Second, organized counter-revolution could be liquidated and revolutionaries, willing to take on the responsibility, could be provided with necessary authority, leadership and equipment.

Third, moving along with the formulation and fulfillment of carefully developed plans for socialist construction in all of its ramifications, to close the door gradually, step by considered step, on exploitation and profiteering.  In their places, well-laid plans could be drawn up for developing a people’s socialist-communist economy in the more backward areas of Africa, Asia and the Americas.

Fourth, the new economy could be federated as it was established and stabilized, with special attention to the need for a maximum of local self help to balance against pressures toward bureaucracy and the development of overhead costs.

Fifth, with one eye on its need for integration into a socialist-communist collective planetary economy, the other eye must be kept on the planetary chain of which the earth is an essential part.

Life is a process operating through the linking of causes and their effects.  This is as true of social life as it is of individual life.  Reviewing history we check man’s past actions and learn by so doing.  Turning to the future we plan and prepare to set in motion that conglomerate of causes (plans) best calculated to assure a good life individually, socially, cosmically—­with a strong emphasis on the time honored sequence:  good, better, best.

It is our opportunity, our destiny, and our responsibility to keep on living, constructing, creating.  We must live, not die.  We must not stop.  We must go on.

By such steps we humans could by-pass the restrictions and limitations imposed on human creative genius by the structure and function of civilization.  In its place we could elaborate a substitute inter-planetary culture in which a chastened, improved, rejuvenated humanity could play a creative role, in accordance with our capacities and our destiny as an integral part of the joint enterprise to which our sun furnishes light, warmth and vibrant energy.  We have latent among us the talent and genius necessary to play such a part.  Do we also have the imagination, courage and daring to accept the challenge and take our post of duty in the team that is directing the expansion of our expanding universe?

SUGGESTED READINGS AND REFERENCES

Among the books consulted in preparation of this essay on civilization as a social institution, UNESCO History of Mankind holds first place.  The authors describe the work as “the first global history, planned and executed from an international viewpoint”.  The subtitle of the six volumes is “Cultural and Scientific Development”.

The work is published under the auspices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization by an International Commission presided over by Professor Pauls E. deBerredo Carneiro of Brazil.  The Commission consists of 23 members, mostly academicians from 23 countries.  The commission also has a corresponding membership of 93 drawn chiefly from the academic personnel of 42 countries.