Society And its Purpose
Book 3 - Determining the End of Civil Societies
CHAPTER 11
The power possessed by the reason of individuals in the reformation of nations which have arrived at the ultimate stage of corruption
422. Civil societies are founded and furnished with laws as a result of harmonious agreement between the masses and the individuals who, with the masses’ approval, have become their leaders. Both parties work with the same aim: the masses through certain hidden dispositions and attitudes, individuals with visible, zealous activity. Matters change, however, when the masses have reached ultimate social corruption after passing through all the stages of their natural existence. In this state of moral flaccidity, every generous word either falls on deaf ears or becomes the object of mockery. At this point, can the individual, alone and unaided by the masses, redeem them from the degradation to which they have fallen?
If such a work is possible, it can only be accomplished by one of three classes of persons: 1. conquerors or 2. new legislators or finally 3. philosophers. We need to examine the power possible to each of these classes in the reform of civil society which has arrived at its ultimate stage of corruption. We shall begin with conquerors.