THE PROBLEMS OF SOCIAL STRUCTURE 841 



(4) As a matter of fact, modern society and the modern state 

 are prevailingly of a nature to correspond to an individualistic 

 and nominalistic conception and standpoint. This is distinctly 

 perceptible in the relation of the public power to private property. 



(5) This relation, and the relation dependent upon it, may sub- 

 stantially change in the course of time. An organic commonwealth 

 may spring into existence which, though not sanctioned by any 

 religious idea, and not claiming any supernatural dignity, still, 

 as a product of human reason and conscious will, may be con- 

 sidered to be real in a higher sense than those products, as long as 

 they are conceived as mere instruments serving the interests and 

 objects of private individuals. 



