and ideologically, into three camps. There are Liberals, who still, as far as may be, follow Locke
or Bentham, but with varying degrees of adaptation to the needs of industrial organization. There
are Marxists, who control the government in Russia, and are likely to become increasingly
influential in various other countries. These two sections of opinion are philosophically not very
widely separated; both are rationalistic, and both, in intention, are scientific and empirical. But
from the point of view of practical politics the division is sharp. It appears already in the letter of
James Mill quoted in the preceding chapter, saying "their notions of property look ugly."
It must, however, be admitted that there are certain respects in which the rationalism of Marx is
subject to limitations. Although he holds that his interpretation of the trend of development is true,
and will be borne out by events, he believes that the argument will only appeal (apart from rare
exceptions) to those whose class interest is in agreement with it. He hopes little from persuasion,
everything from the class war. He is thus committed in practice to power politics, and to the
doctrine of a master class, though not of a master race. It is true that, as a result of the social
revolution, the division of classes is expected ultimately to disappear, giving place to complete
political and economic harmony. But this is a distant ideal, like the Second Coming; in the
meantime, there is war and dictatorship, and insistence upon ideological orthodoxy.
The third section of modern opinion, represented politically by Nazis and Fascists, differs
philosophically from the other two far more profoundly than they differ from each other. It is anti-
rational and anti-scientific. Its philosophical progenitors are Rousseau, Fichte, and Nietzsche. It
emphasizes will, especially will to power; this it believes to be mainly concentrated in certain
races and individuals, who therefore have a right to rule.
Until Rousseau, the philosophical world had a certain unity. This has disappeared for the time
being, but perhaps not for long. It can be recovered by a rationalistic reconquest of men's minds,
but not in any other way, since claims to mastery can only breed strife.