Ill 



THE METAPHYSICAL BASIS MINE AND 

 THINE 



IF we wish to reform society, we must strive to comprehend 

 it ; if we wish to comprehend it, we must not allow meta- 

 phors to rule our thought, but contemplate it in the light 

 of its own constitutive principle. 



Human society is rationally constituted. It is, without 

 doubt, the product and expression of the rational activities 

 of knowing, willing, and feeling. It may be, nay, it is, 

 physically conditioned, but its principle is spiritual. It 

 may be in some way a continuation, upon a higher level, 

 of physical forces ; but in any case, whatever its origin or 

 history, it is now a spiritual phenomenon. It is a rationally 

 compacted system of interacting personalities. Its essence 

 is reason the concrete reason, or ' ' spirit," which feels, 

 wills, and knows. Hence, reason, spirit, or self -conscious- 

 ness furnishes the only clue to the real nature of society, 

 and the only point of view for the solution of the problems 

 of social life. 



Such is the first of the main conclusions to which our 

 inquiry has led. 



The second conclusion reached was concerned with the 



