1. The Influence upon Social Evolution of Theories of
no Rational Value.
WE have seen that natural laws do not agree with the
aspirations of democracy. We know, also, that such a statement
has never affected doctrines already in men's minds. The man led
by a belief never troubles about its real value
The philosopher who studies a belief must obviously
discuss its rational content, but he is more concerned with its
influences upon the general mind.
Applied to the interpretation of all the great beliefs of
history, the importance of this distinction is at once evident.
Jupiter, Moloch, Vishnu, Allah, and so many other divinities,
were, no doubt, from the rational point of view, mere illusions,
yet their effect upon the life of the peoples has been
considerable.
The same distinction is applicable to the beliefs which
prevailed during the Middle Ages. Equally illusory, they
nevertheless exercised as profound an influence as if they had
corresponded with realities.
If any one doubts this, let him compare the domination of
the Roman Empire and that of the Church of Rome. The first was
perfectly real and
tangible, and implied no illusion. The second, while its
foundations were entirely chimerical, was fully as powerful.
Thanks to it, during the long night of the Middle Ages, semi-barbarous peoples acquired those social bonds and restraints and
that national soul without which there is no civilisation.
The power possessed by the Church proves, again, that the
power of certain illusions is sufficiently great to create, at
least momentarily, sentiments as contrary to the interests of the
individual as they are to that of society—such as the love of
the monastic life, the desire for martyrdom, the crusades, the
religious wars, &c.
The application to democratic and socialistic ideas of the
preceding considerations shows that it matters little that these
ideas have no defensible basis. They impress and influence men's
minds, and that is sufficient. Their results may be disastrous
in the extreme, but we cannot prevent them.
The apostles of the new doctrines are quite wrong in
taking so much trouble to find a rational basis for their
aspirations. They would be far more convincing were they to
confine themselves to making affirmations and awakening hopes.
Their real strength resides in the religious mentality which is
inherent in the heart of man, and which during the ages has only
changed its object.
Later on we shall consider from a philosophical point of
view various consequences of the democratic evolution whose
course we see accelerating. We may say in respect of the Church
in the Middle Ages that it had the power of profoundly
influencing the mentality of men. Examining certain results of
the
democratic doctrines, we shall see that the power of these is no
less than that of the Church.
