SECT. III.] UNIFORM CIVILIZATION IMPROBABLE. 387 



small populations living in a state of seclusion, we must infer 

 from it that if the main object of human life is happiness and 

 well-being, a break up of nations into small independent com- 

 munities would be requisite to attain the proper end of the 

 human race. If, further, it be granted that in all the adduced 

 examples a strikingly low psychical condition and a deficiency 

 of mental efforts is clearly manifested, then it may, with 

 regard to our European civilization, be asserted, that it is just 

 to this circumstance that we must attribute the essential cause 

 of the undisturbed happiness of these men, and of man in 

 general, provided that security against external danger, un- 

 corrupted morals, and a consoling faith free from the coarsest 

 superstition, are added to it. But it assumes a very different 

 aspect when we consider the ideas of civilization and develop* 

 ment as the destination of humanity. 



A superficial glance at the great differences of peoples, and 

 the mighty influences of natural conditions and climates which 

 preserve these diversities, is sufficient to convince us of the 

 little probability that a uniform civilization will ever prevail 

 among all peoples of the earth. Just as the animal and 

 vegetable world offers, in the various degrees of latitude, 

 a diversity which will continue so long as the present 

 condition of our planet remains; so nature seems inclined 

 to preserve a similar diversity in the physical and psychical 

 characters of mankind. It would, however, be unjust to infei* 

 from this, as has often been done, that some peoples are by 

 nature intended for civilization, and others for barbarism* 

 Every civilized society, be it large or small, clearly shows that 

 for its existence and development a division of labour, a variety 

 of occupation, are requisite, all equally necessary, though of 

 unequal intrinsic value. These extremely varied perform- 

 ances must tend to a common object : what individuals are to 

 the state, individual peoples must be to mankind, as a whole \ 

 as the former by their special callings supply the wants of the 

 society in which they live, so all separate peoples must gradu- 

 ally take their special positions and functions in regard to 

 mankind at large. For this reason the isolation of small com- 

 munities, or larger nations, however happy they may be in 



c c 2 



