proposed roads to freedom(通往自由之路)-第43节
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mastery； a joy which satisfies the spirit and not only the instincts； and
satisfaction of instinct and spirit at once is necessary to a happy life； or
indeed to any existence that is to bring out the best impulses of which a
man or woman is capable。
In the world which we should wish to see； there will be more joy of
life than in the drab tragedy of modern every…day existence。 After early
youth； as things are； most men are bowed down by forethought； no longer
capable of light…hearted gaiety； but only of a kind of solemn jollification
by the clock at the appropriate hours。 The advice to ‘‘become as little
children'' would be good for many people in many respects； but it goes
with another precept； ‘‘take no thought for the morrow；'' which is hard to
obey in a competitive world。 There is often in men of science； even when
they are quite old； something of the simplicity of a child： their absorption
in abstract thought has held them aloof from the world； and respect for
their work has led the world to keep them alive in spite of their innocence。
Such men have succeeded in living as all men ought to be able to live； but
as things are； the economic struggle makes their way of life impossible for
the great majority。
What are we to say； lastly； of the effect of our projected world upon
physical evil？ Will there be less illness than there is at present？ Will the
produce of a given amount of labor be greater？ Or will population press
upon the limits of subsistence； as Malthus taught in order to refute
Godwin's optimism？
I think the answer to all these questions turns； in the end； upon the
degree of intellectual vigor to be expected in a community which has done
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away with the spur of economic competition。 Will men in such a world
become lazy and apathetic？ Will they cease to think？ Will those who do
think find themselves confronted with an even more impenetrable wall of
unreflecting conservatism than that which confronts them at present？
These are important questions； for it is ultimately to science that mankind
must look for their success in combating physical evils。
If the other conditions that we have postulated can be realized； it
seems almost certain that there must be less illness than there is at present。
Population will no longer be congested in slums； children will have far
more of fresh air and open country； the hours of work will be only such as
are wholesome； not excessive and exhausting as they are at present。
As for the progress of science； that depends very largely upon the
degree of intellectual liberty existing in the new society。 If all science is
organized and supervised by the State； it will rapidly become stereotyped
and dead。 Fundamental advances will not be made； because； until they
have been made； they will seem too doubtful to warrant the expenditure of
public money upon them。 Authority will be in the hands of the old；
especially of men who have achieved scientific eminence； such men will
be hostile to those among the young who do not flatter them by agreeing
with their theories。 Under a bureaucratic State Socialism it is to be feared
that science would soon cease to be progressive and acquired a medieval
respect for authority。
But under a freer system； which would enable all kinds of groups to
employ as many men of science as they chose； and would allow the
‘‘vagabond's wage'' to those who desired to pursue some study so new as
to be wholly unrecognized； there is every reason to think that science
would flourish as it has never done hitherto。＇61＇ And； if that were the case；
I do not believe that any other obstacle would exist to the physical
possibility of our system。
＇61＇ See the discussion of this question in the preceding chapter。
The question of the number of hours of work necessary to produce
general material comfort is partly technical； partly one of organization。 We
may assume that there would no longer be unproductive labor spent on
armaments； national defense； advertisements； costly luxuries for the very
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rich； or any of the other futilities incidental to our competitive system。 If
each industrial guild secured for a term of years the advantages； or part of
the advantages； of any new invention or methods which it introduced； it is
pretty certain that every encouragement would be given to technical
progress。 The life of a discoverer or inventor is in itself agreeable： those
who adopt it； as things are now； are seldom much actuated by economic
motives； but rather by the interest of the work together with the hope of
honor； and these motives would operate more widely than they do now；
since fewer people would be prevented from obeying them by economic
necessities。 And there is no doubt that intellect would work more keenly
and creatively in a world where instinct was less thwarted； where the joy
of life was greater； and where consequently there would be more vitality in
men than there is at present。
There remains the population question； which； ever since the time of
Malthus； has been the last refuge of those to whom the possibility of a
better world is disagreeable。 But this question is now a very different one
from what it was a hundred years ago。 The decline of the birth…rate in all
civilized countries； which is pretty certain to continue； whatever economic
system is adopted； suggests that； especially when the probable effects of
the war are taken into account； the population of Western Europe is not
likely to increase very much beyond its present level； and that of America
is likely only to increase through immigration。 Negroes may continue to
increase in the tropics； but are not likely to be a serious menace to the
white inhabitants of temperate regions。 There remains； of course； the
Yellow Peril； but by the time that begins to be serious it is quite likely that
the birth…rate will also have begun to decline among the races of Asia If
not； there are other means of dealing with this question； and in any case
the whole matter is too conjectural to be set up seriously as a bar to our
hopes。 I conclude that； though no certain forecast is possible； there is not
any valid reason for regarding the possible increase of population as a
serious obstacle to Socialism。
Our discussion has led us to the belief that the communal ownership of
land and capital； which constitutes the characteristic doctrine of Socialism
and Anarchist Communism； is a necessary step toward the removal of the
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evils from which the world suffers at present and the creation of such a
society as any humane man must wish to see realized。 But； though a
necessary step； Socialism alone is by no means sufficient。 There are
various forms of Socialism： the form in which the State is the employer；
and all who work receive wages from it； involves dangers of tyranny and
interference with progress which would make it； if possible； even worse
than the present regime。 On the other hand； Anarchism； which avoids the
dangers of State Socialism； has dangers and difficulties of its own； which
make it probable that； within any reasonable period of time； it could not
last long even if it were established。 Nevertheless； it remains an ideal to
which we should wish to approach as nearly as possible； and which； in
some distant age； we hope may be reached completely。 Syndicalism shares
many of the defects of Anarchism； and； like it； would prove unstable； since
the need of a central government would make itself felt almost at once。
The system we have advocated is a form of Guild Socialism； leaning
more； perhaps； towards Anarchism than the official Guildsman would
wholly approve。 It is in the matters that politicians usually ignore science
and art； human relations； and the joy of life that Ana
