首页 >出版文学> Memoirs of the Comtesse du Barry>第4章
  IV
  Iwassayingamomentagothatourdoctrinemakeshistoryobjectiveandinacertainsensenaturalizesit,goingfromtheexplanationofthedata,evidentatfirstsight,ofthepersonalitiesactingwithdesign,andoftheauxiliaryconceptionsoftheaction,tothecausesandthemotivesofthewillandtheaction,inordertofindthereupontheco-ordinationofthesecausesandofthesemotivesinthepre-elementaryprocessusoftheproductionoftheimmediatemeansofexistence。
  Nowthisterm"naturalizing"hasledmorethanonemindintoconfusingthisorderofproblemswithanotherorderofproblems,thatistosay,intoextendingtohistorythelawsandthemannersofthinkingwhichhavealreadyappearedsuitabletothestudyandexplanationofthematerialworldingeneralandoftheanimalworldinparticular。AndbecauseDarwinismsucceededincarrying,thankstotheprincipleofthetransformationofspecies,thelastcitadelofthemetaphysicalfixityofthings,andindiscerning,intheorganisms,phases,asitwere,andmomentsofarealandpropernaturalhistory,ithasbeenimaginedthatitwasacommonplaceandsimpleenterprisetoborrowforanexplanationofthefutureandthehistoryofhumanlifetheconcepts,theprinciplesandthemethodsofexaminationtowhichthatanimallifeissubjectedwhichinconsequenceoftheimmediateconditionsofthestruggleforexistenceisunfoldingtotopographicalenvironmentsnotmodifiedbytheactionoflabor。Darwinism,politicalandsocial,has,likeanepidemic,formanyyearsinvadedthemindofmorethanonethinker,andmanymoreoftheadvocatesanddeclaimersofsociology,andithasbeenreflectedasafashionablehabitandaphraseologicalcurrenteveninthedailylanguageofthepoliticians。
  Itseemsatfirstsightthatthereissomethingimmediatelyevidentandinstinctivelyplausibleinthisfashionofreasoning,whichitmaybesaidisprincipallydistinguishedbyitsabuseofanalogyandbyitshasteindrawingconclusions。Maniswithoutdoubtananimal,andheislinkedbyconnectionsofdescentandaffinitytootheranimals。Hehasnoprivilegesoforiginorofelementarystructure,andhisorganismismerelyoneparticularcaseofgeneralphysiology。Hisfirstimmediatefieldwasthatofsimplenaturenotmodifiedbywork,andfromthencearederivedtheimperiousandinevitableconditionsofthestruggleforexistence,withtheconsequentformsofadaptation。Thencearebornracesinthetrueandauthenticsenseoftheword;thatistosay,insofarastheyareimmediatedeterminationsofblack,white,yellow,woolly-haired,straight-haired,etc。,andnotsecondaryhistorico-socialformations,thatistosay,peoplesandnations。Thenceareborntheprimitiveinstinctsofsociabilityandinlifeinpromiscuityarisethefirstrudimentsofsexualselection。
  Butifwecanreconstructinimaginationtheprimitivesavage,bycombiningourconjectures,itisnotgivenustohaveanempiricalintuitionofhim,justasitisnotgivenustodeterminethegenesisofthathiatus,thatistosay,thatbreakincontinuity,thankstowhichhumanlifeisfounddetachedfromanimallifetorise,inthesequel,toaneverhigherlevel。
  Allmenwholiveatthismomentontheearth’ssurfaceandallthosewho,havinglivedinthepast,weretheobjectsofanytrustworthyobservation,arefound,andwerefound,alreadysufficientlyremovedfromthemomentwhenpurelyanimallifehadceased。Acertainsociallifewithcustomsandinstitutions,evenifitbeofthemostelementaryformthatweknow,thatistosay,oftheAustraliantribes,dividedintoclassesandpractisingthemarriageofallthemenofoneclasswithallthewomenofanotherclass,separateshumanlifebyagreatintervalfromanimallife。Ifweconsiderthematernalgens,ofwhichtheclassictype,theIroquoistype,has,thankstoMorgan’swork,revolutionizedprehistoricscience,whilegivingusatthesametimethekeytotheoriginsofhistoryproperlysocalled,wehaveaformofsocietyalreadymuchadvancedbythecomplexityofitsrelations。Atthatstageofsociallifewhich,accordingtoourknowledge,seemsveryelementary,thatistosay,intheAustraliansociety,notonlydoesaverycomplicatedlanguagedifferentiatemenfromallotheranimals(andlanguageisaconditionandaninstrument,acauseandaneffectofsociability),butthespecializationofhumanlife,apartfromthediscoveryoffire,ismanifestedbytheuseofmanyotherartificialmeansbywhichtheneedsoflifearesatisfied。
  Acertainterritoryacquiredforthecommonuseofatribe,acertainartofhunting——theuseofcertaininstrumentsofdefenseandattackandthepossessionofcertainutensilsforpreservingthethingsacquired——andthentheornamentationofthebody,etc。,allthismeansthatatbottomthisliferestsuponanartificial,althoughveryelementary,basis,uponwhichmenendeavortofixthemselvesandadaptthemselves——uponabasiswhichisafteralltheconditionofallfurtherprogress。Accordingasthisartificialbasisismoreorlessformed,themenwhohaveproduceditandwholiveinitareconsideredmoreorlesssavageorbarbarous。Thisfirstformationconstituteswhatwemaycallpre-history。
  History,accordingtotheliteraryuseoftheword,namely,thatpartofthehumanprocessuswhosetraditionsarefixedinthememory,beginsatamomentwhentheartificialbasishasbeenformedforaconsiderablelengthoftime。Forexample,thecanalizationofMesopotamiagivesustheancientpre-SemiticBabylonianstate,whiletheextremelyancientEgyptiancivilizationrestsupontheapplicationoftheNiletoagriculture。Uponthisartificialbasis,whichappearsintheextremehorizonofknownhistory,lived,asnow,notshapelessmassesofindividuals,butorganizedgroupswhoseorganizationwasfixedbyacertaindistributionoftasks,thatistosay,oflaborandbyconsecutivemethodsofco-ordinationandsubordination。Theserelations,theseconnections,thesewaysoflivingwerenotandarenottheresultofthecrystallizationofcustomsundertheimmediateactionoftheanimalstruggleforexistence。Whatismore,theypresupposethediscoveryofcertaininstruments,and,forexample,thedomesticationofcertainanimals,theworkingofmineralsandevenofiron,theintroductionofslavery,etc。,instrumentsandmethodsofeconomywhichhavefirstdifferentiatedcommunitiesfromeachotherandhavesubsequentlydifferentiatedthecomponentpartsofthesecommunitiesthemselves。Inotherwords,theworksofmeninsofarastheylivetogetherreactuponthementhemselves。Theirdiscoveries,andtheirinventions,bycreatingartificialwaysofliving,haveproducednotonlyhabitsandcustoms(clothing,cookingoffood,etc。),butrelationsandbondsofcoexistenceproportionedandadaptedtothemodeofproductionandreproductionofthemeansofimmediatelife。
