第1章

CHAPTERI……{1}Thejustificationofallpersonswhohavefreedthemselvesfromtoilisnowfoundedonexperimental,positivescience。Thescientifictheoryisasfollows:—

\"Forthestudyofthelawsoflifeofhumansocieties,thereexistsbutoneindubitablemethod,——thepositive,experimental,criticalmethod\"Onlysociology,foundedonbiology,foundedonallthepositivesciences,cangiveusthelawsofhumanity。Humanity,orhumancommunities,aretheorganismsalreadyprepared,orstillinprocessofformation,andwhicharesubservienttoallthelawsoftheevolutionoforganisms。

\"Oneofthechiefoftheselawsisthevariationofdestinationamongtheportionsoftheorgans。Somepeoplecommand,othersobey。

Ifsomehaveinsuperabundance,andothersinwant,thisarisesnotfromthewillofGod,notbecausetheempireisaformofmanifestationofpersonality,butbecauseinsocieties,asinorganisms,divisionoflaborbecomesindispensableforlifeasawhole。Somepeopleperformthemuscularlaborinsocieties;others,thementallabor。\"

Uponthisdoctrineisfoundedtheprevailingjustificationofourtime。

Notlongago,theirreignedinthelearned,cultivatedworld,amoralphilosophy,accordingtowhichitappearedthateverythingwhichexistsisreasonable;thatthereisnosuchthingasevilorgood;andthatitisunnecessaryformantowaragainstevil,butthatitisonlynecessaryforhimtodisplayintelligence,——onemaninthemilitaryservice,anotherinthejudicial,anotherontheviolin。Therehavebeenmanyandvariedexpressionsofhumanwisdom,andthesephenomenawereknowntothemenofthenineteenthcentury。ThewisdomofRousseauandofLessing,andSpinozaandBruno,andallthewisdomofantiquity;butnooneman’swisdomoverrodethecrowd。Itwasimpossibletosayeventhis,——thatHegel’ssuccesswastheresultofthesymmetryofthistheory。

Therewereotherequallysymmetricaltheories,——thoseofDescartes,Leibnitz,Fichte,Schopenhauer。Therewasbutonereasonwhythisdoctrinewonforitself,foraseason,thebeliefofthewholeworld;andthisreasonwas,thatthedeductionsofthatphilosophywinkedatpeople’sweaknesses。Thesedeductionsweresummedupinthis,——thateverythingwasreasonable,everythinggood;andthatnoonewastoblame。

WhenIbeganmycareer,Hegelianismwasthefoundationofeverything。Itwasfloatingintheair;itwasexpressedinnewspaperandperiodicalarticles,inhistoricalandjudiciallectures,innovels,intreatises,inart,insermons,inconversation。ThemanwhowasnotacquaintedwithHegalhadnorighttospeak。AnyonewhodesiredtounderstandthetruthstudiedHegel。Everythingrestedonhim。Andallatoncethefortiespassed,andtherewasnothingleftofhim。Therewasnotevenahintofhim,anymorethanifhehadneverexisted。Andthemostamazingthingofallwas,thatHegelianismdidnotfallbecausesomeoneoverthrewitordestroyedit。No!Itwasthesamethenasnow,butallatonceitappearedthatitwasofnousewhatevertothelearnedandcultivatedworld。

TherewasatimewhentheHegelianwisementriumphantlyinstructedthemasses;andthecrowd,understandingnothing,blindlybelievedineverything,findingconfirmationinthefactthatitwasonhand;andtheybelievedthatwhatseemedtothemmuddyandcontradictorythereontheheightsofphilosophywasallasclearastheday。Butthattimehasgoneby。Thattheoryiswornout:anewtheoryhaspresenteditselfinitsstead。Theoldonehasbecomeuseless;andthecrowdhaslookedintothesecretsanctuariesofthehighpriests,andhasseenthatthereisnothingthere,andthattherehasbeennothingthere,saveveryobscureandsenselesswords。Thishastakenplacewithinmymemory。

\"Butthisarises,\"peopleofthepresentsciencewillsay,\"fromthefactthatallthatwastheravingofthetheologicalandmetaphysicalperiod;butnowthereexistspositive,criticalscience,whichdoesnotdeceive,sinceitisallfoundedoninductionandexperiment。Nowourerectionsarenotshaky,astheyformerlywere,andonlyinourpathliesthesolutionofalltheproblemsofhumanity。\"

