ABSTRACT
Since it cannot be avoided, it had better be faced. Since it should not be avoided, quite a lot of care and time should be given to it. And since it is an interesting subject, it should be taught in an interesting manner. Civilized life and organized society depend upon the existence of governments, and what governments should do and can do with their power and authority depends, in turn, on the political structure and beliefs of the subsidiary societies within the range of influence of these governments. To take a Greek or a Jacobin view of the matter may now appear to go too far: that a man is only properly a man when he can be a citizen and takes part in public life. But it remains true that a man is still regarded as less of a man than he can be if he has no ‘public spirit’, has no concern for and takes no part in all the jostlings of self-interest, group interests and ideals that constitute politics. Only a few would maintain that the good life consists in the avoidance of public concerns; but nearly all would recognize that our whole culture or style of life is less rich, that is less various and shapely, and is less strong, that is less adaptable to change and circumstances, if people of any age-group believe that they should not or cannot influence authority.
