224 ARISTO CRA C Y AND E VOL UTION 



Book in the end of our inquiry ; but it only brings us to the 

 beginning of what is really the important part of it. 

 This, however, For though these conclusions, so far as they go, are 

 of the matter, absolutely true, they by no means dispose of the 

 whole question which is before us, nor do they 

 really reduce the social power of the many to such 

 small dimensions as they at first sight seem to do. 

 Thus speculative knowledge, though the many con- 

 tribute nothing to its progress, itself contributes 

 nothing to progress until the many are affected by 

 it, and respond somehow to its stimulus ; economic 

 production, when regarded merely as an affair of 

 quantity or as an accumulation of values a process 

 in which the part played by the many is humble 

 for the details does not represent that process in its true social 



of govern- . .... ... ..... 



mental entirety ; nor is civil government wholly an anair 



measures are r i i i ~ i i i 11 



not the whole oi measures which are devised, discussed, amended, 



~ nt ' demanded, opposed, carried, or rejected from year 



to year. We shall find, accordingly, that, in spite of 



what has just been said, there is room in social life 



for the operation of the genuine will of the many 



of pure, spontaneous, and unadulterated democracy. 



We shall find that the power of this will, though it 



is in certain directions incalculably less than it is 



at present generally believed to be, is paramount in 



domains where its action is not generally recognised 



The true at all ; and the nature of its action here will throw 



democracy is a remarkable light on the nature of all action which 



to be seen in j s j n a true sense democratic. Of the domains of 



religion and in 



family life. activity here referred to, the most important are 

 those of religion and family life. 



