They are supposed to indicate an upward
movement, some vague step in the direction of betterment which,
frankly, I confess myself unable to perceive. What is the use of
civilization if it makes a man unhappy and unhealthy? The uncivilized
African native is happy and healthy. The poor creatures among whom I
worked, in the slums of London, are neither the one nor the other; they
are civilized. I glance down the ages, and see nothing but--change! And
perhaps not even change. Mere differences of opinion as to the value of
this or that in different times and places."
"Pardon me! I was using the words in a specific sense. What I mean by
progress is the welding together of society for whatever ends. Progress
is a centripetal movement, obliterating man in the mass. Civilization
is centrifugal; it permits, it postulates, the assertion of
personality. The terms are, therefore, not synonymous. They stand for
hostile and divergent movements. Progress subordinates. Civilization
co-ordinates. The individual emerges in civilization.
Pages:
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585