第17章 権力の倫理学, n.7 - 残酷な衝動の源泉
まず気質に影響を及ぼす環境(の問題)から始めよう。残酷な衝動の源(源泉)は,通常は,幼年時代の不幸においてか,あるいは,苦しみや死が頻繁に見られたり加えられたりする内乱のような経験においてか,いずれかにおいて見出すことができる(is to be found)。(また)青少年期において精力の正当なはけ口がないことも(右と)同じ影響(効果/結果)を持つかも知れない。(若い時に)賢明な教育を受け,暴力の場面を見慣れて暮らすことなく,職業を見つけるにあたって不当な困難を経験することがなければ,残酷な人間になる者はほとんどない,と私は信じている。これらの条件が与えられるならば,大部分の人々の権力愛は,可能な場合は,有益な,あるいは,少なくとも無害なはけ口をむしろ好んで見つけ出すであろう。 |
Chapter 17: The Ethics of Power, n.7The forms that a man's love of power will take depend upon his temperament, his opportunities, and his skill ; his temperament, moreover, is largely moulded by his circumstances. To turn an individual's love of power into specified channels is, therefore, a matter of providing him with the right circumstances, the right opportunities, and the appropriate type of skill. This leaves out of account the question of congenital disposition, which, in so far as it is amenable to treatment, is a matter for eugenics; but it is probably only a small percentage of the population that cannot be led, by the above means, to choose some useful form of activity.To begin with circumstances as affecting temperament: the source of cruel impulses is usually to be found either in an unfortunate childhood, or in experiences, such as those of civil war, in which suffering and death are frequently seen and inflicted ; absence of any legitimate outlet for energy in adolescence and early youth may have the same effect. I believe that few men are cruel if they have had a wise early education, have not lived among scenes of violence, and have not had undue difficulty in finding a career. Given these conditions, most men's love of power will prefer, if it can, to find a beneficent or at least harmless outlet. |