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第47章

proposed roads to freedom(通往自由之路)-第47章

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rather than of a Central Chamber。 In this way; men are no longer forced to 

submit   to   decisions   made   in   a   hurry   by   people   mostly   ignorant   of   the 

matter in hand and not personally interested。 Autonomy for internal affairs 



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should be given; not only to areas; but to all groups; such as industries or 

Churches; which have important common interests not shared by the rest 

of   the   community。   (2)   The   great   powers   vested   in   the   executive   of   a 

modern   State   are   chiefly   due   to   the   frequent   need   of   rapid   decisions; 

especially as regards foreign affairs。 If the danger of war were practically 

eliminated; more cumbrous but less autocratic methods would be possible; 

and the Legislature might recover many of the powers which the executive 

has usurped。 By these two methods; the intensity of the interference with 

liberty     involved     in  government        can   be   gradually      diminished。      Some 

interference;       and    even    some     danger      of   unwarranted       and    despotic 

interference; is of the essence of government; and must remain so long as 

government   remains。  But   until   men   are   less prone   to   violence   than   they 

are now; a certain degree of governmental force seems the lesser of two 

evils。 We may hope; however; that if once the danger of war is at an end; 

men's   violent   impulses   will   gradually  grow   less;   the   more   so   as;   in   that 

case;   it   will   be   possible   to   diminish   enormously   the   individual   power 

which now makes rulers autocratic and ready for almost any act of tyranny 

in   order   to   crush   opposition。   The   development   of   a   world   where   even 

governmental        force    has   become     unnecessary       (except    against    lunatics) 

must   be   gradual。   But   as   a   gradual   process   it   is   perfectly   possible;   and 

when      it  has   been   completed       we   may     hope    to  see   the   principles    of 

Anarchism embodied in the management of communal affairs。 

     How will the economic and political system that we have outlined bear 

on the evils of character? I believe the effect will be quite extraordinarily 

beneficent。 

     The process of leading men's thought and imagination away from the 

use of   force   will   be greatly  accelerated   by  the   abolition of   the   capitalist 

system; provided it is not succeeded by a form of State Socialism in which 

officials have enormous power。 At present; the capitalist has more control 

over   the   lives   of   others   than   any   man   ought   to   have;   his   friends   have 

authority   in    the   State;   his   economic   power   is   the   pattern   for   political 

power。   In   a   world   where   all   men   and   women   enjoy   economic   freedom; 

there will not be the same habit of command; nor; consequently; the same 

love of despotism; a gentler type of character than that now prevalent will 



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gradually   grow      up。  Men     are  formed    by   their  circumstances;      not  born 

ready… made。 The bad effect of the present economic system on character; 

and the immensely better effect to be expected from communal ownership; 

are among the strongest reasons for advocating the change。 

     In the world as we have been imagining fit; economic fear and most 

economic hope will be alike removed out of life。 No one will be haunted 

by the dread of poverty or driven into ruthlessness by the hope of wealth。 

There will not be the distinction of social classes which now plays such an 

immense part in life。 The unsuccessful professional man   will not live   in 

terror lest his children should sink in the scale; the aspiring employe will 

not be looking forward to the day when he can become a sweater in his 

turn。 Ambitious young men will have to dream other daydreams than that 

of business success and wealth wrung out of the ruin of competitors and 

the degradation of labor。 In such a world; most of the nightmares that lurk 

in the background of men's minds will no longer exist; on the other hand; 

ambition and the desire to excel will have to take nobler forms than those 

that are encouraged by a commercial society。 All those activities that really 

confer benefits upon mankind will be open; not only to the fortunate few; 

but to all who have sufficient ambition and native aptitude。 Science; labor… 

saving     inventions;   technical   progress   of   all   kinds;   may   be   confidently 

expected to flourish far more than at present; since they will be the road to 

honor; and honor will have to   replace money among those of the   young 

who   desire   to   achieve   success。 Whether   art   will   flourish   in   a   Socialistic 

community depends upon the form of Social… ism adopted; if the State; or 

any   public   authority;   (no   matter   what);   insists   upon   controlling   art;   and 

only   licensing     those   whom   it   regards    as  proficient;   the  result   will  be 

disaster。 But if there is real freedom; allowing every man who so desires to 

take   up   an   artist's   career   at   the   cost   of   some   sacrifice   of   comfort;   it   is 

likely    that   the   atmosphere      of  hope;    and    the   absence    of   economic 

compulsion; will lead to a much smaller waste of talent than is involved in 

our present system; and to a much less degree of crushing of impulse in 

the mills of the struggle for life。 

     When elementary needs have been satisfied; the serious happiness of 

most men depends upon two things: their work; and their human relations。 



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In the world that we have been picturing; work will be free; not excessive; 

full of the interest that belongs to a collective enterprise in which there is 

rapid   progress;   with   something   of   the   delight   of   creation   even   for   the 

humblest unit。 And in human relations the gain will be just as great as in 

work。 The only human relations that have value are those that are rooted in 

mutual   freedom;        where   there   is   no   domination   and   no   slavery;   no   tie 

except   affection;   no   economic   or   conventional   necessity   to   preserve   the 

external show when the inner life is dead。 One of the most horrible things 

about commercialism is the way in which it poisons the relations of men 

and women。 The evils of prostitution are generally recognized; but; great 

as   they  are;   the   effect   of   economic   conditions   on   marriage   seems   to   me 

even     worse。     There    is  not   infrequently;      in  marriage;     a   suggestion     of 

purchase; of acquiring a woman on condition of keeping her in a certain 

standard   of   material   comfort。   Often   and   often;   a   marriage   hardly   differs 

from prostitution except by being harder to escape from。 The whole basis 

of   these   evils   is   economic。   Economic   causes   make   marriage   a   matter   of 

bargain and contract; in which affection is quite secondary; and its absence 

constitutes no recognized reason for liberation。 Marriage should be a free; 

spontaneous meeting of mutual instinct; filled with happiness not unmixed 

with a feeling akin to awe: it should involve that degree of respect of each 

for the other that makes even the most trifling interference with liberty an 

utter impossibility; and a common life enforced by one against the will of 

the other an unthinkable thing of deep horror。 It is not so that marriage is 

conceived by lawyers who make settlements; or by

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