第62部分(第3/7 頁)

even　the　average　individual。　He　thought　that；

because　the　munity　represents　millions　of　people；　therefore

it　must　be　millions　of　times　more　important　than　any　individual；

forgetting　that　the　munity　is　an　abstraction　from　the　many；

and　is　not　the　many　themselves。　Now　when　the　statement　of　the

abstract　good　for　the　munity　has　bee　a　formula　lacking　in

all　inspiration　or　value　to　the　average　intelligence；　then　the

〃mon　good〃　bees　a　general　nuisance；　representing　the

vulgar；　conservative　materialism　at　a　low　level。

And　by　the　highest　good　of　the　greatest　number　is　chiefly

meant　the　material　prosperity　of　all　classes。　Skrebensky　did　not

really　care　about　his　own　material　prosperity。　If　he　had　been

penniless……well；　he　would　have　taken　his　chances。　Therefore

how　could　he　find　his　highest　good　in　giving　up　his　life　for　the

material　prosperity　of　everybody　else！　What　he　considered　an

unimportant　thing　for　himself　he　could　not　think　worthy　of　every

sacrifice　on　behalf　of　other　people。　And　that　which　he　would

consider　of　the　deepest　importance　to　himself　as　an

individual……oh；　he　said；　you　mustn't　consider　the　munity

from　that　standpoint。　No……no……we　know　what　the

munity　wants；　it　wants　something　solid；　it　wants　good　wages；

equal　opportunities；　good　conditions　of　living；　that's　what　the

munity　wants。　It　doesn't　want　anything　subtle　or　difficult。

Duty　is　very　plain…keep　in　mind　the　material；　the　immediate

welfare　of　every　man；　that's　all。

So　there　came　over　Skrebensky　a　sort　of　nullity；　which　more

and　more　terrified　Ursula。　She　felt　there　was　something　hopeless

which　she　had　to　submit　to。　She　felt　a