What is wrong

This working title of what later became 'What's wrong with the world' was shorter, but perhaps somewhat more confusing. Chesterton, in this volume, deals with some social issues, such as imperialism, feminism and education. The first part seems to be an introduction, about general mistakes we make in thinking about the social issues of our time. 

A first mistake is 'the medical mistake': comparing society to a body. There is a huge difference: while we know pretty well what the healthy state of a body is, we do not in the least agree on the healthy state of society. While we may agree about some wrongs, we do not agree about the right. 

Next, we need to realize that when something is fundamentally wrong, we do not need practical men to fix it, but idealistic man to think out something better. One thing that is very practical would be for men to clearly state what they really want, instead for only demanding the things they think they can get. Compromise can work best if we know each man's viewpoint.

Chesterton then proceeds to discuss the problems of the hidden agenda: 'The old hypocrite, Tartuffe or Pecksniff, was a man whose aims were really worldly and practical, while he pretended that they were religious. The new hypocrite is one whose aims are really religious, while he pretends that they are worldly and practical.' Again, one of the most important aims to strive at is a clear statements of doctrines and beliefs, and an avoidance of vague prejudices. Only then can man meet each other: 'A Tory can walk up to the very edge of Socialism, if he knows what is Socialism. But if he is told that Socialism is a spirit, a sublime atmosphere, a noble, indefinable tendency, why, then he keeps out of its way'.