention to dimensionality.</q> +</p> +<p> +<q rend="pre">11. All of our ideas have to be revised; the animal <q>space-binding</q> +standards must be rejected as dangerous and destructive, +must be replaced by <q>time-binding</q> standards, which will +correspond to the natural impulses and <hi rend="sc">natural laws</hi> for +humans.</q> +</p> +<p> +<q rend="pre">12. The minds of mathematicians and engineers are by education +the first to see the far reaching importance of the facts +disclosed by these definitions, and just this realization will bring +about the readjustment of values in life to a human dimension, +wherein pending revolutions and wars could be turned into evolution, +destruction into construction, discord into accord of a +common aim.</q> +</p> +<p> +<q rend="pre">We are the masters of our own destinies, the responsibility is +ours to correct the mistakes of our ancestors and to establish a +scientific philosophy, scientifically true laws, scientifically true +ethics, and a scientific sociology, which will form one unified +science of man and his function in the universe, a science which +I propose to call <q>Human Engineering.</q> Gantt's methods +would be the first practical application toward this end.</q> +</p> + +<pb n="262"/><anchor id="Pg262"/> + +<p> +<q>Gantt's concept of rendering service is scientifically true +because it is <q>time-binding,</q> and therefore true for the human +class of life and in human dimension. This is why Gantt's +concepts have counted for so much and will survive <q><hi rend="sc">in time</hi>.</q></q> +Discussion by Alfred Korzybski of Mr. W. N. Polakov's +paper <q>Principles of Industrial Philosophy</q> presented at the +Annual Meeting of The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, +New York, December 7-10, 1920. +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +LITERATURE +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend="sc">Gantt, H. L.:</hi> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Work, Wages, and Profits.</q> The Engineering Magazine +Co., 1913. N. Y. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Industrial Leadership.</q> Yale University Press. 1916. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Organizing for Work.</q> Harcourt, Brace & Howe, 1919. N. Y. +</p> + +<p> +Selection from Contents: The Engineer as the Industrial +Leader. Economics and Democracy. Democracy in +Production. Democracy in the Shop. Democracy +in Management. <q>The Religion of Democracy.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend="sc">Polakov, Walter N.</hi>: +</p> + +<p> +<q>Mastering Power Production.</q> The Engineering Magazine Co. 1921. N. Y. +</p> + +<p> +Selection from Contents: The Descent of the Principle of +Production for Use. The Power Industry as an Economic +Factor. Mastering Labor Problems. (Conditions) +Autonomous Co-operation. Aims of Labor. Right to be +Lazy and the Right to a Job. Qualification of Men. The +Working Day. Fatigue. <hi rend="sc">universal labor</hi> +(<hi rend='italic'>Corresponding +exactly to Time-binding—Author</hi>). The Position +of an Engineer. Mastering Labor Problems. Compensation. +The Social Aspect. The Economic Aspect. +The Basis of Wages. Incentive Payments. Profit Sharing. +Premium Places. Rewarding Individual Efforts. +Two-rate wages. Energy as a Commodity. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Principles of Industrial Philosophy.</q> Presented at the +Annual Meeting of the A. S. of M. E., December, 1920. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Equipment and Machinery.</q> Y. M. C. A. Association Press. 1921. N. Y. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Organization and Management.</q> Y. M. C. A. Association Press. 1921. N. Y. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Quo Vadis America?</q> In preparation. +</p> + +<pb n="263"/><anchor id="Pg263"/> + +<p> +<hi rend="sc">Steinmetz, Charles P.</hi>: +</p> + +<p> +<q>America and the New Epoch.</q> Harper & Brothers. 1916. N. Y. +</p> + +<p> +Selection from Contents: The Individualistic Era: From +Competition to Co-operation. England in the Individualistic +Era. Germany in the Individualistic Era. The +Other European Nations in the Individualistic Era. +America in the Individualistic Era. Evolution: Industrial +Government. