influence society is identical with the question whether and how the individuals can do it. Bax will be much surprised when I declare that I agree entirely with the proposition laid down by him in seeming opposition to my views, namely: "Economic formations make history only in conjunction with the human spirit and will."
What a pity that Kautsky did not read a few books on natural history or at least the article of LaMonte's Champion, because then he would not have talked such nonsense about "Man" and the "human spirit," he would then have known that there is nothing about man and human nature to talk about, that "there is a species of small but ferocious pig that are known to deliberately" sacrifice themselves for a friend.
As it is, however, Kautsky abides in ignorance, and therefore proceeds in this wise: "On the other hand, the selection of the problems to which he (the individual) devotes himself, the view-point from which he approaches their solution, the direction in which he looks for the solution, and finally the energy with which he goes to battle, for an explanation of these we cannot look to economic conditions only. Alongside of these there also come into play the peculiarities in which the individual has developed owing to the peculiarities of his natural parts, and the peculiarities of the particular circumstances in which he found himself. All the above mentioned circumstances exert an influence if not on the direction, then on the way and manner in which the, after all inevitable, result is to be. And in this respect single individuals can do much, very much for their contemporaries . . . Some as thinkers, by obtaining a deeper insight than those who surround them, by freeing themselves more than those from the inherited traditions and prejudices, by overcoming class-stupidity."
It is clear from the above that Kautsky is of the opinion that some people may, for no other reason but because they think, accomplish very much for their contemporaries. And in order to do such good they not only neglect their own material interests, but they rise above the material interests of their class, overcome the stupidity or narrow-mindedness (Bornirtheit) of their class.
This last phrase about the class-stupidity (Klassenbornirtheit) is interesting. And Kautsky, who was evidently aware that he was treading upon the corns of some so-called Marxists, proceeds to elucidate his position thus:
