Page:Karl Kautsky - Ethics and The Materialist Conception of History - tr. J. B. Askew (1906).pdf/96

 of a spear or an axe had been achieved. In all these transformations consciousness played a great part, but the consciousness of other generations than those which had discovered the spear or the axe. And the tasks which were presented to the consciousness of the later generation were not set by that of the former; they arose by necessity, and spontaneously as soon as the discovery was made.

But with the change of dwelling, of the need of the winning of sustenance, of the entire method of life, the effects of the discovery are not exhausted.

The division of labour among the organs in the animal organisation has certain limits, since they are hide-bound to the animal organism, cannot be changed at pleasure, and their number is limited. There is also a limit set for the variety of the functions which an animal organism is capable of performing. It is for instance, impossible that the same limb should serve equally well for holding things, for running and flying, not to speak of other specialisations.

The tool, on the other hand, can be changed by man. He can adapt it to a single definite purpose. This fulfilled, he puts it on one side; it does not hinder him in other work for which he requires quite other tools. If the number of his limbs are limited, his tools are innumerable.

But not simply the number of the organs of the animal organism is limited, but also the force by which any of them can be moved. It can be in no case greater than the strength of the individual himself to whom they belong; it must always be less since it has to nourish all its organs besides the one in motion. On the other hand, the force which moves a tool is by no means confined to one individual. So soon as it is separated from the human individual many individuals can unite to move it, nay, they can use other than human forces for the purpose—beasts of burden, and again, water, wind or steam.