SCIENCE AND REVOLUTION 



ors, and propertyless colonists who were debarred 

 from voting. Nevertheless, this document marked 

 at least the awakening consciousness of the 

 " Rights of Man " and the " Age of Reason," 

 that is to say, the consciousness of the rising 

 capitalist class that they had their own peculiar 

 idea of right and reason, as opposed to the feudal 

 powers. With the American and French Revo- 

 lutions, the capitalist class established a precedent 

 in social evolution by means of revolution, which 

 is still of too recent date to be easily forgotten, 

 and which the modern proletariat will some day 

 follow with good effect. 



X. A REVERSION TO IDEALISM IN GERMANY 



The English and French jingoes of the 

 and 1 8th centuries were doubtless convinced that 

 their countries were not only the leaders of Eu- 

 rope in economic and political progress, but also 

 the pathfinders in science and philosophy. The 

 wider horizon of the present day enables us to 

 notice without difficulty, that a few thinkers of 

 other nationalities, who viewed the events in 

 England and France at a distance and enjoyed 



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