  Atthedawnoftraditionalhistoryeconomicsisalreadyoperating。Menareworkingtolive,onafoundationwhichhasbeeningreatpartmodifiedbytheirworkandwithtoolswhicharecompletelytheirwork。Andfromthatmomenttheyhavestruggledamongthemselvestoconquereachfromtheotherasuperiorpositionintheuseoftheseartificialmeans;thatistosay,theyhavestruggledamongthemselveswhetherasserfsandmasters,subjectsandlords,conqueredandconquerors,exploitedandexploiters,bothwheretheyhaveprogressedandwheretheyhaveretrogradedandwheretheyhavehaltedinaformwhichtheyhavenotbeencapableofoutgrowing,butneverhavetheyreturnedtotheanimallifebythecompletelossoftheirartificialfoundation。
  Historicalsciencehas,then,asitsfirstandprincipalobjectthedeterminationandtheinvestigationofthisartificialfoundation,itsorigin,itscomposition,itschangesanditstransformations。Tosaythatallthisisonlyapartandaprolongationofnature,istosayathingwhichbyitstooabstractandtoogenericcharacterhasnolongeranymeaning。
  Thehumanrace,infact,livesonlyinearthlyconditions,andwecannotsupposeittobetransplantedelsewhere。Undertheseconditionsithasfoundfromitsveryfirstbeginningsdowntothepresentdaytheimmediatemeansnecessaryforthedevelopmentoflabor,thatistosay,foritsmaterialprogressasforitsinnerformation。Thesenaturalconditionswereandtheyarealwaysindispensabletothesporadicagricultureofthenomads,whosometimescultivatedtheearthmerelyforthepasturageofanimals,aswellasfortherefinedproductsofintensivemodernhorticulture。Theseearthlyconditions,preciselyastheyhavefurnishedthedifferentsortsofstonessuitedforthefabricationofthefirstweapons,furnishnowalso,withcoal,theelementsofthegreatindustry;preciselyastheygavethefirstlaborersosiersandwillowstoplait,theygivenowallthematerialsnecessarytothecomplicatedtechniqueofelectricity。
  Itisnot,however,thenaturalmaterialsthemselveswhichhaveprogressed。
  Onthecontrary,itisonlymenwhoprogress,throughdiscoveringlittlebylittleinnaturetheconditionswhichpermitthemtoproduceinmoreandmorecomplexforms,thankstothelaboraccumulatedinexperience。Thisprogressdoesnotconsistmerelyinthesortofprogresswithwhichsubjectivepsychologyisconcernedthatistosay,theinnermodificationswhichwouldbetheproperanddirectdevelopmentoftheintellect,thereasoningandthethought。Moreover,thisinnerprogressisbutasecondaryandderivedproduct,inproportionasthereisalreadyaprogressrealizedintheartificialfoundationwhichisthesumofthesocialrelationsresultingfromtheformsandthedistributionsoflabor。Itis,then,ameaninglessaffirmationtosaythatallthisisbutasimpleprolongationofnature,unlessonewishestoemploythiswordinsogenericasensethatitnolongerindicatesanythingpreciseanddistinct;
  thatwhichisnotrealizedbytheworkofman。
  Historyistheworkofmaninsofarasmancancreateandimprovehisinstrumentsoflabor,andwiththeseinstrumentscancreateanartificialenvironmentwhosecomplicatedeffectsreactlateruponhimself,andwhichbyitspresentstateanditssuccessivemodificationsistheoccasionandtheconditionofhisdevelopment。Thereare,then,noreasonsforcarryingbackthatworkofmanwhichishistorytothesimplestruggleforexistence。
  Ifthisstrugglemodifiesandimprovestheorgansofanimals,andifingivencircumstancesandmethodsitproducesanddevelopsneworgans,itstilldoesnotproducethatcontinuous,perfectedandtraditionalmovementwhichisthehumanprocessus。OurdoctrinemustnotbeconfoundedwithDarwinism,anditneednotinvokeanewtheconceptionofamythical,mysticalormetaphoricalformoffatalism。Ifitistrueineffectthathistoryrests,beforeallelse,uponthedevelopmentoftechnique,thatistosay,ifitistruethatthesuccessivediscoveryoftoolsgivesrisetothesuccessivedistributionsoflabor,andtherewithtotheinequalitieswhosesumtotal,moreorlessstable,formsthesocialorganism,itisequallytruethatthediscoveryoftheseinstrumentsisatoncethecauseandtheeffectoftheseconditionsandofthoseformsoftheinnerlifetowhich,isolatingthembypsychologicalabstraction,wegivethenameofimagination,intellect,reason,thought,etc。Byproducingsuccessivelythedifferentsocialenvironment,thatistosay,thesuccessiveartificialfoundations,manhasproducedhimself,andinthisconsiststheseriouskernel,theconcretereason,thepositivefoundationofthatwhichbyvariousfantasticcombinationsandbyavariedlogicalarchitecturehassuggestedtotheideologiststhenotionoftheprogressofthehumanmind。
  Nevertheless,thisexpressionofnaturalizinghistory,which,understoodintoobroadandtoogenericasense,maybetheoccasionoftheequivocationsofwhichwehavespoken,whenitis,onthecontrary,employedwithproperprecautionandinatentativefashion,sumsupbrieflythecriticismofalltheideologicalviewswhich,intheinterpretationofhistory,startfromthishypothesis,thathumanworkoractivityareoneandthesamewithfreewill,freechoiceandvoluntarydesigns。
  Itwaseasyandconvenientforthetheologianstocarrybackthecourseofhumaneventstoapreconceivedplanordesign,becausetheypasseddirectlyfromthefactsofexperiencetoanassumedmindwhichruledtheuniverse。
  Thejurists,whofirsthadoccasiontodiscoverintheinstitutionswhichformedtheobjectoftheirstudiesacertainguidingthreadthroughtheformswhichmanifestlysucceededeachother,carriedover,astheystillcarryoverascheerfully,thereasoningfacultywhichistheirownduality,toserveasanexplanationforthewholevastsocialfabric,howevercomplicated。
