Constructive Psychology; Or, the Building of Character by Personal Effort (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1908. Excerpt: ... EGOMANIA, AND THE SUPERMAN What is to follow should be prefaced by the statement that no appeal is herein made to philosophy, metaphysics, theology, mysticism or revelation, as such. The appeal is directly to the common sense, observation and general experience of mankind. By experiment, observation and experience we arrive at a practical knowledge of things. By observation in action, and experience in use, we arrive at real values, and in no other way. Theories and beliefs may indeed point out lines of experiment, but they can never determine results. A catalogue of exploded theories would show a larger heap of refuse than any bomb-thrower could measure in a lifetime. The inventor of a new theory often makes first, the mistake of supposing that it is altogether new; and next, imagines that it is a final truth. The more completely he is satisfied on these points, the more likely is he to be altogether wrong. The movements, dissensions, interests and issues of the present time are rapidly narrowing down to a single point. This issue is made plain as that between Individualism and Collectivism; between the right of the individual to do as he pleases, and the claim of society to curtail his liberty and share in his individual resources. It is the old battle between autocracy and socialism that has been raging since time began. It makes not the least difference whether we like such an issue or not. It is here and rapidly taking form, and being pushed to open combat with all the combined energy of the "will to live" and the desire to rule. Banners and slogans have, indeed, changed. The grace of God, divine rights, hereditary privileges, have largely disappeared, and in their place are seen the banner of mammon, the centralization of power in other forms, the m...