ABSTRACT
The journey which humanity is undertaking towards a completer fulfilment of individual and social life may be helpfully compared to the journey of a company of pilgrims in the dark over a rough and dangerous country towards a goal which is as remote as it is desirable. Although an advance towards social salvation will be accelerated by increasing individual integrity, society will never be saved as a consequence of the regeneration of individuals. The social will is creating an increasing and an ascendant society out of the material afforded by human nature, just as the individual will creates individuals out of similar material. The ability to live by and in the progressive democratic faith is the source of the really illuminating social knowledge — of a knowledge which is not merely useful, but binding and regenerating. The faith which a progressive democracy needs does not become effective, consequently, through the agency of individual ideals.