  Themenofpolitics,whonaturallytaketheirpointofdepartureinthisdatumofexperience,thattheofficersofthestate,whetherbytheacquiescenceofthesubjectmassesorprofitingbytheantithesesofinterestsofthedifferentsocialgroups,maysetaimsforthemselvesandrealizethemvoluntarilyandindeliberatefashion——thesemenarebroughttoseeinthesuccessionofhumaneventsonlyavariationofthesedesigns,theseprojectsandtheseintentions。Nowourconception,whilerevolutionizingintheirfoundationsthehypothesesofthetheologians,thejuristsandthepoliticians,terminatesinthisaffirmation,thathumanlaborandactivityingeneralarenotalwaysoneandthesamethinginthecourseofhistorywiththewillwhichactswithdesign,withpreconceivedplansandwithitsfreechoiceofmeans;thatistosay,thattheyarenotoneandthesamethingwiththereasoningfaculty。
  Allthathashappenedinhistoryistheworkofman,butitwasnot,andisnot,withrareexceptions,theresultofacriticalchoiceorofareasoningdesire。Moreover,itwasandisthroughnecessitythat,determinedbyexternalneedsandoccasions,thisactivityengendersanexperienceandadevelopmentofinternalandexternalorgans。Amongtheseorganswemustincludeintelligenceandreasonwhichalsoaretheresultandconsequenceofrepeatedandaccumulatedexperience。Theintegralformationofmaninhishistoricaldevelopmentishenceforthnolongerahypotheticaldatumnorasimpleconjecture。Itisanintuitiveandpalpabletruth。Theconditionsoftheprocessuswhichengendersastepofprogressarehenceforthreducibleintoaseriesofexplanations;
  anduptoacertainpointwehaveunderoureyesthescheduleofallhistoricaldevelopments,morphologicallyconceived。Thisdoctrineistheclearanddefinitenegationofallideology,becauseitistheexplicitnegationofeveryformofrationalism,understandingbythiswordthisconcept,thatthingsintheirexistenceandtheirdevelopmentanswertoanorm,anideal,ameasure,anend,inanimplicitorexplicitfashion。Thewholecourseofhumaneventsisasum,asuccessionofseriesofconditionswhichmenhavemadeandlaiddownforthemselvesthroughtheexperienceaccumulatedintheirchangingsociallife,butitrepresentsneitherthetendencytorealizeapredeterminedendnorthedeviationofafirstprinciplefromperfectionandfelicity。
  Progressitselfimpliesmerelythatempiricalandcircumstantialnotionofathingwhichisatpresentdefinedinourmind,because,thankstothedevelopmentthusfarrealized,weareinapositiontoestimatethepastandtoforesee,atleastinacertainsenseandinacertainmeasure,thefuture。
  V
  Inthisfashionaseriousambiguityisdissolvedandtheerrorscarriedwithitareremoved。Reasonableandwellfoundedisthetendencyofthosewhoaimtosubordinatethesumtotalofhumaneventsintheircoursetotherigorousconceptionofdeterminism。Thereis,onthecontrary,noreasonforconfusingthisderived,reflexandcomplexdeterminismwiththedeterminismoftheimmediatestruggleforexistencewhichisproducedanddevelopedonafieldnotmodifiedbythecontinuedactionoflabor。Legitimateandwellfounded,inanabsolutefashion,isthehistoricalexplanationwhichproceedsinitscoursefromthevolitionswhichhavevoluntarilyregulatedthedifferentphasesoflife,tothemotivesandobjectivecausesofeverychoice,discoveredintheconditionsofenvironment,territory,accessiblemeansofexistenceandconditionsofexperience。Butthereis,onthecontrary,nofoundationforthatopinionwhichtendstothenegationofeveryvolitionbyconsequenceofatheoreticalviewwhichwouldsubstituteautomatismforvoluntarism。
  Thereisnothinginit,asamatteroffact,butapureandsimpleconceit。
  Whereverthemeansofproductionhavedeveloped,toacertainpoint,wherevertheartificialfoundationhasacquiredacertainconsistency,andwhereverthesocialdifferentiationsandtheirresultingantitheseshavecreatedtheneed,thepossibilityandtheconditionsofanorganizationmoreorlessstableorunstable,there,alwaysandnecessarily,appearpremeditateddesigns,politicalviews,plansofconduct,systemsoflawandfinallymaximsandgeneralandabstractprinciples。Inthecircleoftheseproducts,andofthesederivedandcomplexdevelopmentsoftheseconddegree,springupalsothesciencesandarts,philosophyandlearning,andhistoryasaliteraryfashionofproduction。Thiscircleiswhattherationalistsandtheideologists,ignorantofitsrealfoundations,havecalled,andcall,inanexclusivefashion,civilization。And,infact,ithashappened,andithappens,thatsomemen,andespeciallyprofessionalscientists,layorclerical,havefound,andfind,themeansofintellectuallivelihoodintheclosedcircleofthereflexandsecondaryproductsofcivilization,andthattheyhavebeenableandareableconsequentlytosubmitalltheresttothesubjectiveviewwhichtheyhaveelaboratedundertheseconditions;thatis,theoriginandexplanationofalltheideologies。Ourdoctrinehasdefinitelyoutgrownthevisualangleofideology。Thepremeditateddesigns,thepoliticalviews,sciences,systemsoflaw,etc。,insteadofbeingthemeansandtheinstrumentoftheexplanationofhistory,arepreciselywhatrequiretobeexplained,becausetheyarederivedfromdeterminedconditionsandsituations。Butthatdoesnotmeanthattheyarepureappearances,soapbubbles。Iftheyarethingswhichhavebeendevelopedandderived,thatdoesnotimplythattheyarenotrealthings;
  andthatissotruethattheyhavebeen,forcenturies,totheunscientificconsciousness,andtothescientificconsciousnessstillonthewaytowardsitsformation,theonlyoneswhichreallyexisted。
  Butthatisnotall。
  Ourdoctrine,likeothers,mayleadtoreverieandofferanoccasionandathemeforanewinvertedideology。Itwasbornonthebattlefieldofcommunism。
  Itassumestheappearanceofthemodernproletariatonthepoliticalstage,anditassumesthatalignmentupontheoriginsofourpresentsocietywhichhaspermittedustoreconstructinacriticalmannerthewholegenesisofthebourgeoisie。Itisadoctrinerevolutionaryfromtwopointsofview:
  becauseithasfoundthereasonsandthemethodsofdevelopmentoftheproletarianrevolutionwhichisinthemaking,andbecauseitproposestofindthecausesandtheconditionsofdevelopmentofallothersocialrevolutionswhichhavetakenplaceinthepast,intheclassantagonismswhicharrivedatacertaincriticalpoint,byreasonofthecontradictionbetweentheformsofproductionandthedevelopmentoftheproducingforces。Andthisisnotall。Inthelightofthisdoctrinewhatisessentialinhistoryissummedupinthesecriticalmoments,anditabandons,momentarilyatleast,whatunitesthesedifferentmomentstothelearnedministrationsoftheprofessionalnarrators。
