Page:Psychology and preaching.djvu/335

 OCCUPATIONAL TYPES 317

satisfy those interests which by a universal law of human nature give rise to it ; the other is absolutely to crush out the group. The latter alternative is not likely to be undertaken.

Now, the ethical life is conditioned by the group con sciousness, both extensively and intensively. One s con sciousness of obligation does not extend beyond the limits of his group consciousness. If there is no fellow-feeling, no &quot; consciousness of kind,&quot; there is no sense of obligation to another. Likewise as this group consciousness grows in tense or becomes attenuated, the feeling of obligation be comes more or less imperative or positive. I am not now speaking of the ultimate nature and basis of moral obliga tion but of the sphere in which the obligation, whatever its nature and basis, is felt to be operative. And, subjectively considered, moral obligation begins with, ends with, and varies in strength with our consciousness of community of life. Furthermore, it is a fact of which there are innum erable examples in everyday life that whenever any one group-feeling becomes intensified or inflamed, it tends to dominate consciousness and to dwarf or exclude every con trary sense of obligation which may grow out of any other group relation in which one may stand. For instance, we have a common race consciousness with a limited group, and we have a common consciousness of humanity with a much wider group; but if the race consciousness has been greatly intensified or violently inflamed it tends to dwarf or to drown out completely the obligations of humanity, or vice versa. We often witness the appalling fact that when different social classes clash and grip each other in a vital conflict, every broader and more humane consideration which ordinarily controls or modifies the actions of those involved is neglected; and then we have in very truth a death struggle.

How these laws of our moral experience apply in the matter we are discussing is apparent. We behold the fact which so often startles us that labouring men when engaged in a combat with capital will, because of their impulsiveness

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