[15-1] There is nothing in this inconsistent with the principle laid down by Lecky: “The men of each age must be judged by the ideal of their own age and country, and not by the ideal of ourselves.”—The Political Value of History, p. 50, New York, 1892. The distinction is that between the relative standard, which we apply to motives and persons, and the absolute standard, which we apply to actions. The effects of the latter, for good or evil, are fixed, and independent of the motives which prompt them.
[17-1] “The historian,” says Tolstoi, “is obliged to admit an inexplicable force, which acts upon his elementary forces.” Power and Liberty, p. 28 (Eng. Trans., New York, 1888).
[18-1] See his article “Ueber die Ideen in der Geschichte,” in the Zeitschrift für Völkerpsychologie. Bd. III., S. 486.
[18-2] Brooks Adams, The Law of Civilization and Decay, Preface (London, 1895). This author has reached an advanced position with reference to thought and emotion as the impulses of humanity.
[19-1] Grundriss der ethnologischen Jurisprudenz, Band I., s. 4.
[19-2] Mind and Motion, pp. 29, 140, etc. (London, 1895.) Prof. Paulsen goes much further, as, “The inner disposition spontaneously determines the development of the individual,” and “The organism is, as it were, congealed voluntary action.”—Introduction to Philosophy, pp, 187, 190.
[20-1] Before him, however, the expression “ebrius Deo” was applied to the ancient rhapsodists.
[21-1] As expressed by Prof. Droysen, in his work, Principles of History, (p. 16, New York, 1893), recently translated by President Andrews, of Brown University—“Historical things are the perpetual actualization of the moral forces.” Elsewhere he says—“History is humanity becoming conscious concerning itself,” There is no objection to such expressions; they are good as far as they go; but they do not go to the end.
[21-2] In the Zeitschrift für Völkerpsychologie, Band XI., Heft II.
[21-3] Ideen zur Geschichte der Menschheit, B. XV., Cap. I.