From the Unconscious to the Conscious 



individual acts have inevitable though undefinable 

 reactions on the conditions of all other lives. A certain 

 general collaboration in evolution is thus assured, by 

 which every effort that conforms to or opposes the moral 

 law has a collective reaction over and above its reaction 

 on the individual. 



This point cannot be too strongly emphasised. 

 There is no exclusively individual responsibility for any 

 particular act, good or bad, and for no such act can 

 an exclusively individual warrant be pleaded. 



Everything that is done or thought for good or evil; 

 everything that each one feels by emotions of joy or 

 sorrow, reacts on all and is assimilated by all. Therefore 

 the acts of an individual or a group, of a family, a nation, 

 or a race, cannot be appraised in their moral or social 

 aspects as having reference only to that individual or group. 



No doubt this collective solidarity seems continually 

 lessened as we pass from the family to the nation, from 

 the nation to the race, from the race to humanity, 

 and from humanity to the entire world ; but these 

 diminishing reactions, as seen in their effects, are integral 

 parts in the actual constituent essence of things. 



Therefore all the devices of selfishness by persons, 

 families, or nations, are mere aberration. 



This great law of solidarity has been proclaimed 

 by philosophers and moralists in every age, but has 

 found small response. It is to be hoped that the voice 

 of science may receive a better hearing and have more 

 influence on suffering humanity! 



The concept of justice inherent in palingenesis 

 involves great and far-reaching consequences. 



From the metaphysical and religious standpoint, 

 it abolishes the puerile notions of supernatural sanctions 

 and a Divine judgment. The least that can be said 

 of these notions is that they are useless and artificial. 



From the moralist standpoint, it gives a solid founda- 

 tion for moral (i.e. idealist) teaching. Its practical 



