Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 6.djvu/19

 ONE ASPECT OF VICE 5

and reaping ; of weaving and building ; of sharing and supplicat- ing. No man became an artist through himself alone. His free energy was harnessed in the common experience, and served the common need. The world was yet new. Tasks waited for those who could perform them. And while some refused to serve and sought strange ways in which to spend themselves, most served with eagerness, both planning and performing for the common weal. Thus was art born out of man's unused powers working spontaneously for social ends.

In civilized society this working harmony of need and effici- ency is destroyed. Divisions of labor are introduced, but differences of structure do not immediately follow. If one is not compelled "to work," he busies himself in other ways; and he must do so. His cells drive him into action. Satan is not more sure to supply him with work than are they to put him at it. The principle is generally recognized in so far as the muscles are concerned ; but one hesitates to apply it to one's entire function- ing. It is indeed quite true that there are grave objections to the use of the term " energy of consciousness." Nevertheless, it stands for a thought a fact which as yet can be represented in no better way.

To offer ready avenues of discharge for this energy not used in necessary productice effort, society is in the habit of making for itself super-necessary activities activities which are not strictly necessary to the preservation of bodily life, activities which will outlet the surplusage, and give pleasure in so doing. In theory, the line between these two forms of activity is easy to draw ; for does not everyone recognize the minimum needful as distinct from the superfluous ? In practice, the division is infinitely harder to make, possibly because both forms of effort are necessary, since both further the process of human activity.

But there is a rough test which may guide us. The end which is followed in necessary effort is remote. The end which is followed in simply freeing pent-up energy attends the act itself. Certain acts serve ; others merely employ and please. Much of the machinery of society is of this latter class. Social conventions are not all necessary to productive effort. In fact,