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Incentive and Initiative.</q> Y. M. C. A. Association Press. 1921. N. Y. +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend="sc">Wolf, Robert B.:</hi> Pamphlets. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Individuality in Industry.</q> Bulletin of the Society to +promote the Science of Management. Vol. I. No. 4. +August, 1915. +</p> + +<p> +<q>The Creative Workman.</q> Technical Association of the +Pulp and Paper Industry. 1918. N. Y. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Non-Financial Incentives.</q> Presented at the Annual +Meeting of the A. S. of M. E. December, 1918. N. Y. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Modern Industry and the Individual.</q> A. W. Shaw & Co. +1919. N. Y. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Securing the Initiative of the Workman.</q> American Economic +Association. 1919. N. Y. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Creative Spirit in Industry.</q> Y. M. C. A. Association +Press. 1921. N. Y. +</p> + +<p> +MISCELLANEOUS LIST OF BOOKS +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend="sc">Von Bernhardi</hi>, General F.: <q>Germany and the Next War.</q> +E. Arnold, London. 1912. +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend="sc">Brandeis, Louis</hi>: <q>Other People's Money and How the Bankers +Use it.</q> F. A. Stokes, N. Y. 1914. +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend="sc">Thomas Farrow</hi> and <hi rend="sc">Walter Crotch</hi>: +<q>The Coming Trade +War.</q> Chapman & Hall, London. 1916. +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend="sc">Hueffer, Ford Maddox</hi>: <q>When Blood is Their Argument.</q> +Hodder & Stoughton. 1915. N. Y. +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend="sc">Hauser, Henry</hi>: <q>Germany's Commercial Grip on the World, +Her Business Methods Explained.</q> E. Nash Co., London. +1917. +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend="sc">Laughlin, J. L.</hi>: <q>Credit of the Nations.</q> Scribner's Sons, +N. Y. 1918. +</p> + +<pb n="264"/><anchor id="Pg264"/> + +<p> +<hi rend="sc">Maetzu, Ramiro de</hi>: <q>Authority, Liberty and Function in the +Light of War.</q> Geo. Allen and Unwin. +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend="sc">Delaisi, Francis</hi>: French Opinion, <q>The Inevitable War.</q> +Small, Maynard & Co., Boston. 1915. +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend="sc">Neilson, Francis</hi>: English Opinion, <q>How Diplomats Make +War.</q> B. W. Huebsch. 1916. +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend="sc">By a German</hi> (German Opinion). <q>J'Accuse!</q> Hodder & +Stoughton, London. 1915. +</p> +</div> +</div> +</body> +<back rend="page-break-before: right"> + <div id="footnotes"> + <index index="toc" /> + <index index="pdf" /> + <head>Footnotes</head> + <divGen type="footnotes"/> + </div> + <div rend="page-break-before: right"> + <divGen type="pgfooter" /> + </div> +</back> +</text> +</TEI.2> diff --git a/25457-tei/images/023-1.png b/25457-tei/images/023-1.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..44ccc82 --- /dev/null +++ b/25457-tei/images/023-1.png diff --git a/25457-tei/images/023-2.png b/25457-tei/images/023-2.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..15eacd9 --- /dev/null +++ b/25457-tei/images/023-2.png diff --git a/25457-tei/images/061.png b/25457-tei/images/061.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..29ce00b --- /dev/null +++ b/25457-tei/images/061.png diff --git a/25457-tei/images/233.png b/25457-tei/images/233.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..67fe33f --- /dev/null +++ b/25457-tei/images/233.png diff --git a/25457-tei/images/248.png b/25457-tei/images/248.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4b80836 --- /dev/null +++ b/25457-tei/images/248.png diff --git a/25457-tei/images/249.png b/25457-tei/images/249.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..dbd0754 --- /dev/null +++ b/25457-tei/images/249.png diff --git a/25457-tei/images/250.png b/25457-tei/images/250.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..53e1ea4 --- /dev/null +++ b/25457-tei/images/250.png |