Buttheoldteacherssaidpreciselythesame,andtheywerenofools;andweknowthattherewerepeopleofgreatintelligenceamongthem。Andpreciselythus,withinmymemory,andwithnolessconfidence,withnolessrecognitiononthepartofthecrowdofso—

calledcultivatedpeople,spoketheHegelians。AndneitherwereourHerzens,ourStankevitches,orourByelinskysfools。Butwhencearosethatmarvellousmanifestation,thatsensiblepeopleshouldpreachwiththegreatestassurance,andthatthecrowdshouldacceptwithdevotion,suchunfoundedandunsupportableteachings?Thereisbutonereason,——thattheteachingsthusinculcatedjustifiedpeopleintheirevillife。

AverypoorEnglishwriter,whoseworksareallforgotten,andrecognizedasthemostinsignificantoftheinsignificant,writesatreatiseonpopulation,inwhichhedevisesafictitiouslawconcerningtheincreaseofpopulationdisproportionatetothemeansofsubsistence。Thisfictitiouslaw,thiswriterencompasseswithmathematicalformulaefoundedonnothingwhatever;andthenhelaunchesitontheworld。Fromthefrivolityandthestupidityofthishypothesis,onewouldsupposethatitwouldnotattracttheattentionofanyone,andthatitwouldsinkintooblivion,likealltheworksofthesameauthorwhichfollowedit;butitturnedoutquiteotherwise。Thehack—writerwhopennedthistreatiseinstantlybecomesascientificauthority,andmaintainshimselfuponthatheightfornearlyhalfacentury。Malthus!TheMalthusiantheory,—

—thelawoftheincreaseofthepopulationingeometrical,andofthemeansofsubsistenceinarithmeticalproportion,andthewiseandnaturalmeansofrestrictingthepopulation,——allthesehavebecomescientific,indubitabletruths,whichhavenotbeenconfirmed,butwhichhavebeenemployedasaxioms,fortheerectionoffalsetheories。Inthismannerhavelearnedandcultivatedpeopleproceeded;andamongtheherdofidlepersons,theresprungupapioustrustinthegreatlawsexpoundedbyMalthus。Howdidthiscometopass?Itwouldseemasthoughtheywerescientificdeductions,whichhadnothingincommonwiththeinstinctsofthemasses。Butthiscanonlyappearsoforthemanwhobelievesthatscience,liketheChurch,issomethingself—contained,liabletonoerrors,andnotsimplytheimaginingsofweakanderringfolk,whomerelysubstitutetheimposingword\"science,\"inplaceofthethoughtsandwordsofthepeople,forthesakeofimpressiveness。

AllthatwasnecessarywastomakepracticaldeductionsfromthetheoryofMalthus,inordertoperceivethatthistheorywasofthemosthumansort,withthebestdefinedofobjects。Thedeductionsdirectlyarisingfromthistheorywerethefollowing:Thewretchedconditionofthelaboringclasseswassuchinaccordancewithanunalterablelaw,whichdoesnotdependuponmen;and,ifanyoneistoblameinthismatter,itisthehungrylaboringclassesthemselves。Whyaretheysuchfoolsastogivebirthtochildren,whentheyknowthattherewillbenothingforthechildrentoeat?

Andsothisdeduction,whichisvaluablefortheherdofidlepeople,hashadthisresult:thatalllearnedmenoverlookedtheincorrectness,theutterarbitrarinessofthesedeductions,andtheirinsusceptibilitytoproof;andthethrongofcultivated,i。e。,ofidlepeople,knowinginstinctivelytowhatthesedeductionslead,salutedthistheorywithenthusiasm,conferreduponitthestampoftruth,i。e。,ofscience,anddraggeditaboutwiththemforhalfacentury。

Isnotthissamethingthecauseoftheconfidenceofmeninpositivecritical—experimentalscience,andofthedevoutattitudeofthecrowdtowardsthatwhichitpreaches?Atfirstitseemsstrange,thatthetheoryofevolutioncaninanymannerjustifypeopleintheirevilways;anditseemsasthoughthescientifictheoryofevolutionhastodealonlywithfacts,andthatitdoesnothingelsebutobservefacts。

Butthisonlyappearstobethecase。

ExactlythesamethingappearedtobethecasewiththeHegeliandoctrine,inagreaterdegree,andalsointhespecialinstanceoftheMalthusiandoctrine。Hegelianismwas,apparently,occupiedonlywithitslogicalconstructions,andborenorelationtothelifeofmankind。PreciselythisseemedtobethecasewiththeMalthusiantheory。Itappearedtobebusyitselfonlywithstatisticaldata。

Butthiswasonlyinappearance。

Contemporaryscienceisalsooccupiedwithfactsalone:itinvestigatesfacts。Butwhatfacts?Whypreciselythesefacts,andnoothers?