  Asarevolutionarydoctrineitis,beforeallelse,theintellectualconsciousnessoftheactualproletarianmovementinwhich,accordingtoourassertion,thefutureofcommunismispreparinglongbeforehand;somuchsothattheopenadversariesofsocialismrejectitasanopinion,which,underascientificmask,isonlyworkingoutanotherutopia。
  Thusitmayhappen,andthathasalreadyresulted,thattheimaginationofpeopleunfamiliarwiththedifficultiesofhistoricresearch,andthezealoffanatics,findastimulusandanopportunityeveninhistoricmaterialismforforminganewideologyanddrawingfromitanewphilosophyofsystematichistory,thatistosay,historyconceivedasschemesortendenciesanddesigns。
  Andnoprecautioncansuffice。Ourintellectisrarelycontentedwithpurelycriticalresearch;itisalwaysattemptingtoconvertintoanelementofpedantryandintoanewscholasticismeverydiscoveryofthought。Inaword,eventhematerialisticconceptionofhistorymaybeconvertedintoaformofargumentationforathesisandservetomakenewfashionswiththeancientprejudiceslikethatofahistorybasedonsyllogisms,demonstrationsanddeductions。
  Toguardagainstthis,andespeciallytoavoidthereappearanceinanindirectanddisguisedfashionofanyformwhateveroffinality,itisnecessarytoresolvepositivelyupontwothings:First,thatallknownhistoricconditionsarecircumstanced,andsecond,thatprogresshasthusfarbeencircumscribedbyvariousobstaclesandthatforthisreasonithasalwaysbeenpartialandlimited。
  Onlyapart,and,untilrecenttimes,onlyasmallpartofthehumanrace,hastraversedcompletelyallthestagesoftheprocessusbytheeffectofwhichthemostadvancednationshavearrivedatmoderncivilsociety,withtheadvancedtechnicalformsfoundeduponthediscoveriesofscienceandwithalltheconsequences,political,intellectual,moral,etc。,whichcorrespondtothisdevelopment。BythesideoftheEnglish——totakethemoststrikingexample——who,transportingEuropeanmannerswiththemtoNewHolland,havecreatedthereacenterofproductionwhichalreadyholdsanotableplaceinthecompetitionoftheworld’smarket,therestilllive,likefossilsofprehistorictimes,theAustralianaborigines,capableonlyofdisappearing,butincapableofadaptingthemselvestoacivilizationwhichwasnotimportedamongthem,butnexttothem。InAmerica,andespeciallyinNorthAmerica,theseriesofeventswhichhavebroughtonthedevelopmentofmodernsocietybeganwiththeimportationfromEuropeofdomesticanimalsandagriculturaltools,theuseofwhichinancienttimesgavebirthtotheslowmovingcivilizationoftheMediterranean;butthismovementremainedentirelyinsidethecircleofthosedescendedfromtheconquerorsandcolonists,whiletheaboriginesarelostinthemassthroughtheinterminglingofracesorperishanddisappearcompletely。WesternAsiaandEgypt,whichalreadyinveryancienttimes,asthefirstcradleofallourcivilization,gavebirthtothegreatsemi-politicalformationswhichmarkedthefirstphasesofcertainandpositivehistory,haveappearedtousforcenturiesascrystallizationsofsocialformsincapableofmovingonofthemselvestonewphasesofdevelopment。Uponthemistheage-longweightofthebarbariccamp——thedominionoftheTurk。Intothisstiffenedmassisintroducedbysecretwaysamodernadministration,andinthenameofbusinessintereststherailroadsandthetelegraphspushin——boldoutpostsoftheconqueringEuropeanbank。Allthisstiffenedmasshasnohopeofresuminglife,heatandmotionexceptbytheruinoftheTurkishdominion,forwhicharebeingsubstitutedinthedifferentmethodsofdirectandindirectconquestthedominionandtheprotectorateoftheEuropeanbourgeoisie。
  Thataprocessoftransformationofbackwardnationsorofnationsarrestedintheirmarch,canberealizedandhastenedunderexternalinfluences,Indiastandsasaproof。Thiscountry,withitsownlifestillsurvivingre-entersvigorouslyundertheactionofEnglandintothecirculationofinternationalactivityevenwithitsintellectualproducts。Thesearenottheonlycontrastsinthehistoricphysiognomyofourcontemporaries。AndwhileinJapan,byanacuteandspontaneousphenomenonofimitation,therehasdeveloped,inlessthanthirtyyears,acertainassimilationofwesterncivilizationwhichisalreadymovingnormallythecountry’sownenergies,theforciblelawofRussianconquestisdraggingintothecircleofmodernindustry,andevenintogreatindustry,certainnotableportionsofthecountrybeyondtheCaspian,asanoutpostoftheapproachingacquisitiontothesphereofcapitalismofCentralAsiaandUpperAsia。ThegiganticmassofChinaappearedtousbutafewyearsagoasmotionlessinthehereditaryorganizationofitsinstitutions,soslowiseverymovementthere,whileforethnicandgeographicalreasonsalmostallAfricaremainedimpenetrable,and,itseemed,evenuptothelastattemptsatconquestandcolonization,thatitwasdestinedtoofferonlyitsborderstotheprocessofcivilization,asifwewerestillinthetimesnotevenofthePortuguese,butoftheGreeksandCarthaginians。
  Thesedifferentiationsofmenonthetrackofwrittenandunwrittenhistoryseemtouseasilyexplicablewhentheycanbereferredtothenaturalandimmediateconditionswhichimposelimitsuponthedevelopmentoflabor。ThisisthecasewithAmerica,whichuptothearrivaloftheEuropeanshadbutonecereal,maize,andbutonedomesticanimalforlabor,thellama,andwecanrejoicethattheEuropeansimportedwiththemselvesandtheirtoolstheox,theassandthehorse,corn,cotton,sugarcane,coffeeandfinallythevineandtheorangetree,creatingthereanewworldofthatglorioussocietywhichproducesmerchandiseandwhichwithanextraordinaryswiftnessofmovementhasalreadytraversedthetwophasesoftheblackestslaveryandthemostdemocraticwagesystem。Butwherethereisarealhaltandevenanattestedretrogression,asinWesternAsia,inEgypt,intheBalkanPeninsulaandinNorthernAfrica——andthisarrestcannotbeattributedtothechangeofnaturalconditions——wefindtheproblembeforeuswhichisawaitingitssolutionfromthedirectandexplicitstudyofthesocialstructurestudiedintheinternalmodesofitsdevelopment,asintheinterlacingsandcomplicationsofthedifferentnationsuponthatfieldwhichisordinarilycalledthesceneofhistoricstruggles。
