4S2 COSMIC PHILOSOPHY. [pt. hi. 



social relations existing at any epoch would simply leave the 

 work of civilization to be (at least, to a great extent) done 

 over again. An instructive historical example of such a dis- 

 solution of social relations, partially effected, and of the 

 consequent partial return toward barbarism, is to be found 

 in the history of Eomanized Europe from the fourth to the 

 tenth centuries of the Christian era. And as this partial 

 dissolution cannot be referred solely to the barbaric attacks 

 from without — which during at least seven centuries had 

 been steadily kept up without impairing the integrity of the 

 Empire — it must be referred to causes operative within; to 

 the demoralization consequent upon general scepticism as to 

 the validity of the principles of action by which men had 

 formerly been guided. Now the violent breaking up of the 

 feudal and mediaeval Christian system, which occurred 

 during the last century, was attended by some of the same 

 dangerous symptoms as those which marked the dissolution 

 of ancient polytheism and ancient notions of civic patriotism; 

 though in the modern case the succession of phenomena 

 was more rapid, and there w^ere no assaults from outside 

 barbarism to complicate matters. We have lately remarked 

 upon the curious phenomenon of a free-thinker, like Eous- 

 seau, openly advocating a return to barbarism, upon the 

 ground — which admirably illustrates his statical view of 

 things — that social relations were due to a primitive con- 

 tract, from which the contracting parties might at any time 

 withdraw. It is also worth noting that, under the practical 

 application of Eousseau's doctrines by his apparently weU- 

 meaning but narrow-minded and fanatical disciple, Kobes- 

 pierre, the rejection of Christianity was followed by an act 

 of adoration toward a courtesan which would have been 

 more in keeping with early polytheistic ages, and the over- 

 throw of feudal tyranny was followed by a mode of settling 

 political questions such as is normally practised only among 

 societies of primitive type. It is significant also, to the 



