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SCIENCE AND ART UNDER SOCIALISM
SOCIALISM has been advocated by most of its champions chiefly as
a means of increasing the welfare of the wage earning classes； and more
particularly their material welfare。 It has seemed accordingly； to some men
whose aims are not material； as if it has nothing to offer toward the general
advancement of civilization in the way of art and thought。 Some of its
advocates； moreoverand among these Marx must be includedhave
written； no doubt not deliberately； as if with the Socialist revolution the
millennium would have arrived； and there would be no need of further
progress for the human race。 I do not know whether our age is more
restless than that which preceded it； or whether it has merely become more
impregnated with the idea of evolution； but； for whatever reason； we have
grown incapable of believing in a state of static perfection； and we
demand； of any social system； which is to have our approval； that it shall
contain within itself a stimulus and opportunity for progress toward
something still better。 The doubts thus raised by Socialist writers make it
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necessary to inquire whether Socialism would in fact be hostile to art and
science； and whether it would be likely to produce a stereotyped society in
which progress would become difficult and slow。
It is not enough that men and women should be made comfortable in a
material sense。 Many members of the well…to…do classes at present； in spite
of opportunity； contribute nothing of value to the life of the world； and do
not even succeed in securing for themselves any personal happiness
worthy to be so called。 The multiplication of such individuals would be an
achievement of the very minutest value； and if Socialism were merely to
bestow upon all the kind of life and outlook which is now enjoyed by the
more apathetic among the well…to…do； it would offer little that could
inspire enthusiasm in any generous spirit。
‘‘The true role of collective existence；'' says M。 Naquet；＇57＇'' 。 。 。 is to
learn； to discover； to know。 Eating； drinking； sleeping； living； in a word； is
a mere accessory。 In this respect； we are not distinguished from the brute。
Knowledge is the goal。 If I were condemned to choose between a
humanity materially happy； glutted after the manner of a flock of sheep in
a field； and a humanity existing in misery； but from which emanated； here
and there； some eternal truth； it is on the latter that my choice would fall。''
＇57＇ ‘‘L'Anarchie et le Collectivisme；'' p。 114。
This statement puts the alternative in a very extreme form in which it
is somewhat unreal。 It may be said in reply that for those who have had the
leisure and the opportunity to enjoy ‘‘eternal truths'' it is easy to exalt their
importance at the expense of sufferings which fall on others。 This is true；
but； if it is taken as disposing of the question； it leaves out of account the
importance of thought for progress。 Viewing the life of mankind as a
whole； in the future as well as in the present； there can be no question that
a society in which some men pursue knowledge while others endure great
poverty offers more hope of ultimate good than a society in which all are
sunk in slothful comfort。 It is true that poverty is a great evil； but it is not
true that material prosperity is in itself a great good。 If it is to have any
real value to society； it must be made a means to the advancement of those
higher goods that belong to the life of the mind。 But the life of the mind
does not consist of thought and knowledge alone； nor can it be completely
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healthy unless it has some instinctive contact； however deeply buried； with
the general life of the community。 Divorced from the social instinct；
thought； like art； tends to become finicky and precious。 It is the position of
such art and thought as is imbued with the instinctive sense of service to
mankind that we wish to consider； for it is this alone that makes up the life
of the mind in the sense in which it is a vital part of the life of the
community。 Will the life of the mind in this sense be helped or hindered by
Socialism？ And will there still be a sufficient spur to progress to prevent a
condition of Byzantine immobility？
In considering this question we are； in a certain sense； passing outside
the atmosphere of democracy。 The general good of the community is
realized only in individuals； but it is realized much more fully in some
individuals than in others。 Some men have a comprehensive and
penetrating intellect； enabling them to appreciate and remember what has
been thought and known by their predecessors； and to discover new
regions in which they enjoy all the high delights of the mental explorer。
Others have the power of creating beauty； giving bodily form to
impalpable visions out of which joy comes to many。 Such men are more
fortunate than the mass； and also more important for the collective life。 A
larger share of the general sum of good is concentrated in them than in the
ordinary man and woman； but also their contribution to the general good is
greater。 They stand out among men and cannot be wholly fitted into the
framework of democratic equality。 A social system which would render
them unproductive would stand condemned； whatever other merits it
might have。
The first thing to realizethough it is difficult in a commercial ageis
that what is best in creative mental activity cannot be produced by any
system of monetary rewards。 Opportunity and the stimulus of an
invigorating spiritual atmosphere are important； but； if they are presented；
no financial inducements will be required； while if they are absent；
material compensations will be of no avail。 Recognition； even if it takes
the form of money； can bring a certain pleasure in old age to the man of
science who has battled all his life against academic prejudice； or to the
artist who has endured years of ridicule for not painting in the manner of
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his predecessors； but it is not by the remote hope of such pleasures that
their work has been inspired。 All the most important work springs from an
uncalculating impulse； and is best promoted； not by rewards after the
event； but by circumstances which keep the impulse alive and afford scope
for the activities which it inspires。 In the creation of such circumstances
our present system is much at fault。 Will Socialism be better？
I do not think this question can be answered without specifying the
kind of Socialism that is intended： some forms of Socialism would； I
believe； be even more destructive in this respect than the present capitalist
regime； while others would be immeasurably better。 Three things which a
social system can provide or withhold are helpful to mental creation： first；
technical training； second； liberty to follow the creative impulse； third； at
least the possibility of ultimate appreciation by some public； whether large
or small。 We may leave out of our discussion both individual genius and
those intangible conditions which make some ages great and others sterile
in art and sciencenot because these are unimportant； but because they are
too little understood to be taken account of in economic or political
organization。 The three conditions we have mentioned seem to cover most
of what can be SEEN to be useful or harmful from our present point of
view； and it is therefore to them that we shall confine ourselves。
1。 Technical Training。Technical training at present； whether in
science or art； requires one or other of two conditions。 Either a boy must
be the son of well…to…do parents who can afford to keep him while he
acquires his education； or he must show so much ability at an early age as
to enable him to sub