Aristotle takes it for granted that it is absurd and ludicrous to
force a person to cure himself. He had no suspicion that many cen-
turies later man will be forced into treatment by benevolent organiza-
tions, charity boards, philanthropic societies, hygienic and eugenic
societies, boards of health, and municipal councils. In fear of disease
and in the interest of his health man will be muzzled and masked like
a vicious dog, and that without any murmur of complaint. Breathing
freely will become a social offense, punished by fine and by jail in the
communities of the free West. With a scanty supply of laws in Hel-
lenic commonwealths or city states what an immense vista for an
Aristotle, of that grand, complex, efficient machinery of law, turning
out yearly thousands of laws and taboos for the paternalistic control
and alleged welfare of the citizen ! What a joy to watch our bureau-
cratic governments piling law on law fit for the waste basket and the
scrap heap! Edicts, ordinances, regulations are issued by the thous-
ands by states, cities, towns, boroughs, organizations, societies, asso-
ciations, and leagues for all imaginary human ills. Society staggers
under the burden of laws and taboos. Individuality is stifled by the
endless, massive excretions of its lawgivers. Our lawgivers take
special pride in the ever active manufacture of new bills and laws.
