A completly different level

“What makes our practical life really human is a third level of the mind, a level where consciousness and practical skill come together. This third level is a vision or model in your mind of what you want to construct.” (p.7)

Reading this quote leads me to believe that Northrop is trying to suggest that our society today cannot function on practicality or consciousness alone. If our world was based on practicality everything would be simple and soulless. On the other hand our complex society could not handle on frivolous thinking alone. With these two factors in mind, our perspective of a perfect world is based upon them. As an example, all work and no play isn't a world in which us humans see as enjoyable. Leaving me to do nothing but agree with his statement.