  ThissamecivilizedEurope,whichbythecontinuityofitstradition,presentsthemostcompletediagramofitsprocessus,somuchsothatuponthismodelhavebeenconceivedandconstructed,thusfar,allthesystemsofhistoricalphilosophy,thisWesternandCentralEurope,whichproducedtheepochofthebourgeoisieandhassoughtandisseekingtoimposethatformofsocietyuponthewholeworldbydifferentmodesofconquest,directorindirect——thisEuropeisnotcompletelyuniforminthedegreeofitsdevelopment,anditsvariousagglomerations,national,localandpolitical,appeardisturbed,asitwere,overadecidedlyslopingladder。Uponthesedifferencesdependtheconditionsofrelativesuperiorityandinferiorityofonecountrytoanotherandthereasons,moreorlessadvantageousordisadvantageous,foreconomicexchange;andthereonhavedepended,andstilldepend,notonlythefrictionsandthestruggles,thetreatiesandthewars,butalsoeverythingthatwithmoreorlessprecisionthepoliticalwritershavebeenabletorelatetoussincetheRenaissance,andcertainlywithincreasingevidence,fromLouisXIVandColberttoourowntime。
  ThisEuropeinitselfishighlyvariegated。Hereistheconsummateflowerofindustrialandcapitalistproduction,namely,England,whileatotherpointssurvivestheartisan,vigorousorrickety,atParisandatNaples,tograspthefactinitsextremepoints。Herethelandisalmostindustrialized,asinEnglandandelsewherevegetates,invarioustraditionalforms,thestupidpeasant,asinItalyandinAustria,andinthelattercountrymorethanintheformer。Inonecountrythepoliticallifeofthestate——suitedtotheprosaicconsciousnessofabourgeoisiewhichknowsitsbusinessbecauseithasconqueredthespacethatitoccupies——isexertedinthesurestandmostopenfashionofanexplicitclassdomination(itwillbeunderstoodthatIamspeakingofFrance)。Elsewhere,andparticularlyinGermany,theoldfeudalcustoms,thehypocrisyofProtestantismandthecowardiceofabourgeoisiewhichexploitsfavorableeconomiccircumstanceswithoutbringingtothemeitherintelligenceorrevolutionarycourage,strengthentheexistingstatebypreservingthelyingappearancesofanethicalmissiontobeaccomplished。
  (Withhowmanyunpalatablesaucesthisstateethics,Prussianintothebargain,hasbeenservedupbytheheavyandpedanticGermanprofessors!)Hereandtheremoderncapitalistproductionisedgingitswayintocountrieswhichfromotherpointsofviewdonotenterintoourmovementandespeciallyintoitspoliticalside,asisthecasewithunhappyPoland;oragainthisformonlypenetratesindirectly,asintheSlavoniccountries。Butnowcomesthesharpestcontrast,whichseemsdestinedtoputunderoureyes,asinanepitome,allthephrases,eventhemostextreme,ofourhistory。
  Russiacouldnothaveadvanced,asitisnowadvancing,towardthegreatindustry,withoutdrawingfromWesternEurope,andespeciallyfromourcharmingFrenchChauvinsim,thatmoneywhichshewouldinvainhavesoughtwithinherownborders,thatistosay,fromtheconditionsofherobeseterritorialmass,wherevegetateinancienteconomicformsfiftymillionpeasants。Russia,inordertobecomeaneconomicmodernsocietyripeningtheconditionsofacorrespondingpoliticalrevolution,andpreparingthemeanswhichwillfacilitatetheadditionofalargepartofAsiatothecapitalistmovement,hasbeenledtodestroythelastrelicsofagrariancommunism(whetheritsoriginsbeprimitiveorsecondary)whichhadbeenpreservedwithinherselfuptothispointinsuchcharacteristicformsandonsolargeascale。Russiamustcapitalizeherself,andtothisendshemust,tostartwith,convertlandintomerchandisecapableofproducingmerchandise,andatthesametimetransformintomiserableproletarianstheex-communistsoftheland。
  And,onthecontrary,inWesternandCentralEuropewefindourselvesattheoppositepointoftheseriesofdevelopmentwhichhasscarcelybeguninRussia。Here,withus,wherethebourgeoisie,withvariedfortunesandtriumphingoversuchavarietyofdifficulties,hasalreadytraversedsomanystagesofitsdevelopment,itisnottherecollectionofprimitiveorsecondarycommunism,whichscarcelysurvivesthroughlearnedcombinationsintheheadsofscholars,buttheveryformofbourgeoisproduction,whichengendersintheproletariansthetendencytosocialism,whichpresentsitselfinitsgeneraloutlinesasanindicationofanewphaseofhistoryandnotastherepetitionofwhatisinevitablyperishingintheSlavoniccountriesunderoureyes。
  Whocouldfailtoseeintheseillustrations,whichIhavenotsoughtout,butwhichhavecomealmostbychance,andwhichcanbeindefinitelyprolongedinavolumeofeconomic-politicalgeographyofthepresentworld,theevidentproofofthemannerinwhichhistoricconditionsareallcircumstancedintheformsoftheirdevelopment。Notonlyracesandpeoples,nationsandstates,butpartsofnationsandvariousregionsofstates,evenordersandclasses,arefound,asitwere,uponsomanyroundsofaverylongladder,or,rather,uponthevariouspointsofacomplicatedandslowlydevelopingcurve。Historictimehasnotmarcheduniformlyforallmen。Thesimplesuccessionofgenerationshasneverbeentheindexoftheconstancyandintensityoftheprocessus。Timeasanabstractmeasureofchronologyandthegenerationswhichsucceedoneanotherinapproximateperiodsgivenocriterionandfurnishnoindicationoflaworofprocess。Thedevelopmentsthusfarhavebeenvariedbecausethethingsaccomplishedinoneandthesameunitoftimewerevaried。
  Betweenthesevariedformsofdevelopmentthereisanaffinityorratherasimilarityofmovements,thatis,ananalogyoftype,oragainanidentityofform;thustheadvancedformsmaybysimplecontactorbyviolenceacceleratethedevelopmentofbackwardforms。Buttheimportantthingistocomprehendthatprogress,ournotionofwhichisnotmerelyempirical,butalwayscircumstancedandthuslimited,isnotsuspendedoverthecourseofhumaneventslikeadestinyorafate,norlikeacommandment。Andforthisreasonourdoctrinecannotservetorepresentthewholehistoryofthehumanraceinaunifiedperspectivewhichrepeats,mutatismutandis,thehistoricphilosophyfromthesistoconclusion,fromSt。AugustinetoHegel,or,better,fromtheprophetDanieltoM。DeRougemont。
