While for a philosopher every encounter with a new phenomenon or idea may cause resonant changes and even transform the entirety of his worldview, a philistine files every new discovery into one of many drawers in his brain and then proceeds to lock it, remaining indifferent to the notion that other drawers contain thoughts and facts that are deeply contradictory or, on the contrary, particularly harmonious with the one that he has just compartmentalized.

Scientific and technical rules are one typical example of pragmatic norms. These rules do not coerce anyone to do anything. They only point out more useful ways to reach a specific goal. Their imperative is contingent and hypothetical. Externally coercive norms impose on a person his very goals, or, at the very least, the limits of these goals. Pragmatic norms offer a choice.

Just how much more vivid, bright, and deep must the consciousness of the collective goal be in a society wherein this goal becomes apparent not only in exceptional circumstances, but instead permeates the entirety of social life and becomes directly embodied in the organized system of collective labor.

The struggles between people, competition, and rivalry are all only derivative stimuli for development, concealing the primary stimuli. The latter appear when man meets nature face to face, and when in direct struggle with it he acts as a productive, creative force.