Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 6.djvu/182

 168 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

seem not to recognize, or at least to state. These are, first, that happiness, prosperity, welfare, success, or whatever similar terms may be used, are not of absolute value, but relative to a standard of conceived perfection ; and, secondly, that, in a strict sense, no condition of affairs which is subject to human direction is abso- lutely rational unless ideally perfect. In this strict sense, there- fore, in so far as any regime falls short of perfection, its continued maintenance is irrational.

In the light of the first fact the great majority of the partici- pants in any general contest must necessarily fail. If success be judged by the achievements of the one or few most success- ful, the entire remainder fail. Indeed, in many cases it may even be held that all have failed, inasmuch as the most success- ful may have fallen far short of that which was not only desirable, but possible of attainment. But and here is the point this by no means proves that as to the whole, or even as to the less suc- cessful portion of the people, the contest has been a failure. There is still a possibility that all, or nearly all, have received benefit from the struggle, though, to be sure, some have been relatively more rewarded than their fellows. For those who believe as fully as does Kidd in the efficiency of the competitive regime in stimulating the energies and properly directing the efforts of individuals, the presumption is, in fact, that such will be the case under any individualistic scheme of social organization.

Applying now the second fact of which we have spoken above, we may ask what is the proper meaning of the question, " Is a given social regime rationally justified ? " Strictly speak- ing no completely rational social regime has ever existed, nor will such a one exist until that form of organization and manner of administration is effected under which not only race progress at the most rapid possible rate is secured, but complete opportunity afforded to every individual member to render effective every capability which he possesses, and to develop every power potentially possessed, and, finally, under which is guaranteed to all the just results accruing from their several activities. When, then, it is said by Kidd that present social conditions are with- out a rational basis, he is right in the sense that they are not all