  Ourdoctrinedoesnotpretendtobetheintellectualvisionofagreatplanorofadesign,butitismerelyamethodofresearchandofconception。
  ItisnotbyaccidentthatMarxspokeofhisdiscoveryasaguidingthread,anditispreciselyforthisreasonthatitisanalogoustoDarwinism,whichalsoisamethod,andisnotandcannotbeamodernrepetitionoftheconstructedorconstructivenaturalphilosophyasusedbyShellingandhisschool。
  ThefirsttodiscoverinthenotionofprogressanindicationofsomethingcircumstantialandrelativewasthegenialSaintSimon,whoopposedhiswayofseeingtothedoctrineoftheeighteenthcenturyrepresentedbythepartyofCondorcet。Tothatdoctrine,whichmaybecalledunitary,equalitarian,formal,becauseitregardsthehumanraceasdevelopingupononelineofprocess,SaintSimonopposestheconceptionofthefacultiesandoftheaptitudeswhichsubstitutethemselvesandcompensateforeachother,andthusheremainsanideologist。
  Topenetratethetruereasonsfortherelativityofprogressanotherthingwasnecessary。Itwasnecessary,firstofall,torenouncethoseprejudiceswhichareinvolvedinthebeliefthattheobstaclestotheuniformityofhumandevelopmentrestexclusivelyuponnaturalandimmediatecauses。Thesenaturalobstaclesareeithersufficientlyproblematical,asisthecasewithraces,nooneofwhichshowstheprivilegeofbirthinitshistory,ortheyare,asisthecaseingeographicaldifferences,insufficienttoexplainthedevelopmentofthecompletelydifferenthistorico-socialconditionsononeandthesamegeographicalfield。Andasthehistoricmovementdatespreciselyfromthetimewhenthenaturalobstacleshavealreadybeeningreatparteithervanquishedornotablycircumscribed,thankstothecreationofanartificialfielduponwhichithasbeengiventomentodevelopthemselvesfurther,itisevidentthatthesuccessiveobstaclestotheuniformityofprogressmustbesoughtintheproperandintrinsicconditionsofthesocialstructureitself。
  Thisstructurehasthusfarstartedinformsofpoliticalorganization,theobjectofwhichistotrytoholdinequilibriumtheeconomicinequalities;
  consequentlythisorganization,asIhavesaidmorethanonceisconstantlyunstable。Fromthepointwherethereisaknownhistory,itisthehistoryofsocietytendingtoformthestate,orhavingalreadyconstructeditcompletely。
  Andthestateisthisstruggle,withinandwithout,becauseitis,aboveall,theorganandtheinstrumentofalargerorsmallerpartofsocietyagainstalltherestofsocietyitself,insofarasthelatterrestsupontheeconomicdominationofmanovermaninamoreorlessdirectandexplicitfashion,accordingasthedifferentdegreeofthedevelopmentofproduction,ofitsnaturalmeansanditsartificialinstruments,requireseitherchattelslavery,ortheserfdomofthesoil,orthe"free"wagesystem。
  Thissocietyofantitheses,whichformsastate,isalways,althoughindifferentformsandvariousmodes,theoppositionofthecitytothecountry,oftheartisantothepeasant,oftheproletariantotheemployer,ofthecapitalisttothelaborer,andsoonadinfinitum,anditalwaysends,withvariouscomplicationsandvariousmethods,inanhierarchy,whetheritbeinafixedscaffoldingofprivilege,asintheMiddleAges,orwhether,underthedisguisedformsofsupposedequalrightsforall,itbeproducedbytheautomaticactionofeconomiccompetition,asinourtime。
  Tothiseconomichierarchycorresponds,accordingtovariousmodes,indifferentcountries,indifferenttimes,indifferentplaces,whatImaycallalmostahierarchyofsouls,ofintellects,ofminds。Thatistosay,thatculture,which,fortheidealists,constitutesthesumofprogress,hasbeenandisbythenecessitiesofthecaseveryunequallydistributed。
  Thegreaterportionofmankind,bythequalityoftheiroccupations,arecomposedofindividualswhoaredisintegrated,brokenintofragmentsandrenderedincapableofacompleteandnormaldevelopment。Totheeconomicsofclassesandtothehierarchyofsocialpositionscorrespondsthepsychologyofclasses。Therelativityofprogressisthenforustheinevitableconsequenceofclassdistinctions。Thesedistinctionsconstitutetheobstacleswhichexplainthepossibilityofrelativeretrogression,uptothepointofdegeneracyandofthedissolutionofanentiresociety。Themachines,whichmarkthetriumphofscience,become,byreasonoftheantitheticconditionsofthesocialplexus,instrumentswhichimpoverishmillionsandmillionsofartisansandfreepeasants。Theprogressoftechnique,whichfillsthetownswithmerchandise,makesmoremiserableandabjecttheconditionofthepeasants,andinthecitiesthemselvesitfurtherhumblestheconditionofthehumble。
  Alltheprogressofsciencehasservedthusfartodifferentiateaclassofscientistsandtokeepeverfurtherfromculturethemasseswho,attachedtotheirceaselessdailytoil,arethusfeedingthewholeofsociety。
  Progresshasbeenandis,uptothepresenttime,partialandone-sided。
  Theminoritieswhichshareinitcallthishumanprogress;andtheproudevolutionistscallthishumannaturewhichisdeveloping。Allthispartialprogress,whichhasthusfardevelopedupontheoppressionofmanbyman,hasitsfoundationintheconditionsofopposition,bywhicheconomicdistinctionshaveengenderedallthesocialdistinctions;fromtherelativelibertyofthefewisborntheservitudeofthegreaternumber,andlawhasbeentheprotectorofinjustice。Progress,thusseenandclearlyappreciated,appearstousasthemoralandintellectualepitomeofallhumanmiseriesandofallmaterialinequalities。
  Todiscoverthisinevitablerelativityitwasnecessarythatcommunism,bornatfirstasaninstinctivemovementinthesouloftheoppressed,shouldbecomeascienceandapoliticalparty。Itwasthennecessarythatourdoctrineshouldgivethemeasureofvalueforallpasthistory,bydiscoveringineveryformofsocialorganization,antitheticalinitsoriginandorganization,astheyhaveallbeenuptothistime,theinnateincapacityforproducingtheconditionsofauniversalanduniformhumanprogress,thatistosay,bydiscoveringthefetterswhichturneachbenefitintoaninjury。
  VI
  Thereisonequestionwhichwecannotevade:Whathasgivenbirthtothebeliefinhistoricfactors?
