Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 2.djvu/668

 652 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

free dealing between man and man which have arisen partly, perhaps, from some confused idea of maintaining morality, but much more from the power of class interests, we have been apt to take too narrow a view of the range of persons not one generation merely, but succeeding generations whose freedom ought to be taken into account (freedom here meaning their qualifi- cations for the exercise of rights). Hence the massing of population without regard to conditions of health ; unrestrained traffic in deleterious commodi- ties ; unlimited upgrowth of the class of hired laborers in particular indus- tries, which circumstances have suddenly stimulated, without any provision against the danger of an impoverished proletariat in following generations. 1

John Ruskin is so well known that he is but little studied. Otherwise more people would know that he has been one of the greatest ethical and economic teachers of this century. Of deep significance are his contributions to social welfare in the realm of art, still scantily appreciated even by his admirers, and his sturdy and beautiful ethics. For a true appreciation of Ruskin one must carefully follow the processes of thought which led the art critic to turn economist. Disregarding his disputed eco- nomic contributions he has, by promulgating the first scientific conception of wealth, given promise of revolutionizing economic thought. No single influence has been so great on the young British economist of today, and even the popular mind has been aided by it in ways that it will take a generation fully to appre- ciate.

Ruskin was also the first to lay stress on the importance of consumption.

The greatest problem of political economy is the consumption of goods. The great question for a people is not how much labor can be employed, but how much life is made possible. It is uneconomic to produce anything which does not lead to life. There is no wealth but life life, including all its powers of love, of joy, of admiration. That country is richest which nourishes the greatest number of noble and happy human beings, and that man is richest who, having perfected the functions of his own life to the utmost, has also the widest helpful influence, both personally and by means of his possessions, over the lives of others.

1 References. GREEN, Works, 3 vols., with Memoir, London, 1885. Lectures on Political Obligation, London, 1895. FAIRBROTHER, The Philosophy of Thomas Hill Green, London, 1896.