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〃refined vaudeville〃 now begins to show the influence of women。 It
would be no great advantage to have this department of human life
feminized； the improvement desired is to have it less masculized； to
reduce the excessive influence of one； and to bring out those broad
human interests and pleasures which men and women can equally
participate in and enjoy。
OUR ANDROCENTRIC CULTURE； or； THE MAN…MADE WORLD
VII。
ETHICS AND RELIGION。
The laws of physics were at work before we were on earth； and continued
to work on us long before we had intelligence enough to perceive； much
less understand； them。 Our proven knowledge of these processes
constitutes 〃the science of physics〃； but the laws were there before the
science。
Physics is the science of material relation； how things and natural
forces work with and on one another。 Ethics is the science of social
relation； how persons and social forces work with and on one another。
Ethics is to the human world what physics is to the material world；
ignorance of ethics leaves us in the same helpless position in regard to
one another that ignorance of physics left us in regard to earth； air；
fire and water。
To be sure； people lived and died and gradually improved； while yet
ignorant of the physical sciences； they developed a rough 〃rule of
thumb〃 method； as animals do； and used great forces without
understanding them。 But their lives were safer and their improvement
more rapid as they learned more； and began to make servants of the
forces which had been their masters。
We have progressed； lamely enough； with terrible loss and suffering；
from stark savagery to our present degree of civilization； we shall go
on more safely and swiftly when we learn more of the science of ethics。
Let us note first that while the underlying laws of ethics remain steady
and reliable； human notions of them have varied widely and still do so。
In different races； ages； classes； sexes； different views of ethics
obtain； the conduct of the people is modified by their views； and their
prosperity is modified by their conduct。
Primitive man became very soon aware that conduct was of importance。 As
consciousness increased； with the power to modify action from within；
instead of helplessly reacting to stimuli from without； there arose the
crude first codes of ethics； the 〃Thou shalt〃 and 〃Thou shalt not〃 of
the blundering savage。 It was mostly 〃Thou shalt not。〃 Inhibition； the
checking of an impulse proven disadvantageous； was an earlier and easier
form of action than the later human power to consciously decide on and
follow a course of action with no stimulus but one's own will。
Primitive ethics consists mostly of Tabusthe things that are
forbidden； and all our dim notions of ethics to this day； as well as
most of our religions； deal mainly with forbidding。
This is almost the whole of our nursery government； to an extent shown
by the well…worn tale of the child who said her name was 〃Mary。〃 〃Mary
what？〃 they asked her。 And she answered； 〃Mary Don't。〃 It is also the
main body of our legal systemsa complex mass of prohibitions and
preventions。 And even in manners and conventions； the things one should
not do far outnumber the things one should。 A general policy of
negation colors our conceptions of ethics and religion。
When the positive side began to be developed； it was at first in purely
arbitrary and artificial form。 The followers of a given religion were
required to go through certain motions； as prostrating themselves；
kneeling； and the like； they were required to bring tribute to the gods
and their priests； sacrifices； tithes； oblations； they were set little
special performances to go through at given times； the range of things
forbidden was broad； the range of things commanded was narrow。 The
Christian religion； practically interpreted； requires a fuller 〃change
of heart〃 and change of life than any preceding it； which may account at
once for its wide appeal to enlightened peoples； and to its scarcity of
application。
Again； in surveying the field； it is seen that as our grasp of ethical
values widened； as we called more and more acts and tendencies 〃right〃
and 〃wrong；〃 we have shown astonishing fluctuations and vagaries in our
judgment。 Not only in our religions； which have necessarily upheld each
its own set of prescribed actions as most 〃right；〃 and its own special
prohibitions as most 〃wrong〃； but in our beliefs about ethics and our
real conduct； we have varied absurdly。
Take； for instance； the ethical concept among 〃gentlemen〃 a century or
so since； which put the paying of one's gambling debts as a well…nigh
sacred duty； and the paying of a tradesman who had fed and clothed one
as a quite negligible matter。 If the process of gambling was of social
service； and the furnishing of food and clothes was not； this might be
good ethics； but as the contrary is true； we have to account for this
peculiar view on other grounds。
Again； where in Japan a girl； to maintain her parents； is justified in
leading a life of shame； we have a peculiar ethical standard difficult
for Western minds to appreciate。 Yet in such an instance as is
described in 〃Auld Robin Gray；〃 we see precisely the same code； the
girl； to benefit her parents； marries a rich old man she does not
lovewhich is to lead a life of shame。 The ethical view which
justifies this； puts the benefit of parents above the benefit of
children； robs the daughter of happiness and motherhood； injures
posterity to assist ancestors。
This is one of the products of that very early religion； ancestor
worship； and here we lay a finger on a distinctly masculine influence。
We know little of ethical values during the matriarchate； whatever they
were； they must have depended for sanction on a cult of promiscuous but
efficient maternity。 Our recorded history begins in the patriarchal
period； and it is its ethics alone which we know。
The mother instinct； throughout nature； is one of unmixed devotion； of
love and service； care and defence； with no self…interest。 The animal
father； in such cases as he is of service to the young； assists the
mother in her work in similar fashion。 But the human father in the
family with the male head soon made that family an instrument of desire；
and combat； and self…expression； following the essentially masculine
impulses。 The children were his； and if males； valuable to serve and
glorify him。 In his dominance over servile women and helpless children；
free rein was given to the growth of pride and the exercise of
irresponsible tyranny。 To these feelings； developed without check for
thousands of years； and to the mental habits resultant； it is easy to
trace much of the bias of our early ethical concepts。
Perhaps it is worth while to repeat here that the effort of this book is
by no means to attribute a wholly evil influence to men； and a wholly
good one to women； it is not even claimed that a purely feminine culture
would have advanced the world more successfully。 It does claim that the
influence of the two together is better than that of either one alone；
and in especial to point out what