按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
favor。
The only way of meeting these difficulties； whether under State
Socialism or Guild Socialism or Anarchism； seems to be by making it
possible for an author to pay for the publication of his book if it is not such
as the State or the Guild is willing to print at its own expense。 I am aware
that this method is contrary to the spirit of Socialism； but I do not see what
other way there is of securing freedom。 The payment might be made by
undertaking to engage for an assigned period in some work of recognized
117
… Page 118…
PROPOSED ROADS TO FREEDOM
utility and to hand over such proportion of the earnings as might be
necessary。 The work undertaken might of course be； as Kropotkin suggests；
the manual part of the production of books； but I see no special reason
why it should be。 It would have to be an absolute rule that no book should
be refused； no matter what the nature of its contents might be； if payment
for publication were offered at the standard rate。 An author who had
admirers would be able to secure their help in payment。 An unknown
author might； it is true； have to suffer a considerable loss of comfort in
order to make his payment； but that would give an automatic means of
eliminating those whose writing was not the result of any very profound
impulse and would be by no means wholly an evil。
Probably some similar method would be desirable as regards the
publishing and performing of new music。
What we have been suggesting will； no doubt； be objected to by
orthodox Socialists； since they will find something repugnant to their
principles in the whole idea of a private person paying to have certain
work done。 But it is a mistake to be the slave of a system； and every
system； if it is applied rigidly； will entail evils which could only be
avoided by some concession to the exigencies of special cases。 On the
whole； a wise form of Socialism might afford infinitely better
opportunities for the artist and the man of science than are possible in a
capitalist community； but only if the form of Socialism adopted is one
which is fitted for this end by means of provisions such as we have been
suggesting。
3。 Possibility of Appreciation。This condition is one which is not
necessary to all who do creative work； but in the sense in which I mean it
the great majority find it very nearly indispensable。 I do not mean
widespread public recognition； nor that ignorant； half…sincere respect
which is commonly accorded to artists who have achieved success。
Neither of these serves much purpose。 What I mean is rather
understanding； and a spontaneous feeling that things of beauty are
important。 In a thoroughly commercialized society； an artist is respected if
he makes money； and because he makes money； but there is no genuine
respect for the works of art by which his money has been made。 A
118
… Page 119…
PROPOSED ROADS TO FREEDOM
millionaire whose fortune has been made in button…hooks or chewing…gum
is regarded with awe； but none of this feeling is bestowed on the articles
from which his wealth is derived。 In a society which measures all things
by money the same tends to be true of the artist。 If he has become rich he
is respected； though of course less than the millionaire； but his pictures or
books or music are regarded as the chewing…gum or the button… hooks are
regarded； merely as a means to money。 In such an atmosphere it is very
difficult for the artist to preserve his creative impulse pure： either he is
contaminated by his surroundings； or he becomes embittered through lack
of appreciation for the object of his endeavor。
It is not appreciation of the artist that is necessary so much as
appreciation of the art。 It is difficult for an artist to live in an environment
in which everything is judged by its utility； rather than by its intrinsic
quality。 The whole side of life of which art is the flower requires
something which may be called disinterestedness； a capacity for direct
enjoyment without thought of tomorrow's problems and difficulties。 When
people are amused by a joke they do not need to be persuaded that it will
serve some important purpose。 The same kind of direct pleasure is
involved in any genuine appreciation of art。 The struggle for life； the
serious work of a trade or profession； is apt to make people too solemn for
jokes and too pre…occupied for art。 The easing of the struggle； the
diminution in the hours of work； and the lightening of the burden of
existence； which would result from a better economic system； could hardly
fail to increase the joy of life and the vital energy； available for sheer
delight in the world。 And if this were achieved there would inevitably be
more spontaneous pleasure in beautiful things； and more enjoyment of the
work of artists。 But none of these good results are to be expected from the
mere removal of poverty： they all require also a diffused sense of freedom；
and the absence of that feeling of oppression by a vast machine which now
weighs down the individual spirit。 I do not think State Socialism can give
this sense of freedom； but some other forms of Socialism； which have
absorbed what is true in Anarchist teaching； can give it to a degree of
which capitalism is wholly incapable。
A general sense of progress and achievement is an immense stimulus
119
… Page 120…
PROPOSED ROADS TO FREEDOM
to all forms of creative work。 For this reason； a great deal will depend； not
only in material ways； upon the question whether methods of production
in industry and agriculture become stereotyped or continue to change
rapidly as they have done during the last hundred years。 Improved
methods of production will be much more obviously than now to the
interest of the community at large； when what every man receives is his
due share of the total produce of labor。 But there will probably not be any
individuals with the same direct and intense interest in technical
improvements as now belongs to the capitalist in manufacture。 If the
natural conservatism of the workers is not to prove stronger than their
interest in increasing production； it will be necessary that； when better
methods are introduced by the workers in any industry； part at least of the
benefit should be allowed for a time to be retained by them。 If this is done；
it may be presumed that each Guild will be continually seeking for new
processes or inventions； and will value those technical parts of scientific
research which are useful for this purpose。 With every improvement； the
question will arise whether it is to be used to give more leisure or to
increase the dividend of commodities。 Where there is so much more
leisure than there is now； there will be many more people with a
knowledge of science or an understanding of art。 The artist or scientific
investigator will be far less cut off than he is at present from the average
citizen； and this will almost inevitably be a stimulus to his creative energy。
I think we may fairly conclude that； from the point of view of all three
requisites for art and science； namely； training； freedom and appreciation；
State Socialism would largely fail to remove existing evils and would
introduce new evils of its own； but Guild Socialism； or even Syndicalism；
if it adopted a liberal policy toward those who preferred to work less than
the usual numbe