Man lives in communities. His social existence restricts his
(36) in certain directions and extends it in others. Society
(37) on him some limitations. People do not all engage in
the same activities. They can be (38) from each other by the
functions they perform. This process of differentiation is called
specialization. Specialization prevents many members of an industrial society
from developing intelligence and (39) . But some aspects of
human society extend them beyond a point which can be (40)
by animals or animal communities lacking the features which human society
(41) possesses. Western-type (42)
often claim that they provide "equality of opportunity" for all their
citizens. At first sight it might seem that this implies the same chance for
everyone of succeeding in his (43) occupation provided he is
conscious of his goal and is willing to work hard. What the phrase actually
implies is something rather different—namely a competitive situation in which
the number of competitors exceeds the number of rewards, (44)
. However, it is only in theory that they all start equal. Even if the
state offers them free education and protects them from hunger or extreme
poverty, (45) . A process of invisible or hidden selection
goes on which has very little to do with "equality of opportunity" in any sense.
It is not the individual who selects his job; (46) .