  Thatisanexpressionfamiliartomanyandoftenfoundinthewritingsofmanyscholars,scientistsandphilosophers,andofthosecommentatorswho,bytheirreasoningsorbytheircombinations,addalittletosimplehistoricnarrationandutilizethisopinionasanhypothesistofindastartingpointintheimmensemassofhumanfacts,which,atfirstsightandafterfirstexamination,appearsoconfusedandirreducible。Thisbelief,thiscurrentopinion,hasbecomeforreasoninghistorians,orevenforrationalists,asemi-doctrine,whichhasrecentlybeenurgedseveraltimes,asadecisiveargument,againsttheunitarytheoryofthematerialisticconception。Andindeed,thisbeliefissodeeplyrootedandthisopinionsowidespread,ofhistorybeingonlyintelligibleasthejunctureandthemeetingofvariousfactors,that,inconsequence,manyofthosewhospeakofsocialmaterialism,whethertheybeitspartisansoradversaries,believethattheysavethemselvesfromembarrassmentbyaffirmingthatthiswholedoctrineconsistsinthefactthatitattributesthepreponderanceorthedecisiveactiontotheeconomicfactor。
  Itisveryimportanttotakeaccountofthefashioninwhichthisbelief,thisopinion,orthissemi-doctrinetakesitsrise,becauserealandfruitfulcriticismconsistsprincipallyinknowingandunderstandingthemotiveofwhatwedeclareanerror。Itdoesnotsufficetorejectanopinionbycharacterizingitasfalsedoctrine。Erroralwaysarisesfromsomeill-understoodsideofanincompleteexperience,orfromsomesubjectiveimperfection。Itdoesnotsufficetorejecttheerror;wemustovercomeit,explainitandoutgrowit。
  Everyhistorian,atthebeginningofhiswork,performs,sotospeak,anactofelimination。First,hemakeserasures,asitwere,inacontinuousseriesofevents;thenhedispenseswithnumerousandvariedsuppositionsandprecedents;morethanthis,hetearsupanddecomposesacomplicatedtissue。Thus,tobeginwith,hemustfixapoint,aline,aboundary,ashechooses;hemustsay,forexample:IwishtorelatethebeginningofthewarbetweentheGreeksandthePersians,ortoinquirehowLouisXVI。wasbroughttoconvenetheStatesGeneral。Thenarratorfindshimself,inaword,confrontedwithacomplexusofaccomplishedfactsandoffactsonthepointofbeingproduced,whichintheirtotalitypresentacertainaspect。Upontheattitudewhichhetakesdependstheformandthestyleofeverynarration,becausetocomposeithemusttakehispointofdeparturefromthingsalreadyaccomplished,inordertoseehenceforthhowtheyhavecontinuedtodevelop。
  Yetintothiscomplexushemustintroduceacertaindegreeofanalysis,resolvingitintogroupsandintoaspectsoffacts,orintoconcurrentelements,whichafterwardsappearatacertainmomentasindependentcategories。Itisthestateinacertainformandwithcertainpowers;itisthelaws,whichdetermine,bywhattheycommandorwhattheyprohibit,certainrelations;
  itisthemannersandcustomswhichrevealtoustendencies,needs,waysofthinking,ofbelieving,ofimagining;altogetheritisamultitudeofmenlivingandworkingtogether,withacertaindistributionoftasksandoccupations;heobservesthenthethoughts,theideas,theinclinations,thepassions,thedesires,theaspirationswhichariseanddevelopfromthisvariedmodeofcoexistenceandfromitsfrictions。Letachangebeproduced,anditwillshowitselfinoneofthesidesoroneoftheaspectsoftheempiricalcomplexus,orinallofthesewithinalongerorashortertime;
  forexample,thestateextendsitsboundaries,orchangesitsinternallimitsasregardssocietybyincreasingordiminishingitspowersanditsattributes,orbychangingthemodeofactionofoneortheother;or,again,thelawmodifiesitsdispositions,oritexpressesandaffirmsitselfthroughneworgans;or,again,finally,behindthechangeofexterioranddailyhabits,wediscoverachangeinthesentiments,thethoughtsandtheinclinationsofthemenvariouslydistributedinthedifferentsocialclasses,whomingle,change,replaceeachother,disappearorreappear。Allthismaybesufficientlyunderstood,initsexteriorformsandoutlines,throughtheusualendowmentsofnormalintelligencewhichisnotyetaided,correctedorcompletedbysciencestrictlyso-called。Assemblingwithinpreciselimitsaconceptionofsuchfactsisthetrueandproperobjectofnarration,whichissomuchtheclearer,morevividandmoreexact,asittakestheformofamonograph;
  witnessThucydidesinthePeloponnesianwar。
  Societyalreadyevolvedinacertainfashion,societyalreadyarrivedatacertaindegreeofdevelopment,societyalreadysocomplicatedthatitconcealstheeconomicsubstructurewhichsupportsalltherest,hasnotrevealeditselftothesimplenarrators,exceptinthesevisiblefacts,inthesemostapparentresults,andinthesemostsignificantsymptomswhicharethepoliticalforms,thelegaldispositionsandthepartisanpassions。Thenarrator,bothbecausehelacksanytheoreticaldoctrineregardingthetruesourcesofthehistoricmovement,andbytheveryattitudewhichhetakesonthesubjectofthethingswhichheunitesaccordingtotheappearanceswhichtheyhavecometoassume,cannotreducethemtounity,unlessitbeasaresultofasingle,immediateintuition,andifheisanartist,thisintuitiontakesonacolorinhismindandtransformsitselfthereintodramaticaction。
  Histaskisfinishedifhesucceedsinmassingacertainnumberoffactsandeventsincertainlimitsandconfinesoverwhichtheobservermaylookasonaclearperspective;inthesameway,purelydescriptivegeographyhasaccomplisheditstask,ifitsumsupinavividandcleardesignaconcourseofphysicalcauseswhichdeterminetheimmediateaspectoftheGulfofNaples,forexample,withoutgoingbacktoitsgenesis。
