There is a fundamental difference between the Brahman and the modern view of politics. The modern politician considers that idealism in politics is unpractical; time enough, he thinks, to deal with social misfortunes when they arise. The same out look may be recognized in the fact that modern medicine lays greater stress on cure than on prevention, i. E., endeavours to protect against unnatural conditions rather than to change the social environment. The Western sociologist is apt to say: The teachings of religion and philosophy may or may not be true, but in any case they have no significance for the practical reformer. The Brahmans, on the contrary, considered all activity not directed in accordance with a consistent theory of the meaning and purpose of life as supremely unpractical.