MATERIALIST MONISM 



for the wealthy, local division into groups regard- 

 less of descent takes the place of organization by 

 sex-groups (gentes), and exploitation of fellovr- 

 gentiles comes gradually in the place of slavery, 

 when slaves are no longer profitable. 



With the transformation of fellow-gentiles into 

 rulers and ruled, the old natural laws of moral 

 relationship are transformed into a code of op- 

 pressive law. The primitive worship of over- 

 whelming forces of nature is transformed into a 

 supernatural religion, which institutes a ruler in 

 heaven after the model of the rulers below. > Just 

 as economic and political fetters prevent the rise 

 of the lowly to social freedom, so mental fetters 

 now prevent the rise of their minds out of intel- 

 lectual oppression. This condition is defended 

 by the rulers as the best on earth, and their re- 

 ligious teachers derive out of this degradation 

 the consolation of spiritual salvation after death. 



Feudalism, the successor of slavery, keeps the 

 majority of mankind in this condition, until new 

 economic forces burst serfdom asunder and in- 

 stal the capitalist class as the new rulers, who 

 derive out of their economic supremacy the same 

 justification as former rulers for keeping the 

 reason of mankind, including their own, en- 

 thralled in lies and ignorance. 



187 