Themenofcontemporaryscienceareveryfondofsaying,triumphantlyandconfidently,\"Weinvestigateonlyfacts,\"imaginingthatthesewordscontainsomemeaning。Itisimpossibletoinvestigatefactsalone,becausethefactswhicharesubjecttoourinvestigationareINNUMERABLE(inthedefinitesenseofthatword),—

—innumerable。Beforeweproceedtoinvestigatefacts,wemusthaveatheoryonthefoundationofwhichtheseorthosefactscanbeinquiredinto,i。e。,selectedfromtheincalculablequantity。

Andthistheoryexists,andisevenverydefinitelyexpressed,althoughmanyoftheworkersincontemporarysciencedonotknowit,oroftenpretendthattheydonotknowit。Exactlythushasitalwaysbeenwithallprevailingandguidingdoctrines。Thefoundationsofeverydoctrinearealwaysstatedinatheory,andtheso—calledlearnedmenmerelyinventfurtherdeductionsfromthefoundationsoncestated。Thuscontemporaryscienceisselectingitsfactsonthefoundationofaverydefinitetheory,whichitsometimesknows,sometimesrefusestoknow,andsometimesreallydoesnotknow;butthetheoryexists。

Thetheoryisasfollows:Allmankindisanundyingorganism;menaretheparticlesofthatorganism,andeachoneofthemhashisownspecialtaskfortheserviceofothers。Inthesamemanner,thecellsunitedinanorganismshareamongthemthelaboroffightforexistenceofthewholeorganism;theymagnifythepowerofonecapacity,andweakenanother,anduniteinoneorgan,inorderthebettertosupplytherequirementsofthewholeorganism。Andexactlyinthesamemanneraswithgregariousanimals,——antsorbees,——theseparateindividualsdividethelaboramongthem。Thequeenlaystheegg,thedronefructifiesit;thebeeworkshiswholelifelong。Andpreciselythisthingtakesplaceinmankindandinhumansocieties。Andtherefore,inordertofindthelawoflifeforman,itisnecessarytostudythelawsofthelifeandthedevelopmentoforganisms。

Inthelifeanddevelopmentoforganisms,wefindthefollowinglaws:thelawofdifferentiationandintegration,thelawthateveryphenomenonisaccompaniednotbydirectconsequencesalone,anotherlawregardingtheinstabilityoftype,andsoon。Allthisseemsveryinnocent;butitisonlynecessarytodrawthedeductionsfromalltheselaws,inordertoimmediatelyperceivethattheselawsinclineinthesamedirectionasthelawofMalthus。Theselawsallpointtoonething;namely,totherecognitionofthatdivisionoflaborwhichexistsinhumancommunities,asorganic,thatistosay,asindispensable。Andtherefore,theunjustpositioninwhichwe,thepeoplewhohavefreedourselvesfromlabor,findourselves,mustberegardednotfromthepointofviewofcommon—senseandjustice,butmerelyasanundoubtedfact,confirmingtheuniversallaw。

Moralphilosophyalsojustifiedeverysortofcrueltyandharshness;

butthisresultedinaphilosophicalmanner,andthereforewrongly。

Butwithscience,allthisresultsscientifically,andthereforeinamannernottobedoubted。

Howcanwefailtoacceptsoverybeautifulatheory?Itismerelynecessarytolookuponhumansocietyasanobjectofcontemplation;

andIcanconsolemyselfwiththethoughtthatmyactivity,whatevermaybeitsnature,isafunctionalactivityoftheorganismofhumanity,andthatthereforetherecannotariseanyquestionastowhetheritisjustthatI,inemployingthelaborofothers,amdoingonlythatwhichisagreeabletome,astherecanarisenoquestionastothedivisionoflaborbetweenthebraincellsandthemuscularcells。Howisitpossiblenottoadmitsoverybeautifulatheory,inorderthatonemaybeable,everafter,topocketone’sconscience,andhaveaperfectlyunbridledanimalexistence,feelingbeneathone’sselfthatsupportofsciencewhichisnottobeshakennowadays!

