Member of the Alexander Order
The human being, like each type of plant andanimal, represents an idea of creation.
The new thing about the human being was that heconsciously invented tools which were not already a part of hisworld. In the beginning he protected himself from the cold withanimal furs; later he used clothes, tents, houses, fire, etc. Animalshad to eat whatever they found. On the other hand, the human beingdeveloped agriculture, began to tame and breed animals and cultivateplants for his own purposes. We can most succinctly summarize whatman has brought into the world in the following words: Plants andanimals adapt themselves to their environment; man adaptshis environment to himself.
However, a different type of environment alsoin many cases requires a different type of people! In order tooperate a computer one requires an entirely different kind ofintelligence than is required for following the trail of a wildanimal through the jungle. One should always remember that culture isfor the people and not vice versa; therefore, one should guide thedevelopment of culture in such a way that as many people as possiblecan enjoy an education which is in accordance with their talents anddesires, and so that each individual can become a useful member ofhuman society precisely because of his particular abilities. Even themost primitive savages should not be wiped out, as in Brazil, butrather supplied with room to live where they can do so in accordancewith their natures, if for no other reason than to give us theopportunity to study humans in their original state, for we must not lose touch with Nature.
But this must not go so far that cultured peoplesuffer at the expense of the uncultured. We simply mustdisaccustom ourselves to many things which wereinnate to the Stone Age mentality and even gave primitive peoplespleasure. War, for instance!
War is by no means the romantic idyll anymore thatit was proclaimed to be in such war songs as:
"Lightning spears, jubilant cheers,Men with glittering steel at their side,
Women standing by with pride,
The enemy will bleed, but our courage will seethe
as the drums announce our victorious deed, etc."
No, war is a total catastrophe, even if it shouldnot lead to the annihilation of all humanity, but even that prospectis no longer an impossibility.
Earlier, when the other threats to mankind such asepidemics, natural catastrophes, etc. did not suffice to keep thenumbers in the tribe to a size which the land could feed, then theywould attack a neighboring tribe. The fight was a matter of honor foreach individual, and it was the strongest, most intelligent, and mostcunning men who survived; they succeeded in killing their enemies andtaking their women. In this way the race evolved, just as animals doin the struggle for survival. When the hordes then banded togetherinto tribes and even into nations, the struggle itself was still warranted until well into the Middle Ages. The tribe had thebest prospects of winning a battle
Today, too, such communities could accomplishgreat things which would benefit the civilized world and promoteculture. Therefore, it is no wonder that also intellectually andmorally prominent people, even philosophers of the caliber of aNietzsche, advocated war.
But today!
No! Anyone who really loves his people will notwish them to suffer injury, pain, hunger, poverty, or want; on thecontrary, he will want their happiness! Therefore, he will sue forpeace and understanding not just in his own country, but throughoutthe world, and he will fight against liars and agitators.
Eternal peace--a utopia! However, it sometimeshelps to remind thinkers who are altogether too "realistic" thatoccasionally it is good to study one's course on a map beforebeginning a journey.
An excerpt from the book Primer For Those WhoWould Govern by Prof. Hermann Oberth.
Translated from the German by LynneNibbelink-Kvinnesland and Dr. Benjiman D. Webb.
Copyright C 1987 West-Art,10545 Main Street,Clarence, New York 14031 (USA).