  Itisinthisneedofgraphicnarrationthatarisesthefirstintuitive,palpable,and,Imightalmostsay,estheticandartisticoccasionforallthoseabstractionsandthosegeneralizations,whicharefinallysummedupinthesemi-doctrineoftheso-calledfactors。
  Herearetwonotablemen,theGracchi,whowishedtoputanendtotheprocessofappropriationofthepubliclandandtopreventtheagglomerationofthelatifundium,whichwasdiminishingorcausingtocompletelydisappeartheclassofsmallproprietors,thatistosay,ofthefreemen,whoarethefoundationandtheconditionofthedemocraticlifeoftheancientcity。
  Whatwerethecausesoftheirfailure。Theiraimisclear,theirspirit,theirorigin,theircharacter,theirheroismaremanifest。Theyhaveagainstthemothermenwithotherinterestsandwithotherdesigns。Thestruggleappearstothemindatfirstmerelyasastruggleofintentionsandpassions,whichunfoldsandcomestoanendbytheaidofmeanswhicharepermittedbythepoliticalformofthestateandbytheuseorabuseorthepublicpowers。Hereisthesituation:thecityrulingindifferentmannersoverothercitiesoroverterritorieswhichhavelostallcharacterofautonomy;
  withinthiscityaverydecideddifferentiationbetweenrichandpoor;andfacingthecomparativelysmallgroupoftheoppressorsandtheall-powerful,standstheimmensemassoftheproletarians,whoareonthepointoflosingorwhohavealreadylosttheconsciousnessandthepoliticalstrengthofabodyofcitizens,themasswhichthereforesuffersitselftobedeceivedandcorrupted,andwhichwillsoondecaytillitisbutaservileaccessorytoitsaristocraticexploiters。Thereisthematerialofthenarrator,andhecannottakeaccountofthefactotherwisethanintheimmediateconditionsofthefactitself。Thecompletewholeisdirectlyseenandformsthestageonwhichtheeventsunfold,butifthenarrationistohavesolidity,vividnessandperspectivetheremustbepointsofdepartureandwaysofinterpretation。
  Inthisconsiststhefirstoriginofthoseabstractions,whichlittlebylittletakeawayfromthedifferentpartsofagivensocialcomplexustheirqualityofsimplesidesoraspectsofawhole,anditistheirensuinggeneralizationwhichlittlebylittleleadstothedoctrineoffactors。
  Thesefactors,toexpressitinanotherway,ariseinthemindasasequenceoftheabstractionandgeneralizationoftheimmediateaspectsoftheapparentmovement,andtheyhaveanequalvaluewiththatofallotherempiricalconcepts。
  Whateverbethedomainofknowledgeinwhichtheyarise,theypersistuntiltheyarereducedandeliminatedbyanewexperience,oruntiltheyareabsorbedbyaconceptionmoregeneral,genetic,evolutionaryordialectic。Wasitnotnecessarythatintheempiricalanalysisandintheimmediatestudyofthecausesandtheeffectsofcertaindefinitephenomena,forexamplethephenomenaofheat,themindshouldfirststopatthispresumptionandthispersuasion,thatitcouldandshouldattributethemtoasubject,whichifitwasneverforanyphysicistatrueandsubstantialentity,wascertainlyconsideredasadefiniteandspecificforce,namely,heat。Nowweseethatatagivenmoment,asaresultofnewexperiences,thisheatisresolvedingivenconditionsintoacertainquantityofmotion。Stillfurther,ourthoughtisnowonthewaytowardresolvingallthesephysicalfactorsintothefluxofoneuniversalenergy,inwhichthehypothesesoftheatoms,intheextenttowhichitisnecessary,losesallresidueofmetaphysicalsurvival。
  Wasitnotinevitable,asafirststepofknowledgeinwhatconcernstheproblemoflife,tospendaconsiderabletimeintheseparatestudyoftheorgansandtoreducethemtosystems?Withoutthisanatomy,whichseemstoomaterialandtoogross,noprogressinthesestudieswouldhavebeenpossible;
  andnevertheless,abovetheunknowngenesisandco-ordinationofsuchananalyticmultiplicity,therewereevolving,uncertainandvague,thegenericconceptionsoflife,soul,etc。Inthesementalcreationshavelongbeenseenthatbiologicalunitywhichhasfinallyfounditsobjectinthecertainbeginningofthecellandinitsprocessofimmanentmultiplication。
  Moredifficultcertainlywasthewaywhichthethoughthadtotraversetoreconstructthegenesisofallthefactsofpsychiclife,fromthemostelementarysuccessionsuptothemostcomplexderivedproducts。Notonlyforreasonsoftheoreticaldifficulties,butinconsequenceofpopularprejudices,theunityandcontinuityofpsychicphenomenaappeared,uptothetimeofHerbart,asseparatedanddividedintosomanyfactors,facultiesofthesoul。
  Theinterpretationofthehistorico-socialprocessusmetthesamedifficulties;
  italsowasobligedtostopatfirstintheprovisionalviewoffactors。
  Andthatbeingso,itiseasyforusnowtofindagainthefirstoriginofthatopinioninthenecessitythatthehistorianshaveoffindinginthefactsthattheyrelatewithmoreorlessartistictalentandindifferentprofessionalviews,certainpointsofimmediateorientation,suchasmaybeofferedbythestudyoftheapparentmovementofhumanevents。
  Butinthisapparentmovement,therearetheelementsofamoreexactview。Theseconcurrentfactors,whichabstractthoughtconceivesandthenisolates,haveneverbeenseenactingeachforitself。Onthecontrary,theyactinsuchamannerthatitgivesbirthtotheconceptofreciprocalaction。