GENERAL PRINCIPLES 7 



In his pursuit of a living, man has changed the surface of the 

 earth and made it over to suit his own needs. 



Why man dominates nature. Man, as a race, has succeeded 

 in achieving this result by virtue of the fact that he has known 

 how to control and direct the forces of nature. He has observed 

 the sequence of cause and effect, he has seen that certain desir- 

 able results followed certain preceding conditions, and has 

 therefore taken measures to create those conditions in order 

 that the results might follow. He has been able to utilize cer- 

 tain mechanical principles, like the elasticity of the bow, the cut- 

 ting power of the ax, the lifting power of the lever, etc.; and 

 these have given him the beginnings of a mastery over nature 

 which he has followed up by a more and more complete domi- 

 nation, until now he is beginning to realize that he can live in a 

 world almost of his own making. At least he can remake the 

 world in which he lives, creating for himself a new and better 

 home, where more and better food grows than grew before, 

 where artificial shelters, with artificial heat and light, take the 

 place of bushes and caves, and where clothing protects the body 

 from cold and heat, thorns and insects ; a world also from which 

 dangerous beasts have been, and dangerous insects and microbes 

 doubtless soon will be, exterminated, and where artificial means 

 of locomotion supplement, if they do not displace, the natural 

 means. 



There is a philosophy, to which the student of economics 

 ought easily to incline, which regards this task of subduing the 

 earth' and making it a better and more comfortable home for 

 himself as the first and greatest duty of man on earth. This 

 philosophy would test the soundness of all conduct, of all social 

 institutions, and even of all moral codes, by this question : Do 

 they help in the great task which the human race has before 

 it, or do they hinder? If they help, they are good and sound. 

 If they hinder, they are unsound and bad. But this work of 



