Page:American Anthropologist NS vol. 1.djvu/800

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powell] SOCIOLOGY, OR THE SCIENCE OF INSTITUTIONS 729

where the few lead. Knowledge is always born of one and diffuses to the many. The annals of science is the record of the discovery of individuals. Advances are made by discoverers and the world of science is dependent upon intellectual leaders. A new thought may lie dormant until it finds clear expression. It often happens that new thoughts gain acceptance only when they are presented by some person who has the genius of ex- pression, but when they come to be deftly expressed they are speedily diffused among mankind.

We discover in nature that all knowledge has its purpose, and that this purpose is its utilization in affairs of life. All knowl- edge must be utilized in this manner before it has its final ex- pression which all men may understand. Universal diffusion of knowledge can come only by its utilization in the affairs of life which interest all mankind. This utilization depends first upon the inventor and second upon the undertaker — the entrepreneur. It is thus that knowledge must have a triune leadership in the discoverer, the inventor, and the undertaker, and they must co- operate for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men, and then only does knowledge receive its final expression which all men may understand. It is within the province of every government to promote economic policies, and this it must do, either for weal or for woe. The leaders of the people must be protected and encouraged — protected from injustice and encouraged by due reward. As their operations have a pro- found effect upon the progress and welfare of mankind, this effect must be promoted by the establishment of justice to all. The four fundamental laws of economics for which governments are responsible are these : (1) Reward must be secured to the leaders ; (2) protection must be given to leaders ; (3) justice must be secured to their followers ; and (4) welfare must be secured for all.

The four maxims of good government require for their opera- tion some method of securing wise and good men to carry on the

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