Anditisonthisnewdoctrinethatthejustificationformen’sidlenessandcrueltyisnowfounded。

CHAPTERII。

Thisdoctrinehaditsrisenotsoverylong——fiftyyears——ago。ItsprincipalfounderwastheFrenchsavantComte。ThereoccurredtoComte,——asystematist,andareligiousmantoboot,——undertheinfluenceofthethennovelphysiologicalinvestigationsofBiche,theoldideaalreadysetforthbyMeneniusAgrippa,——theideathathumansociety,allhumanityeven,mightberegardedasonewhole,asanorganism;andmenaslivingpartsoftheseparateorgans,havingeachhisowndefiniteappointmenttoservetheentireorganism。

ThisideasopleasedComte,thatuponithebegantoerectaphilosophicaltheory;andthistheorysocarriedhimaway,thatheutterlyforgotthatthepointofdepartureforhistheorywasnothingmorethanaveryprettycomparison,whichwassuitableforafable,butwhichcouldbynomeansserveasthefoundationforscience。He,asfrequentlyhappens,mistookhispethypothesisforanaxiom,andimaginedthathiswholetheorywaserectedontheveryfirmestoffoundations。Accordingtohistheory,itseemedthatsincehumanityisanorganism,theknowledgeofwhatmanis,andofwhatshouldbehisrelationstotheworld,waspossibleonlythroughaknowledgeofthefeaturesofthisorganism。Fortheknowledgeofthesequalities,manisenabledtotakeobservationsonotherandlowerorganisms,andtodrawconclusionsfromtheirlife。

Therefore,inthefistplace,thetrueandonlymethod,accordingtoComte,istheinductive,andallscienceisonlysuchwhenithasexperimentasitsbasis;inthesecondplace,thegoalandcrownofsciencesisformedbythatnewsciencedealingwiththeimaginaryorganismofhumanity,orthesuper—organicbeing,——humanity,——andthisnewlydevisedscienceissociology。

Andfromthisviewofscienceitappears,thatallpreviousknowledgewasdeceitful,andthatthewholestoryofhumanity,inthesenseofself—knowledge,hasbeendividedintothree,actuallyintotwo,periods:thetheologicalandmetaphysicalperiod,extendingfromthebeginningoftheworldtoComte,andthepresentperiod,——thatoftheonlytruescience,positivescience,——beginningwithComte。

Allthiswasverywell。Therewasbutoneerror,andthatwasthis,——thatthewholeedificewaserectedonthesand,onthearbitraryandfalseassertionthathumanityisanorganism。Thisassertionwasarbitrary,becausewehavejustasmuchrighttoadmittheexistenceofahumanorganism,notsubjecttoobservation,aswehavetoadmittheexistenceofanyotherinvisible,fantasticbeing。

Thisassertionwaserroneous,becausefortheunderstandingofhumanity,i。e。,ofmen,thedefinitionofanorganismwasincorrectlyconstructed,whileinhumanityitselfallactualsignsoforganism,——thecentreoffeelingorconsciousness,arelacking。

{2}

But,inspiteofthearbitrarinessandincorrectnessofthefundamentalassumptionofpositivephilosophy,itwasacceptedbytheso—calledcultivatedworldwiththegreatestsympathy。Inthisconnection,onethingisworthyofnote:thatoutoftheworksofComte,consistingoftwoparts,ofpositivephilosophyandofpositivepolitics,onlythefirstwasadoptedbythelearnedworld,—

