Scientism and Values.pdf - Ludwig von Mises Institute

230 Scientzsm and Values
forms which will provide for the effective collaboration between
different societies that are dependent upon one another but lack
the commensurate psychological cohesion. This international
"growing together" requires a deepened understanding of institutional
similarities and differences. Such understanding can be
derived only from sure methods of comparison. The actual process
of "growing together" requires guidance, hence the need for a
theory of institutional synthesis. In the absence of such a theory,
peoples will not be able to determine which institution should be
abandoned, enlarged, taken over, reformed or developed jointly,
and the process of "growing together" might be reversed into a
disorderly and dangerous melee.
Thirdly, the global ideological conflict would not be global except
for the circumstance that all members of humanity now have
become interrelated and can communicate virtually instantly with
one another. The leading societies are in disagreement about the
ways by which the world society is to be organized. This disagreement
is rendered acute by the fact that the contending arguments
are almost entirely irrational. Each contending ideology has its
own solution. We believe that our solution is the better one, and,
for diverse reasons, it probably is. But if actual events can supply
us guidance, we have not developed the methodogy for presenting
our arguments so effectively and rationally that they will invite
acceptance by all men-and, incidentally, considered and serene
acceptance by those who now accept them somewhat hesitantly on
faith. We hold strong opinions about political organization, but,
unfortunately, those notions are convincing only to ourselves and
to people who "think as we do." We cannot prove that we are
right, for-among other reasons-we have failed to work out our
self-evident criteria.
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The purpose of political-organizational schemes, at least in so
far as they are stated to the public, is to achieve a higher degree
of freedom. The precise meaning of the term "freedom" is subject
to argument. This argument will continue as, long as political