man who—usually when it is too late—will sometimes rebel in hysterical indignation, when the atrocities have
come too close and cannot be evaded any longer, and he may die senselessly, in effectual protest, screaming at the
malevolent omnipotence of the enemy, and wondering who or what had made the enemy's power possible.
There are, of course, immense differences among Conventional social metaphysicians—differences in their
intelligence, honesty, ambition, ability, and independence (within the limits of "the system"). And, in a culture that
contains a diversity of values and models, there are significant differences in the discrimination and judgment
exercised by Conventional social metaphysicians with regard to their choice of authorities.
The Conventional type is the most blatant and uncomplicated species of social metaphysician; he represents the
paradigm case, so to speak—the basic pattern, example, or prototype that serves as a reference-point with regard to
which other species of social metaphysicians may be understood.
A psychologically healthy man of sovereign consciousness bases his self-esteem on his rationality: on his
dedication to knowing what is true and what is right in fact and in reality, and on acting consistently with his
knowledge. A social metaphysician, in contradistinction, substitutes the consciousnesses of others for reality, as the
realm and object of his ultimate concern; his pseudo-self-esteem depends on grasping, and acting in accordance
with, what others believe to be true and right; thus, the approval he elicits from others becomes the gauge and proof
of his efficacy and worth. But success is not guaranteed to him; here, too, as in dealing with objective reality, effort,
struggle, risk and the possibility of failure are unavoidably involved. The Conventional type is not undisturbed by
this, but he accepts it. What, however, if a social metaphysician feels inadequate to this task, just as he feels
inadequate to dealing with reality? What if he finds the challenge and the demands too overwhelming? Then a new
line of neurotic defenses and self-deceptive practices may be developed, to protect his pseudo-self-esteem against
collapse. This is the phenomenon that one may observe in another type of social metaphysician: the Power-seeker.
In this type, fear of others is especially pronounced; he finds his fear intolerable—and his reaction is an overriding
emotion of