—thatpartwhichjustifieth,onnewpromises,theexistentevilofhumansocieties;butthesecondpart,treatingofthemoralobligationsofaltruism,arisingfromtherecognitionofmankindasanorganism,wasregardedasnotonlyofnoimportance,butastrivialandunscientific。ItwasarepetitionofthesamethingthathadhappenedinthecaseofKant’sworks。The\"CritiqueofPureReason\"wasadoptedbythescientificcrowd;butthe\"CritiqueofAppliedReason,\"thatpartwhichcontainsthegistofmoraldoctrine,wasrepudiated。InKant’sdoctrine,thatwasacceptedasscientificwhichsubservedtheexistentevil。Butthepositivephilosophy,whichwasacceptedbythecrowd,wasfoundedonanarbitraryanderroneousbasis,wasinitselftoounfounded,andthereforeunsteady,andcouldnotsupportitselfalone。Andso,amidallthemultitudeoftheidleplaysofthoughtofthemenprofessingtheso—calledscience,therepresentsitselfanassertionequallydevoidofnovelty,andequallyarbitraryanderroneous,totheeffectthatlivingbeings,i。e。,organisms,havehadtheirriseineachother,——notonlyoneorganismfromanother,butonefrommany;i。e。,thatinaverylongintervaloftime(inamillionofyears,forinstance),notonlycouldaduckandafishproceedfromoneancestor,butthatoneanimalmightresultfromawholehiveofbees。Andthisarbitraryanderroneousassumptionwasacceptedbythelearnedworldwithstillgreaterandmoreuniversalsympathy。

Thisassumptionwasarbitrary,becausenoonehaseverseenhowoneorganismismadefromanother,andthereforethehypothesisastotheoriginofspecieswillalwaysremainanhypothesis,andnotanexperimentalfact。Andthishypothesiswasalsoerroneous,becausethedecisionofthequestionastotheoriginofspecies——thattheyhaveoriginated,inconsequenceofthelawofheredityandfitness,inthecourseofaninterminablylongtime——isnosolutionatall,butmerelyare—statementoftheprobleminanewform。

AccordingtoMoses’solutionofthequestion(inthedisputewithwhomtheentiresignificanceofthistheorylies),itappearsthatthediversityofthespeciesoflivingcreaturesproceededaccordingtothewillofGod,andaccordingtoHisalmightypower;butaccordingtothetheoryofevolution,itappearsthatthedifferencebetweenlivingcreaturesarosebychance,andonaccountofvaryingconditionsofheredityandsurroundings,throughanendlessperiodoftime。Thetheoryofevolution,tospeakinsimplelanguage,merelyasserts,thatbychance,inanincalculablylongperiodoftime,outofanythingyoulike,anythingelsethatyoulikemaydevelop。

Thisisnoanswertotheproblem。Andthesameproblemisdifferentlyexpressed:insteadofwill,chanceisoffered,andtheco—efficientoftheeternalistransposedfromthepowertothetime。ButthisfreshassertionstrengthenedComte’sassertion。

And,moreover,accordingtotheingenuousconfessionofthefounderofDarwin’stheoryhimself,hisideawasarousedinhimbythelawofMalthus;andhethereforepropoundedthetheoryofthestruggleoflivingcreaturesandpeopleforexistence,asthefundamentallawofeverylivingthing。Andlo!onlythiswasneededbythethrongofidlepeoplefortheirjustification。

Twoinsecuretheories,incapableofsustainingthemselvesontheirfeet,upheldeachother,andacquiredthesemblanceofstability。

Boththeoriesborewiththemthatideawhichisprecioustothecrowd,thatintheexistentevilofhumansocieties,menarenottoblame,andthattheexistingorderofthingsisthatwhichshouldprevail;andthenewtheorywasadoptedbythethrongwithentirefaithandunheard—ofenthusiasm。Andbehold,onthestrengthofthesetwoarbitraryanderroneoushypotheses,acceptedasdogmasofbelief,thenewscientificdoctrinewasratified。

Spencer,forexample,inoneofhisfirstworks,expressesthisdoctrinethus:—

\"Societiesandorganisms,\"hesays,\"arealikeinthefollowingpoints:—

\"1。Inthat,beginningastinyaggregates,theyimperceptiblygrowinmass,sothatsomeofthemattaintothesizeoftenthousandtimestheiroriginalbulk。

\"2。Inthatwhiletheywere,inthebeginning,ofsuchsimplestructure,thattheycanberegardedasdestituteofallstructure,theyacquireduringtheperiodoftheirgrowthaconstantlyincreasingcomplicationofstructure。

\"3。Inthatalthoughintheirearly,undevelopedperiod,thereexistsbetweenthemhardlyanyinterdependenceofparts,theirpartsgraduallyacquireaninterdependence,whicheventuallybecomessostrong,thatthelifeandactivityofeachpartbecomespossibleonlyonconditionofthelifeandactivityoftheremainingparts。

