The Aristocracies by Allan Kardec

The Aristocracies

Introduction and Comments by Alexa Pietro

Continuing the previous subject about progress, today’s text is

taken from the book Posthumous Works, which is a collection
of essays by Allan Kardec. The subjects in this book are wide:
analysis of theological concepts (God, soul, creation), spirit
manifestations, study of Christ’s nature, history of the
beginning of Allan Kardec’s research told by himself, etc.

This essay shows an unconventional point of view about what

would be the true aristocracy, the one which would accomplish
its task of guiding the peoples’ progress. It compares its
actions through time, also analyzing its present and what will
be its future, when morality stops being considered something
vague and of little practical use… Here it goes.

The Aristocracies
by Allan Kardec

The Capitol, Washington, US

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 The Aristocracies by Allan Kardec
Aristocracy comes from the Greek
aristos, best, and kratos, power: this way,
aristocracy means in its literal definition:
the power of the best. We must admit that its
original meaning has been remarkably twisted many
times; but let’s see the influence that Spiritism can
have on its application. For this, we will consider
matters from the starting point and follow them
through the ages, to infer from them what will
happen later on.
Never before, nor among any people, could men in
society live without leaders, who are found among
the most primitive peoples. This happens because
of the diversity of abilities and characters
inherent to the human species; all around there are
incapable men who need leadership, weak ones who
must be protected, passions that must be
suppressed, so the need for authority.
It is known that in the primitive societies, this
authority was given to the family heads, to the
elder, the older ones, in a word, to the patriarchs;
this was the first of all aristocracies. As societies
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became more numerous, the patriarchal authority
was made impossible in certain circumstances.
Fights among neighboring peoples lead to battles;
requiring not elders, but vigorous, intelligent and
strong men to direct them, who became the military
chiefs.
As these chiefs were victorious, people gave them
authority, expecting to find in their courage, a
warranty against the enemy attacks. Abusing their
position, many seized it themselves; afterwards, the
winners either imposed themselves on the losers or
reduced them to servitude; as a result it was
established the authority of brutality, which was
the second aristocracy.
with their wealth, the strong ones naturally passed
their authority down to their sons, and the weak
ones, not daring to say anything, little by little
became used to consider those as the heirs of the
rights their ancestors gained, and as their
superiors; resulting in the division of society
between two classes: the superiors and the
inferiors, those who rule and those who obey; so the
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aristocracy of birth, which becomes as powerful as it was obliged to work for a living, and work as
and as influential as that of brutality, because if much as it was oppressed, it resulted that the need
this one didn’t have it for itself, as in the first of ceaselessly finding new resources, of fighting
times, in which each one paid with one’s own body, it against an invading competition, of searching for
had the necessary power. Having all the power, it new markets for products, developed its
surrounded itself naturally with privileges. intelligence, and it was enlightened through the
same means which the ruling class used to subject
To preserve these privileges, it was necessary to it. Can’t the hand of Providence be seen there?
give them the prestige of legality, and it made the
laws to its own advantage, which was easy, as it was
the only one that made them. This wasn’t always
enough; so it gave itself the prestige of the divine
right, in order to make the laws respected and
inviolable.

To assure the respect of the submissive part of

society which was becoming more numerous, and
harder to content, even by force, there was no
other way but keeping it from seeing clearly, that
is, to keep it in ignorance.
Renaissant court
If the superior class could have kept the inferior
one in idleness, or without the need of working, it Therefore, the submissive class saw clearly, saw the
would have dominated it easily for a long time; but little value of the prestige which was imposed on it

