The Commonwealth. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1911-1914, 1913-01-03

the same ideas would not be great
men" under a different mode of pro-
duction where the time for their ideas
was not ripe.
Question 3.-What great factor is
responsible for the rise of great
mem?
Answer-The fact that the ideas
of these men conceded with the class
interests OF some class in society
that was becoming economically
powerful. Therefore economic con.
ditions must be appearing which find
their highest expression in the ideas
of such men.
Question 4-Why do social institu-
lions change and not remain fixed?
Answer-Because the progress of
economic evolution will not permit it
to remain fixed. The development
and improvement of the means of pro-
duction produces economic changes
which force social institutions to
change also. For instance; During
the period of chattel slavery certain
governments and religious institutions
uphold chattel slavery as moral and
right. But since chattel slavery has
been abolished we no longer have
any institutions unfolding it in
countries where it does not exist.
Question 5.-What is responsible
for the birth of new ideas, and do
they occur to some one individual
only?
Answer.-New ideas, theories and
discoveriesemanate from material
conditions, and such conditions act
upon individuals. The same discov-
cry or idea may be brought out by
different individuals independently
and apart from each other. This
proves that it is not great men"
who are greatly responsible for ma
terial conditions, but that material
conditions produce the men best able
to express their ideas in the interest
of some class in society.
Question Glow do you explain
the survival of the fittest" in the
struggle for existence?
Answer.-The survival of the fit
test" is in "the battle for life" "The
victors are those best fitted to secure
food for themselves and offspring
and are best able to fight, or flee
! from, their enemies. They need not
be the most highly developed forms,
but simply those forms best suited
to the then existing environment"
Question What single great idea
occurred to both Darwin and Wallace
independently?
! Answer,-The theory of natural
: selection" which showed chat the
closely allied antelope was the par
ent stock from which the new form
had been derived by variation"
Question 8.-What single great
ideas occurred to both Marx and Eng
les independently?
! Answer.-"The Materialistic Con-
ception of History" or, the law of
economic determination
Question 9.-Name the three great
great ideas developed by Marx and
Engeles which now form the basis for
the socialist philosophy?
Answer.-"The Materialistic Con-
ception of History" The Law of Sur
plus Value" and "the Glass Strug-
gle"
Question-Explain briefly, "the
materialistic conception of history"
Answer-In every historical epoch,
the prevailing mode of economic pro
duction and exchange and the social
organization necessarily following it,
form the basis upo (which is built up
and from which alone can be eX-
planned the political and intellectual
history of that epoch The laws, Gus
toms, education, public opinion and
morals are controlled and shaped by
economic conditions; or, in other
words, by the dominant ruling class
which the economic system of any
given period forces to the front
Question.-What is the most i'm
portant question in life?
Answer.-Every man and woman,
in fact, every living creature, prove by
their daily conduct that the problem
Of securing food is the most import
ant question in life.
Question.-In what relation does
the above question or problem bear
upon the 'materialistic conception Of
| history"
Answer.-As the above answer is
/ true concerning individuals, so also it
is true Of societies; and this gives us
the only key by which we can under
stand the history of the past, and,
within limits, predict the course Of
future developments.
Question. What effect does the
prevailing mode Of production and exc
change in any particular epoch have
on the social organization and politi-