\"4。Inthatlifeandthedevelopmentofsocietyareindependent,andmoreprotractedthanthelifeanddevelopmentofanyoneoftheunitsconstitutingit,whichareborn,grow,act,reproducethemselves,anddieseparately;whilethepoliticalbodyformedfromthem,continuestolivegenerationaftergeneration,developinginmassinperfectionandfunctionalactivity。\"

Thepointsofdifferencebetweenorganismsandsocietygofarther;

anditisprovedthatthesedifferencesaremerelyapparent,butthatorganismsandsocietiesareabsolutelysimilar。

Fortheuninitiatedmanthequestionimmediatelypresentsitself:

\"Whatareyoutalkingabout?Whyismankindanorganism,orsimilartoanorganism?\"

Yousaythatsocietiesresembleorganismsinthesefourfeatures;

butitisnothingofthesort。Youonlytakeafewfeaturesoftheorganism,andbeneaththemyourangehumancommunities。Youbringforwardfourfeaturesofresemblance,thenyoutakefourfeaturesofdissimilarity,whichare,however,onlyapparent(accordingtoyou);

andyouthenceconcludethathumansocietiescanberegardedasorganisms。Butsurely,thisisanemptygameofdialectics,andnothingmore。Onthesamefoundation,underthefeaturesofanorganism,youmayrangewhateveryouplease。Iwilltakethefistthingthatcomesintomyhead。Letussupposeittobeaforest,——

themannerinwhichitsowsitselfintheplain,andspreadsabroad。

1。Beginningwithasmallaggregate,itincreasesimperceptiblyinmass,andsoforth。Exactlythesamethingtakesplaceinthefields,whentheygraduallyseedthemselvesdown,andbringforthaforest。2。Inthebeginningthestructureissimple:afterwardsitincreasesincomplication,andsoforth。Exactlythesamethinghappenswiththeforest,——inthefirstplace,therewereonlybitch—

trees,thencamebrush—woodandhazel—bushes;atfirstallgrowerect,thentheyinterlacetheirbranches。3。Theinterdependenceofthepartsissoaugmented,thatthelifeofeachpartdependsonthelifeandactivityoftheremainingparts。Itispreciselysowiththeforest,——thehazel—bushwarmsthetree—boles(cutitdown,andtheothertreeswillfreeze),thehazel—bushprotectsfromthewind,theseed—bearingtreescarryonreproduction,thetallandleafytreesaffordshade,andthelifeofonetreedependsonthelifeofanother。4。Theseparatepartsmaydie,butthewholelives。Exactlythecasewiththeforest。Theforestdoesnotmournonetree。

Havingprovedthat,inaccordancewiththistheory,youmayregardtheforestasanorganism,youfancythatyouhaveprovedtothedisciplesoftheorganicdoctrinetheerroroftheirdefinition。

Nothingofthesort。Thedefinitionwhichtheygivetotheorganismissoinaccurateandsoelasticthatunderthisdefinitiontheymayincludewhattheywill。\"Yes,\"theysay;\"andtheforestmayalsoberegardedasanorganism。Theforestismutualre—actionofindividuals,whichdonotannihilateeachother,——anaggregate;itspartsmayalsoenterintoamoreintimateunion,asthehiveofbeesconstitutesitselfanorganism。\"Thenyouwillsay,\"Ifthatisso,thenthebirdsandtheinsectsandthegrassofthisforest,whichre—actuponeachother,anddonotdestroyeachother,mayalsoberegardedasoneorganism,incompanywiththetrees。\"Andtothisalsotheywillagree。Everycollectionoflivingindividuals,whichre—actuponeachother,anddonotdestroyeachother,mayberegardedasorganisms,accordingtotheirtheory。Youmayaffirmaconnectionandinteractionbetweenwhateveryouchoose,and,accordingtoevolution,youmayaffirm,that,outofwhateveryouplease,anyotherthingthatyoupleasemayproceed,inaverylongperiodoftime。

Andthemostremarkablethingofallis,thatthissameidenticalpositivesciencerecognizesthescientificmethodasthesignoftrueknowledge,andhasitselfdefinedwhatitdesignatesasthescientificmethod。

