Political Ponerology: A Science on the Nature of Evil Adjusted for Political Purposes

increases along with progress in general knowledge; in a

pathocracy, however, the image of the phenomenon is so

dominated by causality that there is not much room left for free

choice.

We shall in fact never be in the position to evaluate the

scope of free choice with which an individual person has been

endowed. In forgiving, we subordinate our minds to the laws of

nature, to a basic extent. When we withhold judgment regard-

ing the scope of the remainder unknown to us, we subject our

mind to the discipline of refraining from entering a domain

barely accessible to our mind.

Forgiveness thus leads our reason into a state of intellectual

discipline and order, thereby permitting us to discern life’s

realia and their causative links more clearly. This makes it

easier for us to control our instinct’s vindictive reflexes and

protect our minds from the tendency to impose moralizing

interpretations upon psychopathological phenomena. This is of

course to the advantage of both individuals and of societies.

Simultaneously, and in accordance with the precepts of

great religions, forgiveness helps us enjoy supernatural order

and thereby gain the right to self forgiveness. It makes us better

able to perceive the voice within saying “do this” or “don’t do

294

THERAPY OF THE WORLD

that”. This improves our capacity for proper decision making in

thorny situations when we are lacking some necessary data. In

this extremely difficult battle, we may not renounce this assis-

tance and privilege; they may be decisive in tipping the scales

toward victory.

Nations which have long had to endure pathocratic rule are

now close to accepting such a proposition as a result of their

practical knowledge of that other reality and the characteristic

evolution of their world view. However, their motivations are

dominated by practical data which are also derived from adap-

tation to life in that divergent reality. Religious motivations

also appear; comprehension and affirmation thereof mature

under such specific conditions. Their thought process and so-

cial ethics also evidence a feel for a certain teleological mean-

ing to phenomena, in the sense of a historical watershed.

Such an act of renunciation of judicial and emotional re-

venge with regard to people whose behavior was conditioned

by psychological causation, especially certain specific heredi-

tary factors, is justified by naturalism to a significant degree.

Therefore, such naturalistic and rational principles should per-

mit the definitive decisions to mature. The intellectual effort

involved in cutting the links to a natural comprehending of the

problems of evil and a confrontation thereof with moral pre-

cepts shall bear fruit in many products of human thought.

People who have lost their ability to adapt to sensible work

for hire will have to be guaranteed tolerable living conditions

and assistance in their efforts to readapt. The costs incurred by

society with regard thereto will probably be less than those

involved with any other solution. All this will require appropri-

ate organizational efforts based on this manner of understand-

ing such matters, which will be far removed from traditional

legal practice. The promises should be made to the pathocrats,

and then kept with the honesty worthy of a society of normal

people. Such an act and its execution should therefore be pre-

pared ahead of time from the moral, legal and organizational

points of view.

Just as the idea adduced herein finds a lively response

among people familiar with the above-described macrosocial

phenomenon from experience, it insults the vengeful feelings

POLITICAL PONEROLOGY

295

of numerous political émigrés who retain the old experiential

methods regarding social and moral problems. We should thus

expect more opposition from this quarter, justified by moral

indignation. Persuasive efforts should therefore be made in that

direction.

It would also be advantageous if the solution to this prob-

lem could be prepared with a view to the contemporary heri-

tage of the bio-humanistic sciences, a heritage which aims at a

similar evolution of law even though it continues to hide in the

academic world, too immature for practical realization. The

value of scientific studies in this area tends to be underrated by

conservative-minded societies. The work may be facilitated by

means of using such information with a view toward the need

for rapid preparation or updating of the law.

Our civilization’s legislations arose first from the tradition

of Roman law, then from the rights of sovereigns ruling by