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 The Aristocracies by Allan Kardec
and, feeling strong by the number, abolished the
privileges and proclaimed the equality before the
law. This principle marked, in certain peoples, the
end of the reign of the aristocracy of birth, which
is nothing more than nominal and honorary, since it
doesn’t confer any legal rights.
Then, a new power rose, that of money, because
money can buy men and things. It was a sun before
which many bowed, just as they had previously
bowed before a coat of arms, and this time it was
even lower. What wasn’t given to titles anymore,
was given to fortune, and fortune had equal
privileges.
However, then they found out that if in order to
make a fortune it is necessary a dose of
intelligence, it wasn’t necessary that much to
inherit it, and that children are often more capable
of wasting than earning it, that the very means to
become rich are not always irrepressible. It
resulted that money lost little by little its moral
prestige, and that this power tended to be replaced
by another power, a fairer aristocracy: that of
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intelligence, before which everyone can bow without
demeaning themselves, because it belongs both to
the poor as well as to the rich. Is that the last one?
Is it the highest expression of civilized mankind?
No.
Intelligence isn’t always a warranty of morality, and
the most intelligent man can make a very bad use of
his abilities. On the other hand, morality only may
not be able.
The union of these two faculties, intelligence and
morality, is necessary to create a legitimate
influence, which the people will submit to blindly,
because it will inspire all trust for its enlightenment
and justice. It will be the last aristocracy, the one
which will be the consequence, or actually, the sign
of the arrival of the reign of good on Earth. It will
come naturally through the circumstances; when
men of this kind are numerous enough to make an
impressive majority, they will be the ones to which
the peoples will entrust their interests.
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 The Aristocracies by Allan Kardec

As we saw, all aristocracies have their reason to
be; they are born from the state of mankind; the
same will be for the one which is meant to come; all
of them did or will make its time according to the
countries, because none is based on the moral
principle; only this principle can constitute a lasting
supremacy, because it will be animated by the
feelings of justice and charity; this supremacy we
will call intellectual-moral aristocracy.
The customs, and consequently, the social
institutions aren’t worth a hundred times more
nowadays than in the Middle Ages? Hasn’t each
century been marked by some kind of progress?
Why then mankind would stop when it has so much
to do?

Is such a state of things possible with the

selfishness, pride and greed that reign absolute on
Earth? We answer firmly: yes, not only is it
possible, but it will come, because it is inevitable.

Nowadays, intelligence rules; it is supreme, no one

can contest it; and this is so true that we see a
common man reach the highest positions. Isn’t this
aristocracy fairer, more logical, more rational than
that of brutality, of birth or of money?
Why then would it be impossible to join it with
morality? – Because, the pessimists say, evil rules
the Earth. – Is it written than good will never rule?
UN Congress
Men instinctively search for their own welfare; if
they don’t find it completely in the realm of
intelligence, they will look for it elsewhere; and
where can they find it if not in the realm of

