8 THE MECHANISM OF LIFE 



modern State approximate to the complete integration of 

 activities exhibited by the healthy animal ? 



Obviously it does not. No State so far developed has ever 

 exhibited such complete socialisation of activity as does the 

 normal organism. It is doubtful if in a modern society, even in 

 the most homogeneous one known to us, men and women are 

 all of the same kind ! The results of the study of " genetics " 

 or " eugenics " indicate that they are not. There are " strains " 

 or " races," germinal differences that are persistent. " Stock " 

 is more important than environment or training. " Nature is 

 stronger than nurture." The modern community is not one, 

 but many; and it does not possess organic unity. There were 

 " two nations " in England, said Disraeli, " the rich and the 

 poor." There are many, implies genetics, and obviously the 

 interests of these racially different stocks are not the same. 



That is to say, there is a " class structure." There is a 

 " ruling class," a " bourgeoisie," and a " proletariat." There are 

 idlers and workers, consumers and producers. There is a class 

 consciousness, the social analogue to what we call pain in the 

 animal body, for the harmonious body politic would only be 

 vaguely conscious of a feeling of normality if all its activities 

 blended, and if all stimuli from its periphery met with appro- 

 priate responses. Obviously there is individualistic activity 

 and resentment at attempts towards integration (which is, of 

 course, the tendency of socialistic propaganda). There are 

 opposed interests because of this individualism and the tendency 

 towards " class war." 



In short, if the body politic is an organism it is at the same 

 time a diseased organism, and the analogy with the biological 

 entity points to the way in which the cure is to be obtained. 



