Scientism and Values.pdf - Ludwig von Mises Institute

Scientism in the Writing of History 145
decree a permanent inferiority for races which are obviously com·
ing into their own. I only wanted to affirm, as strongly and persuasively
as I could, that no matter what was happening to the
rest of the world, we still have a duty to ourselves, above all to
believe in ourselves, to believe that we still have a contribution to
m.ake, and that the only way in which we can do this is by remaining
faithful to our own traditions. All this seemed to me, and it
still seems to me, of such overriding importance, not only becaus.e
of the awakening of the Asian and of the African peoples, but
especially because there is Russia, or there is Russian-Chinese
communism, threatening us directly and ready to make use of all
our weaknesses.
We are suffering from weaknesses. Generally speaking, these do
not, in my view, spring from factual conditions; they belong to the
realm of the spirit. They result from a mood, or a combination of
moods. In analyzing these I indicated a variety of sources. One is
the disgruntlement of the once dominating class at the irresistible
emancipation and growth in material well-being of the working
classes. Another is the concern of the religious-minded at what
seems like an equally irresistible development of dechristianization.
Then there is the anger, the feeling of frustration, of an excolonial
power suddenly thrown out of a position of which it had
been proud, not only on account of the wealth and influence that
went with it, but on account of the task we had fulfilled, with con·
viction, and not without benefit for the peoples under our rule.
Anger and a feeling of frustration are not all. Along with them
there goes a more complicated psychological reaction of all. opposite
tendency, a feeling of guilt, a feeling of having transgressed
against these peoples and of having to make up to them now.
I need hardly say that, while my oration was intended for a
Dutch public, all these various factors have their parallels in other,
more important, European countries.
In expounding the state of mind that I have just adumbrated,
and in trying to counter the fallacies to which it gives rise, I spoke
as a historian. Or perhaps I should say that, while speaking from
a conviction that is rooted in the whole of my outlook on life, or
in my personality, I felt my views supported by what I consider to