Lectures on Social Policy

Abstract

146. The critical point marks the transition from living men to automata. Once again, by extending the programme beyond its own sphere — which is the public sphere — to that which by contrast properly belongs to the individual, the family, the social group, the neighbourhood, the community, the voluntary association, the charitable educational institution, all of which are coordinated and interdependent yet each endowed with an independent life and with a will of its own, we have overstepped the critical point. We are faced not with a society of living men, but an aggregate of automata directed from the centre by a higher authority. Until other impulses smouldering in these entities have faded away, until no trace endures of other sentiments inherited from past generations, imbibed from a mother’s milk, or learned from the tradition of forebears, these automata will be magnificent soldiers ready to obey the command of whoever orders them to allow themselves to be killed. But they are not self-aware citizens, they are not men able to counter whoever orders them to perform an action that goes against their conscience by retorting: no, up to this point, it’s Caesar that issues the orders, beyond it, we obey only Christ and our conscience.

Basle-Geneva-Lausanne, late September 1944–10 December 1944.