286 THE PRESENT IMPORTANCE OF SCIENCE 



ward an equality of rights. Hence, democratization of indus- 

 trial enterprise appears to be one of the most important 

 single steps now before us. Such democratization can be 

 accomplished only by the application of scientific knowledge 

 to particular problems of social organization, and by the 

 further extension of the scientific frame of mind as it affects 

 our concept of the rights of the individual. The idea of a 

 common humanity and of the dignity of individual human 

 life was promulgated on its ethical side by the Founder of 

 Christianity. On the intellectual side, this recognition of 

 the dignity of man seems first to have become a fact, rather 

 than a notion, during the Renaissance in Italy. At that 

 time, distinctions of birth lost their former importance, 

 because "men were here first thoroughly and profoundly 

 understood. This one single result of the Renaissance is 

 enough to fill us with everlasting thankfulness. The logical 

 notion of humanity was old enough but here the notion 

 became a fact." 6 The earlier ideas of merit or demerit, as 

 inherent in particular social groups, first began to disappear, 

 under the influence of the rationalistic doctrine of personal 

 merit and demerit. This point of view has since had an im- 

 portant influence upon the spread of the democratic prin- 

 ciple of equal opportunity. 



It is also possible that some relatively simple material 

 discovery may have far-reaching effects as an equalizer of 

 opportunity. Historians commonly believe that the intro- 

 duction of gunpowder into Europe worked in this manner, 

 by making the footman the equal of the knight on horse- 

 back, and by rendering the feudal castle no longer secure 

 against attack. Latterly, the development of elaborate 

 engines of warfare have again given stability to entrenched 

 power, battleships and artillery to powerful states, machine 

 guns and poisonous gas to the hands that can use them 

 against rebellious subjects. But it is conceivable that, with 

 some new twist of material discovery, all these may pass 



6 Burckhardt, J., "The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy," p. 354. 



