The Kinetic Theory of Economic Crises 5 



to the development of our faculties. The action and reaction 

 between science and education would naturally keep them in 

 touch with each other and with the spirit of the age in this matter 

 of reality. The living world may progress all unperceived. The 

 potential environments which it is entering and which it is realiz- 

 ing in life are unreal and non-existent to men's apprehensions. 

 The truth as it is perceived is not the truth as it would be per- 

 ceived by more advanced beings. Therefore the truth as we 

 know it can be of no higher order than our method of thought 

 allows; and the nature of this method is most clearly appre- 

 hended in the field of education. 



In view of the relativity of social and economic laws, as above 

 explained, let us now turn to the characteristics of static and 

 kinetic thought, respectively. The most prominent characteristic 

 of static thought is that it clings closely to the simplest logic of 

 premise and conclusion. In its endeavor to reach conclusions of 

 the utmost clearness and simplicity, it assumes the whole environ- 

 ment, with the exception of one item, to be unchanging. If the 

 environment is one naturally in motion, it is assumed that the 

 rate of motion is not changing, or if the rate be changing, it is 

 assumed that the rate at which the rate is changing is itself un- 

 changed. In other words, it contemplates any given state of 

 affairs as static with relation to one factor which is selected out 

 for differentiation-. The effect produced by this variation is a 

 logical conclusion, and, if sufficiently authentic and general, may 

 constitute a static law. 



Now, it is not claimed that we can ever disembarrass ourselves 

 completely of this method of reasoning. Still, we can recognize 

 its weakness and hope that an age of men is arising that is able 

 to reason better. The simplicity of this form of thought is due 

 to the simplicity of mind to which it is adapted. It is a safe 

 proposition that with more complex minds we shall be able to vary 

 more than one item at once, or so nearly simultaneously as to 

 produce a nearly simultaneous effect. In a static age, men acted 

 on simple motives. Life was assumed to be simpler than it is now 

 assumed to be, and simple conclusions were reached. Progress 

 was hindered, however, by the fact that the conclusions were too 



