In his unpublished notes on ethics, James considered the rivalries between what he referred to as individual “high mindedness” and social “prudence.” While both make their contributions to society, he wondered whether it is a particular “high minded” type who ultimately propels humanity forward. He described him as the solitary, restless, immoderate “gentleman” who marries his private visions with personal sacrifice and social reality. James wrote,“We stumble on; the übermenschen plant a foot where there is no certain hold; & in the struggle that follows, the whole of us get dragged up after a
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