第 34 节
作者:一意孤行      更新:2021-10-16 18:41      字数:9322
  energies to this purpose。
  The problem of Africa is; of course; a part of the wider problems of
  Imperialism;       but   it  is  that  part   in  which     the  application     of   Socialist
  principles   is   most   difficult。   In   regard   to   Asia;   and   more   particularly   in
  regard to India and Persia; the application of principles is clear in theory
  though   difficult   in   political     practice。   The   obstacles   to    self…government
  which   exist   in   Africa   do   not   exist   in   the   same   measure   in   Asia。   What
  stands   in   the   way  of   freedom   of Asiatic   populations   is   not   their   lack   of
  intelligence; but only their lack of military prowess; which makes them an
  easy     prey   to  our   lust   for  dominion。      This   lust   would     probably     be  in
  temporary abeyance on the morrow of a Socialist revolution; and at such a
  moment        a   new    departure      in   Asiatic    policy     might    be    taken    with
  permanently beneficial   results。  I do   not   mean;  of course;  that   we should
  force   upon   India   that   form   of   democratic   government   which   we   have
  developed for our own needs。 I mean rather that we should leave India to
  choose its own form of government; its own manner of education and its
  own type of civilization。 India has an ancient tradition; very different from
  that of Western Europe; a tradition highly valued by educated Hindoos; but
  not loved by our schools and colleges。 The Hindoo Nationalist feels that
  his   country   has   a   type   of   culture   containing   elements   of   value   that   are
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  absent; or much less marked; in the West; he wishes to be free to preserve
  this; and   desires political freedom  for   such   reasons rather   than   for those
  that   would   most   naturally   appeal   to   an   Englishman   in   the   same   subject
  position。 The belief of the European in his own Kultur tends to be fanatical
  and     ruthless;    and    for   this   reason;    as   much     as   for   any    other;    the
  independence   of   extra…European   civilization   is   of   real   importance   to   the
  world; for it is not by a dead uniformity that the world as a whole is most
  enriched。
  I   have   set   forth   strongly   all   the   major   difficulties   in   the   way   of   the
  preservation of the world's peace; not because I believe these difficulties to
  be   insuperable;   but;   on   the   contrary;   because   I   believe   that   they   can   be
  overcome if they are recognized。 A correct diagnosis is necessarily the first
  step toward a cure。 The existing evils in international relations spring; at
  bottom; from psychological causes; from motives forming part of human
  nature as it is at present。 Among these the chief are competitiveness; love
  of power; and envy; using envy in that broad sense in which it includes the
  instinctive   dislike   of   any   gain   to   others   not   accompanied   by   an   at   least
  equal gain to ourselves。 The evils arising from these three causes can be
  removed by a better education and a better economic and political system。
  Competitiveness   is   by   no   means   wholly   an   evil。   When   it   takes   the
  form   of   emulation   in   the   service   of   the   public;   or   in   discovery   or   the
  production of works of art; it may become a very useful stimulus; urging
  men   to   profitable   effort   beyond   what   they   would   otherwise   make。   It   is
  only harmful when it aims at the acquisition of goods which are limited in
  amount; so that what one man possesses he holds at the expense of another。
  When   competitiveness   takes   this   form  it   is   necessarily   attended   by   fear;
  and out of fear cruelty is almost inevitably developed。 But a social system
  providing for a more just distribution of material goods might close to the
  instinct   of   competitiveness   those   channels   in   which   it   is   harmful;   and
  cause it to flow instead in channels in which it would become a benefit to
  mankind。 This is one great reason why the communal ownership of land
  and capital would be likely to have a beneficial effect upon human nature;
  for human nature; as it exists in adult men and women; is by no means a
  fixed   datum;   but   a   product   of   circumstances;   education   and   opportunity
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  operating upon a highly malleable native disposition。
  What is true of competitiveness is equally true of love of power。 Power;
  in   the   form   in   which   it   is   now   usually   sought;   is   power   of   command;
  power   of   imposing   one's   will   upon   others   by   force;   open   or   concealed。
  This form of power consists; in essence; in thwarting others; for it is only
  displayed when others are compelled to do what they do not wish to do。
  Such power;  we  hope;  the social system  which is to   supersede  capitalist
  will   reduce    to  a  minimum       by   the  methods     which    we    outlined    in  the
  preceding chapter。 These methods can be applied in international no less
  than    in  national    affairs。   In  international     affairs  the   same    formula     of
  federalism   will   apply:   self…   determination   for   every   group   in   regard   to
  matters which concern it much more vitally than they concern others; and
  government by a neutral authority embracing rival groups in all matters in
  which conflicting interests of groups come into play; lout always with the
  fixed principle that the functions of government are to be reduced to the
  bare    minimum       compatible     with    justice   and   the  prevention     of   private
  violence。 In such a world the present harmful outlets for the love of power
  would be closed。 But the power which consists in persuasion; in teaching;
  in leading men to a new wisdom or the realization of new possibilities of
  happinessthis   kind   of   power;   which   may   be   wholly   beneficial;   would
  remain     untouched;      and   many   vigorous      men;    who    in  the  actual   world
  devote   their   energies   to   domination;   would   in   such   a   world   find   their
  energies directed to the creation of new goods rather than the perpetuation
  of ancient evils。
  Envy;   the   third   of   the   psychological   causes   to   which   we   attributed
  what is bad in the actual world; depends in most natures upon that kind of
  fundamental   discontent   which   springs   from   a   lack   of   free   development;
  from thwarted instinct; and from the impossibility of realizing an imagined
  happiness。 Envy cannot be cured by preaching; preaching; at the best; will
  only   alter   its   manifestations   and   lead   it   to   adopt   more   subtle   forms   of
  concealment。 Except in those rare natures in which generosity dominates
  in spite of circumstances; the only cure for envy is freedom and the joy of
  life。 From populations largely deprived of the simple instinctive pleasures
  of leisure and love; sunshine and green fields; generosity of outlook and
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  kindliness of dispositions are hardly to be expected。 In such populations
  these qualities are not likely to be found; even among the fortunate few;
  for   these   few   are   aware;   however   dimly;   that   they   are   profiting   by   an
  injustice; and that they can only continue to enjoy their good fortune by
  deliberately ignoring those with whom it is not shared。 If generosity and
  kindliness   are   to   be   common;   there   must   be   more   care   than   there   is   at
  present   for   the   elementary   wants   of   human   nature;   and   more   realization
  that the diffusion of happiness among all who are not the victims of some
  peculiar     misfortune     is  both   possible    and   imperative。     A   world    full  of
  happiness would not wish to plunge into war; and would not be filled with
  that   grudging   hostility   which   our   cramped   and   narrow   existence   forces
  upon   average   human   nature。   A   world   full   of   happiness   is   not   beyond
  human power to create; the obstacles imposed by inanimate nature are not
  insuperable。 The   real   obstacles   lie   in   the   heart   of   man;   and   the   cure   for
  these is a firm hope; informed and fortified by thought。
  CHAPTER VII
  SCIENCE AND ART UNDER SOCIALISM
  SOCIALISM has been advocated by most of its champions chiefly as
  a means of increasing the wel