CIVILIZATION AS ACCUMULATED FORCE. 611 



the case, for science has no real value, except as it is present in the 

 consciousness of the thinker, and it is inseparable from the exercise of 

 the faculties. Science in books is of no importance for civilization. 

 We will not speak of the immense importance of intellectual develop- 

 ment, which Buckle regarded as the very essence of civilization. The 

 mode of this development is a question for a theory of progress. It 

 consists principally of an enlarging adaptation of ideas to external facts, 

 and to one another ; and the most natural explanation will be given 

 when we apply Darwin's admirable inductions to the formation of 

 ideas. 



The French have boasted that they were the leaders of civilization 

 in virtue of their intellectual superiority. But the Germans and Eng- 

 lish make the same pretensions. Yet the French mind appears to hold 

 preeminent rank in certain respects, as for instance in taste for the beau- 

 tiful, for grace, and for elegance. The country which produced Moliere 

 is now the only one that has a theatre worthy of the name ; our painters 

 are the first in the world ; and in France alone are the refinements of 

 an exquisite taste exhibited in the minor details of every-day life. We 

 owe all this to the {esthetic influence of the capital. 



The French mind also excels in all the lively and brilliant qualities 

 of imagination. Still, it must be admitted that these qualities are 

 blended with very grave defects. The philosophical faculties are in 

 some degree weakened by the development of taste, and the refinement 

 of the imagination often hinders the cultivation of the reason. We 

 have, to be sure, some men of great distinction in all the sciences, but 

 it cannot be gainsaid that instruction is not as wide-spread in France 

 as in Germany ; and moral science is far more backward here than in 

 England. We have no taste for consecutiveness, method, long deduc- 

 tion, or patient analyses. 



These defects expose us to grave dangers in political life especially, 

 and this brings us to the consideration of social relations and institu- 

 tions as they have a bearing upon civilization. 



IV. 



There are two things to be considered in the social order, viz., the 

 i-ights of individuals, and the system of institutions guaranteeing them. 

 As the definition of these rights depends on the development of the 

 race in their ideas, morals, instincts, etc., we need but refer to what we 

 have already said on the development of organs and faculties, to show 

 how far these rights extend. But the case is different with governmen- 

 tal institutions which derive force not from the progress of individuals, 

 but from the evolution of society, and the historic development of the 

 nation. In times of order and tranquillity we are disposed to reduce 

 governmental functions to the minimum. For this reason, prosperity 

 sometimes leads to decadence. When the government is weakened, the 