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 The Aristocracies by Allan Kardec
morality? For that, it is necessary that morality
dominates numerically. There is much to do, that is
uncontested, but, once more, it would be foolish
presumption to say that mankind has arrived at its
peak, when it is seen going further, nonstop, on the
way of progress.
We said firstly that the good on Earth aren’t
entirely as rare as people believe; that the evil are
numerous, it is unfortunately true; but what makes
them seem even more numerous, is that they are
daring, and they feel that this boldness is
necessary for them to triumph; and however they
understand so well the influence of good that they
wear its mask, though they can’t practice it.
The good, on the contrary, don’t display their good
qualities; don’t place themselves in evidence and
that is why they seem such a small number, but
search the personal deeds, done without
ostentation, and in all social classes, you will find
many good and praiseworthy creatures who won’t
allow you to lose hope of mankind.
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And it is also necessary to say that among the evil
ones there are many who are so just for influence,
and who would be good if they were well influenced.
Let’s say that, among 100 individuals, there are 25
good ones and 75 bad ones; among the latter, there
are 50 who are so for weakness, and would be good
if they had good examples before them, and above
all, if they had had a good guiding since childhood;
and that among the 25 overtly evil, not all of them
are incurable.
In the present state of things, the evil are majority
and make the laws to the good; but let’s say that a
given circumstance causes the conversion of the 50
weak ones, the good will become a majority and will
start making the laws; among the 25 overtly evil
ones, many will be influenced and there will be left
but a few incurable ones without influence.
Let’s take an example for comparison: There are
peoples among whom murder and thievery are
considered normal; goodness is an exception there.
Among the most advanced and better ruled peoples
of Europe, crime is an exception; condemned by the
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 The Aristocracies by Allan Kardec
law, and without much influence over society. What
still dominate there are the vices: pride,
selfishness, greed and such.
Why then as long as these people progress, won’t
the vices become an exception there, just as the
crimes are today, at the same time that the
inferior peoples will reach a new level? Denying the
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possibility of such an ascending process is denying
progress itself.
Surely such situation can’t be the result of a day’s
work, but if there’s something that must speed up
its arrival, without any doubt, it is Spiritism. Main
agent of human solidarity, showing the ordeals of
the present life as logical and rational consequences
of actions taken in previous existences, making of
each man the voluntary creator of his own
happiness, it will result of its universal
popularization a sensible increase in the current
moral level.
The general principles of our philosophy have just
been established and organized, and it has brought
together, in an impressive communion of thoughts,
millions of followers spread all around the Earth.
The progress realized under its influence, the
individual and local transformations that it has
caused, in less than fifteen years*, allow us to
appreciate the great fundamental changes that they
will be called to determine in the future.
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 The Aristocracies by Allan Kardec
But if thanks to development and to the general
acceptance of the Spirits’ teachings, the moral
level of mankind tends constantly to increase, they
would be strangely deceived those who imagine that
morality will overcome intelligence. In fact,
Spiritism doesn’t ask to be accepted blindly. It
asks for discussion and enlightenment.
“Instead of blind faith, which invalidates freedom
of thought, it says: unshakable faith is that which
can stand face to face with reason in all ages of
humanity. Faith needs a basis, and that basis is the
perfect knowledge of what one must believe; in
order to believe, it’s not enough to see, it is
necessary above all to understand.”
That is why we can consider Spiritism as one of the
most powerful forerunners of the future
aristocracy, that is, of the intellectual-
moral aristocracy.
*essay written by Allan Kardec in 1868, published in the book
Posthumous Works. SP: LAKE, 2005 (Portuguese version)
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In sum, we have this list of the phases of aristocracy through
history, which may be placed chronologically this way:
1 patriarchal
(beginning of the first civilizations, Abraham)
2 brutality
(Classical Ancient Times until Middle Ages)
3 birth
(Middle Ages until Absolutist Monarchy)
4 money
(French Revolution until mid-19th century)
5 intelligence
(mid-19th century until present times)
6 intellectual-moral
(future)*
*this chronology is totally speculative!
One of the interesting points focused by Allan Kardec is the
need for leadership. Do we really need leaders? Many still do,
as those professionals who only accomplish their tasks when
they’re told to, or those drivers who only follow traffic rules
when there’s a traffic cop nearby. Those who are self-
sufficient are more conscious of their rights and duties and
don’t require leaders, they require mentors instead.
We have an example of the essential role of morality plays in
leaders, when we take into account that intelligence alone can
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 The Aristocracies by Allan Kardec
make a Hitler, while moral together with intelligence can
make a Gandhi.
Both were fallible men, with
flaws and qualities, just like
all of us, but the willpower
and determination they had
to achieve their goals show
how much mankind can do.
The first is the highest
example of what selfishness
can accomplish, the latter is
one of the best examples of
what altruism can achieve.
Kardec mentions that what
makes the evil seem more
numerous it’s their daring,
but more than that,
Mahatma Gandhi
nowadays, evil seem more
attractive because it is lucrative. How many times media has
shown the many cases of courage and selflessness that
happen worldwide all the time? A few, in comparison with the
amount of news about violence and immorality which are
avidly consumed.
Then comes the influence on those who have a good
tendency, but are shallow, and let themselves be taken easily
by the idea that if others can take advantage, why not them?
While these people don’t try to improve morally, we’ll keep on
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having social problems, caused more by pure stupidity than
by malice.
At last, Kardec says that Spiritism is the main agent of human
solidarity, showing the ordeals of present life as logical and
rational consequences of actions taken in previous existences.
When the concept that, as Paul of Tarsus said, for whatsoever
a man soweth, that shall he also reap (Gal 6:7) is better
understood by most people, much evil will be avoided.
The Spiritist Doctrine, studied and practiced, is one of the
means to get this understanding that we are responsible for
what we do, and we’ll live the consequences of our acts
sooner or later, both of the selfish as well as of the selfless
ones, not because there’s an angry God who revenges himself
on his children who make mistakes and awards those who get
it right, but because it is a natural law, and God is the loving
father Christ spoke of, whose love is found in all creation.
The sentence that closes the article is well known by the
followers, but it is never too much to mention it, because it
shows in a few words the kind of stance all of us, Spiritist or
not, must have: unshakable faith is that which can stand face
to face with reason in all ages of humanity.
(Allan Kardec, Gospel According to Spiritism, ch. 19, item 7)
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