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GUIDE TO THE PHILOSOPHY 1938 - 1947.pdf - Rare Books at ...

GUIDE TO THE PHILOSOPHY 1938 - 1947.pdf - Rare Books at ...

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676 ETHICS AND POLITICS*. <strong>THE</strong> MODERNS<br />

to the higher powers. In die deb<strong>at</strong>es in the House of<br />

Lords, in May 1818, Lord Liverpool laid stress on the<br />

social importance of guiding by this means the opinions of<br />

those who were beginning to receive educ<strong>at</strong>ion."<br />

A final quot<strong>at</strong>ion, from the dialogue between Cusins<br />

and Undershaft in Shaw's Major Barbara, furnishes an<br />

appropri<strong>at</strong>e twentieth-century applic<strong>at</strong>ion of the Marxist<br />

conception of the function of religion:<br />

"Guam (in a white fury): Do I understand you to imply<br />

th<strong>at</strong> you can buy Barbara?<br />

UNDERSHAFT: No; but I can buy the Salv<strong>at</strong>ion Army.<br />

CUSINS: Quite impossible.<br />

UNDBMHAFT: You shall see. All religious organiz<strong>at</strong>ions<br />

themselves to the rich.<br />

exist by selling<br />

CUSINS: Not the Army. Th<strong>at</strong> is the Church of the Poor.<br />

UNDERSHAFT: All the more reason for buying it<br />

CUSINS: I don't think you quite know wh<strong>at</strong> the Army<br />

does for the poor.<br />

UNDMUHAFT: Oh, yes, I do. It draws their teeth: th<strong>at</strong> is<br />

for me as a man of business<br />

enough<br />

CUSINS: Nonsense! It makes them sober<br />

UNDEJUHAFT: I prefer sober workmen. The profits are<br />

larger.<br />

CUSINS: honest<br />

UNDERSHAFT: Honest workmen are the most economical.<br />

GUS<strong>TO</strong>S: <strong>at</strong>tached to their homes<br />

UNDERSHAFT: So much the better: they will put up with<br />

anything sooner than change their shop.<br />

CUSINS: happy<br />

UNDERSHAFT : An invaluable safeguard against revolution.<br />

CUSINS: unselfish<br />

UNDERSHAFT: Indifferent to their own interests, which<br />

suits me exactly.<br />

CUSINS: with their thoughts on heavenly things<br />

UNDERSHAFT (rising): And not on Trade Unionism nor<br />

Socialism. Excellent.<br />

CUSINS (revolted) : You really are an infernal old rascal."

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