V. Civilization
A. Elements of Civilization
Elements of civilization include science, industry, and the find arts. The fine arts predominate during the most primitive development of social organization.
B. The Progress of Civilization
“ . . . the elementary march of civilization is unquestionably subject to a natural and unvariable laws that overrules all special human divergences.” (ACP, 41). Hence the progress of civilization is “is in essentials unalterable.” (ACP, 42) The rapidity of the progress may vary however.
“Generally speaking, when the individual appears to exert a great influence, it is not due to his own forces, since these are extremely small. Forces external to him act in his favor according to laws over which he has no control. His entire power lies in the intelligent apprehension of these laws through observation, his forecast of their effects, and the power of subordinating them in the desired end that he thus obtains, provided that he employs them in accordance with their nature. The effect once produced, ignorance of natural laws leads the spectator and sometimes the actor himself to attribute to the power of man what is really due only to his foresight.” (ACP, 43)
C. The Three Grand Epochs of Civilization
There are three grand epochs of civilization: The theological, the metaphysical and juridical epoch, and the scientific and industrial epoch.
The theological and military epoch presents the reality that theoretical conceptions bear a supernatural imprint and conquest as the aim of a society. Theological convictions bring about “blind and involuntary confidence in military superiors” (ACP, 296). It is characterized by emphasis upon imagination over observation, industrial pursuits to serve military aims, and the slavery of the producers.
The metaphysical and juridical epochs is a transitionary stage which is still based upon imagination, but with the greater use of observation and industry as well as a turning away from slavery of the producers to some extent. It is characterized by criticism and argument.
The scientific and industrial epoch proposes that observation predominates over imagination and the arbitrary of all the positive forces—that of the savants to determine the plan of the new system: that of the artists to cause its universal adoption; that of the industrial chiefs to put it into immediate execution by establishing the needful practical institutions (ACP, 51) “Government by measures replaces government by men.” (ACP, 49)
“Human activity . . . passes successively through the stages of offensive warfare, defensive warfare, and industry. (ACP, 329) – corresponding to the three epochs. It corresponds to the division of history into the ancient, medieval and modern.
