Principles of western civilisation

106 WESTERN CIVILISATION CHAP.

controlling principles of society altogether beyond the limits of political consciousness. For the characteristic meaning of the revolution which was in progress arose from the fact that it was within those limits that the governing principles of society had necessarily been entangled in all previous theories of ultimate authority conceived as resident either in the Church, the King, or the State. The far-reaching significance of the principle underlying the transition is, in short, immediately evident as soon as we reflect on the nature of the inherent tendency of human development, as discussed in the preceding chapters, to project the controlling meaning of the evolutionary process in society beyond the limits of political consciousness. We begin to distinguish the character of the interval which separates such a conception of civil society, not only from that which existed in the ancient civilisations, but from that which had hitherto prevailed in Western Europe. The character of the principle introduced remained as yet undefined in men’s minds. It was unanalysed in any of the prevailing theories of society. But the import of the new departure is unmistakable to the evolutionist. As the observer follows the development of the theory of society here launched into view the interest continues. The first political writers who present themselves in England as endeavouring to deal on scientific methods with the principles of that new order of society which was to ripen towards the modern epoch, consist of a group in which Hobbes and Locke are the most prominent examples. Of these Locke in particular stands out as a commanding figure, destined as he was, more