Philosophy and Democracy

Abstract

O F THE three great stages for the theater of life, two body forth the distinctively human show. First, however, there is the more elementary behavior of manthe stage of animal urgency. Then there is action guided by ends-the stage of political endeavor. Finally, there is contemplation of ideals or of whatever else-the stage of philosophic wonder and worth. Our present preoccupation is with the political and the philosophic. The lower stage of purely animal behavior is here remarked for perspective and as a reminder that the human spirit has no final immunity from the heats of body and the fumes of earth. The vocation of man advances through political sublimation of animal urgency to contemplation as catharsis for action, political or animal. Without prejudging other means than the natural for this advance, let us focus attention upon man's predicament at its worst to see whether ideal potencies of real promise may not lie