The Great Illusion · Chapter
Is the Political Reformation Possible? explained
Angell addresses the final objection to his thesis: that while his economic arguments may be correct, political reformation is impossible because men are not guided by reason.
What happens
Angell addresses the final objection to his thesis: that while his economic arguments may be correct, political reformation is impossible because men are not guided by reason. He refutes this by arguing that the direction of human action is determined by reason, even if passion provides the energy. He cites the rapid spread of his own pamphlet's ideas as evidence that public opinion is changeable and that progress is possible. He argues that the claim that change takes thousands of years is a form of fatalism and that the history of religious toleration shows that profound changes in opinion can occur within a single lifetime. He concludes that the difficulty of the task is not an argument for inaction but a call for greater effort.
Themes in this chapter
Role of Public Opinion
Angell argues that public opinion is not immutable but is formed by men and can be changed through education and rational argument, making political reformation possible.
Changeability of Human Nature
Angell refutes the argument that 'unchanging human nature' makes reform impossible, citing the rapid change in attitudes towards religious toleration as proof that human ideas and behavior can change dramatically.
Critique of Militarism
Angell criticizes the focus on armaments (Dreadnoughts, armies) as a 'makeshift' for national defence, arguing that the real guarantee of security lies in the 'rationalization of ideas'.
Characters to notice
- Norman Angell
The author, who defends the possibility of political reformation and cites the success of his own pamphlet as evidence.
- Mr. Augustine Birrell
Quoted by Angell: 'Some opinions, bold and erect as they may still stand, are in reality but empty shells. One shove would be fatal. Why is it not given?'
Key passages
“John, seeing James, his lifelong and long-sought enemy, in the distance, has his hatred passionately stirred, and harbors thoughts of murder. As he comes near he sees that it is not James at all, but a quiet and inoffensive neighbor, Peter. John’s thoughts of murder are appeased, not because he has changed his nature, but because the recognition of a simple fact has changed the direction of his passion.”
While passion provides the energy for action, the direction of that action is determined by reason and the perception of facts. If nations realize they are mistaken about their enemies, their aggressive passions will subside.
Angell uses this analogy to argue that correcting misperceptions can redirect national passions away from conflict.
“It is true that physical conflict marks the point at which the reason has failed; men fight when they have not been able to “come to an understanding” in the common phrase, which is for once correct. But is this a cause for deprecating the importance of clear understanding?”
War occurs when rational communication fails, but this failure is an argument for improving our capacity for reason, not for abandoning it.
Angell argues that the failure of reason in war is a reason to invest more in rational understanding, not less.
“Millions of us are prepared to throw ourselves with energy into that part of national defence which, after all, is a makeshift, into agitation for the building of Dreadnoughts and the raising of armies, the things in fact which can be seen, where barely dozens will throw themselves with equal ardor into that other department of national defence, the only department which will really guarantee security, but by means which are invisible—the rationalization of ideas.”
People are willing to invest in visible military preparations, but few are willing to invest in the invisible but more effective work of changing ideas, which is the true path to security.
Angell criticizes the misplaced priorities of those who focus on armaments rather than on the rationalization of political ideas.