Last and First Men · Chapter
The Rivals explained
After the eclipse of Europe, the world crystallizes into two great rival blocs: the American and the Chinese.
What happens
After the eclipse of Europe, the world crystallizes into two great rival blocs: the American and the Chinese. The chapter details the gradual absorption of other nations into these two spheres, the failure of the League of Nations to maintain cosmopolitan unity, and the deep cultural and philosophical differences between the American and Chinese mentalities. It highlights the American spirit of restless activity and materialistic faith, contrasted with the Chinese and Indian preference for contemplation and peace, and notes the fatal lack of a critical, truth-seeking intelligence in both, which ultimately leads to disaster.
Themes in this chapter
Society and Collective Identity
The chapter explores the formation of two supernational identities, American and Chinese, and the conflict between tribal loyalty and cosmopolitan ideals.
The Limits of Knowledge
The lack of a 'passion for the free exercise of critical intelligence' and the adoption of naive materialistic metaphysics highlight the limits of human understanding.
Human Nature and Evolution
The chapter reflects on the inherent flaws of the First Men, such as their susceptibility to tribalism and their failure to achieve a higher rationality.
Spiritual and Philosophical Aspiration
The contrast between American spiritism/materialism and Chinese/Indian contemplative traditions illustrates differing spiritual and philosophical aspirations.
Characters to notice
- The First Men
The chapter discusses the First Men's collective mentality, their lack of critical intelligence, and their division into American and Chinese camps.
- The Americans
The American spirit is described as restless, zealous, religious, and materialistic, with a faith in activity and wealth as divine.
- The Chinese
The Chinese mentality is portrayed as bland, artistic, classical, and rationalistic, valuing appearances and peace of mind over action.
- The Indians
The Indians are noted for their inclination to seek ultimate reality behind appearances, viewing this world as a passing shadow.
- Japan
Japan is mentioned as having been crippled by social revolutions, falling prey to American Imperialism, then freeing itself and joining the Asian Confederacy.
- The English and French
The Anglo-French war is cited as an example of a nation losing its head and plunging into fear-inspired aggression.
- The Germans
The Russo-German War is mentioned, with Germany favored by China against Russia.
- The Russians
Russia is mentioned as part of the American sphere, described as a 'soulless body'.
Key passages
“In this attitude there was something admirable, and sorely needed at the time; but also there was a fatal deficiency.”
While this stance had merit and was necessary, it also had a critical flaw.
Reflects on the Chinese attitude of detached salutation, which lacked critical intelligence.
“Had they cooperated, these two mentalities might have achieved much.”
If the American and Chinese spirits had worked together, they could have accomplished great things.
Highlights the potential but unrealized cooperation between the two rival mentalities.
“There befell, in fact, one of those disasters, half inevitable and half accidental, which periodically descended on the First Men, as though by the express will of some divinity who cared more for the excellence of his dramatic creation than for the sentient puppets which he had conceived for its enacting.”
A disaster occurred, partly unavoidable and partly chance, that often struck the First Men, as if a god valued the drama of creation more than the beings involved.
Foreshadows the downfall of the First Men due to their inherent flaws.
“The real cleavage was between the truly spiritual view on the one hand, and the spiritistic and materialistic on the other.”
The true division was between genuine spirituality and the superficial blend of spiritism and materialism.
Distinguishes between authentic spiritual aspiration and the degraded forms found in American thought.
