ENDS AND MEANS
to be remarkably accurate in their account of the nature of
jhe world; we have no right to reject as mere subjective
illusions the1 analogous thesis devised to satisfy the cravings
for righteousness, for meaning, for value.
At this point we are confronted by the argument that
such words as 'good/ Virtue* and the like have no definite
meaning, but signify now this, now that, according to the
degree of latitude, die colour of the skin, the local myth-
ology. TMs is, of course, perfectly true. The content of
judgments of value is demonstrably variable. Two im-
portant points should, however, be noted in this context.
The first is that such judgments are passed by all human
beings, that the category of value is universally employed.
The second is that, as knowledge, sensibility and non-
attachment increase, the contents of the Judgments of value
passed even by men belonging to dissimilar cultures tend
to approximate. The ethical doctrines taught in the Tao Te
Ching, by Gautama Buddha and his followers on the Lesser
and above all the Greater Vehicle, in the Sermon on the
Mount and by the best of the Christian saints, are not dis-
similar. Among human beings who have reached a certain
level of civilization and of personal freedom from passion
and social prejudice there exists a real consensus gentium in
regard to ethical first principles. These first principles are,
of course, in constant danger from the passions and from
ignorance, itself in many cases the fruit of passion. Passion
and ignorance work, not only on individuals, but soiftetimes
also on entire communities. In the latter case a systematic
attempt is made to replace the ethical first principles of
civilized humanity by other first principles more in accord
with the prevailing mass-emotions and national interests.
This process is taking place at the present time all over the
world.. Nationalistic and revolutionary passions find them-
selves in conflict with the standards of civilized morality.
Consequently the standards of civilized morality are every-
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