The influence of the leisure class is not consistently for or
against the rehabilitation of this proto-anthropoid human nature.
So far as concerns the chance of survival of individuals endowed
with an exceptionally large share of the primitive traits, the
sheltered position of the class favors its members directly by
withdrawing them from the pecuniary struggle; but indirectly,
through the leisure-class canons of conspicuous waste of goods
and effort, the institution of a leisure class lessens the chance
of survival of such individuals in the entire body of the
population. The decent requirements of waste absorb the surplus
energy of the population in an invidious struggle and leave no
margin for the non-invidious expression of life. The remoter,
less tangible, spiritual effects of the discipline of decency go
in the same direction and work perhaps more effectually to the
same end. The canons of decent life are an elaboration of the
principle of invidious comparison, and they accordingly act
consistently to inhibit all non-invidious effort and to inculcate
the self-regarding attitude.
Chapter Fourteen
The Higher Learning as an Expression of the Pecuniary Culture
To the end that suitable habits of thought on certain heads may
be conserved in the incoming generation, a scholastic discipline
is sanctioned by the common sense of the community and
incorporated into the accredited scheme of life.
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