按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
PROPOSED ROADS TO FREEDOM
influence of the clerics on account of his scandalous theories。
Nevertheless； the bulk of the creative work of the world is done at
present by men who subsist by some other occupation。 Science； and
research generally； are usually done in their spare time by men who live by
teaching。 There is no great objection to this in the case of science；
provided the number of hours devoted to teaching is not excessive。 It is
partly because science and teaching are so easily combined that science is
vigorous in the present age。 In music； a composer who is also a performer
enjoys similar advantages； but one who is not a performer must starve；
unless he is rich or willing to pander to the public taste。 In the fine arts； as
a rule； it is not easy in the modern world either to make a living by really
good work or to find a subsidiary profession which leaves enough leisure
for creation。 This is presumably one reason； though by no means the only
one； why art is less flourishing than science。
The bureaucratic State Socialist will have a simple solution for these
difficulties。 He will appoint a body consisting of the most eminent
celebrities in an art or a science； whose business it shall be to judge the
work of young men； and to issue licenses to those whose productions find
favor in their eyes。 A licensed artist shall be considered to have performed
his duty to the community by producing works of art。 But of course he
will have to prove his industry by never failing to produce in reasonable
quantities； and his continued ability by never failing to please his eminent
judgesuntil； in the fulness of time； he becomes a judge himself。 In this
way； the authorities will insure that the artist shall be competent； regular；
and obedient to the best traditions of his art。 Those who fail to fulfil these
conditions will be compelled by the withdrawal of their license to seek
some less dubious mode of earning their living。 Such will be the ideal of
the State Socialist。
In such a world all that makes life tolerable to the lover of beauty
would perish。 Art springs from a wild and anarchic side of human nature；
between the artist and the bureaucrat there must always be a profound
mutual antagonism； an age…long battle in which the artist； always
outwardly worsted； wins in the end through the gratitude of mankind for
the joy that he puts into their lives。 If the wild side of human nature is to
114
… Page 115…
PROPOSED ROADS TO FREEDOM
be permanently subjected to the orderly rules of the benevolent；
uncomprehending bureaucrat； the joy of life will perish out of the earth；
and the very impulse to live will gradually wither and die。 Better a
thousandfold the present world with all its horrors than such a dead
mummy of a world。 Better Anarchism； with all its risks； than a State
Socialism that subjects to rule what must be spontaneous and free if it is to
have any value。 It is this nightmare that makes artists； and lovers of beauty
generally； so often suspicious of Socialism。 But there is nothing in the
essence of Socialism to make art impossible： only certain forms of
Socialism would entail this danger。 William Morris was a Socialist； and
was a Socialist very largely because he was an artist。 And in this he was
not irrational。
It is impossible for art； or any of the higher creative activities； to
flourish under any system which requires that the artist shall prove his
competence to some body of authorities before he is allowed to follow his
impulse。 Any really great artist is almost sure to be thought incompetent
by those among his seniors who would be generally regarded as best
qualified to form an opinion。 And the mere fact of having to produce work
which will please older men is hostile to a free spirit and to bold
innovation。 Apart from this difficulty； selection by older men would lead
to jealousy and intrigue and back…biting； producing a poisonous
atmosphere of underground competition。 The only effect of such a plan
would be to eliminate the few who now slip through owing to some
fortunate accident。 It is not by any system； but by freedom alone； that art
can flourish。
There are two ways by which the artist could secure freedom under
Socialism of the right kind。 He might undertake regular work outside his
art； doing only a few hours' work a day and receiving proportionately less
pay than those who do a full day's work。 He ought； in that case； to be at
liberty to sell his pictures if he could find purchasers。 Such a system would
have many advantages。 It would leave absolutely every man free to
become an artist； provided he were willing to suffer a certain economic
loss。 This would not deter those in whom the impulse was strong and
genuine； but would tend to exclude the dilettante。 Many young artists at
115
… Page 116…
PROPOSED ROADS TO FREEDOM
present endure voluntarily much greater poverty than need be entailed by
only doing half the usual day's work in a well…organized Socialist
community； and some degree of hardship is not objectionable； as a test of
the strength of the creative impulse； and as an offset to the peculiar joys of
the creative life。
The other possibility＇58＇ would be that the necessaries of life should
be free； as Anarchists desire； to all equally； regardless of whether they
work or not。 Under this plan； every man could live without work： there
would be what might be called a ‘‘vagabond's wage；'' sufficient for
existence but not for luxury。 The artist who preferred to have his whole
time for art and enjoyment might live on the ‘‘vagabond's wage''
traveling on foot when the humor seized him to see foreign countries；
enjoying the air and the sun； as free as the birds； and perhaps scarcely less
happy。 Such men would bring color and diversity into the life o