Bythescientificmethoditmeanscommon—sense。

Andcommon—senseconvictsitateverystep。AssoonasthePopesfeltthatnothingholyremainedinthem,theycalledthemselvesmostholy。

Assoonassciencefeltthatnocommon—sensewasleftinhershecalledherselfsensible,thatistosay,scientificscience。

CHAPTERIII。

Divisionoflaboristhelawofallexistingthings,and,therefore,itshouldbepresentinhumansocieties。Itisverypossiblethatthisisso;butstillthequestionremains,OfwhatnatureisthatdivisionoflaborwhichIbeholdinmyhumansociety?isitthatdivisionoflaborwhichshouldexist?Andifpeopleregardacertaindivisionoflaborasunreasonableandunjust,thennosciencewhatevercanconvincementhatthatshouldexistwhichtheyregardasunreasonableandunjust。

Divisionoflaboristheconditionofexistenceoforganisms,andofhumansocieties;butwhat,inthesehumansocieties,istoberegardedasanorganicdivisionoflabor?And,towhateverextentsciencemayhaveinvestigatedthedivisionoflaborinthecellsofworms,alltheseobservationsdonotcompelamantoacknowledgethatdivisionoflabortobecorrectwhichhisownsenseandconsciencedonotrecognizeascorrect。Nomatterhowconvincingmaybetheproofsofthedivisionoflaborofthecellsintheorganismsstudied,man,ifhehasnotpartedwithhisjudgment,willsay,nevertheless,thatamanshouldnotweavecalicoallhislife,andthatthisisnotdivisionoflabor,butpersecutionofthepeople。Spencerandotherssaythatthereisawholecommunityofweavers,andthattheprofessionofweavingisanorganicdivisionoflabor。Thereareweavers;so,ofcourse,thereissuchadivisionoflabor。Itwouldbewellenoughtospeakthusifthecolonyofweavershadarisenbythefreewillofitsmember’s;butweknowthatitisnotthusformedoftheirinitiative,butthatwemakeit。Henceitisnecessarytofindoutwhetherwehavemadetheseweaversinaccordancewithanorganiclaw,orwithsomeother。

Menlive。Theysupportthemselvesbyagriculture,asisnaturaltoallmen。Onemanhassetupablacksmith’sforge,andrepairedhisplough;hisneighborcomestohim,andaskshimtomendhisalso,andpromiseshiminreturneitherworkormoney。Athirdcomes,andafourth;andinthecommunityformedbythesemen,therearisesthefollowingdivisionoflabor,——ablacksmithiscreated。Anothermanhasinstructedhischildrenwell;hisneighborbringshischildrentohim,andrequestshimtoteachthemalso,andateacheriscreated。Butbothblacksmithandteacherhavebeencreated,andcontinuetobesuch,merelybecausetheyhavebeenasked;andtheyremainsuchaslongastheyarerequestedtobeblacksmithandteacher。Ifitshouldcometopassthatmanyblacksmithsandteachersshouldsetthemselvesup,orthattheirworkisnotrequited,theywillimmediately,ascommonsensedemandsandasalwayshappenswhenthereisnooccasionfordisturbingtheregularcourseofdivisionoflabor,——theywillimmediatelyabandontheirtrade,andbetakethemselvesoncemoretoagriculture。

Menwhobehavethusareguidedbytheirsense,theirconscience;andhencewe,themenendowedwithsenseandconscience,allassertthatsuchadivisionoflaborisright。Butifitshouldchancethattheblacksmithswereabletocompelotherpeopletoworkforthem,andshouldcontinuetomakehorse—shoeswhentheywerenotwanted,andiftheteachersshouldgoonteachingwhentherewasnoonetoteach,thenitisobvioustoeverysaneman,asaman,i。e。,asabeingendowedwithreasonandconscience,thatthiswouldnotbedivision,butappropriation,oflabor。Andyetpreciselythatsortofactivityiswhatiscalleddivisionoflaborbyscientificscience。Peopledothatwhichothersdonotthinkofrequiring,anddemandthattheyshallbesupportedforsodoing,andsaythatthisisjustbecauseitisdivisionoflabor。

ThatwhichconstitutesthecauseoftheeconomicalpovertyofourageiswhattheEnglishcallover—production(whichmeansthatamassofthingsaremadewhichareofnousetoanybody,andwithwhichnothingcanbedone)。

Itwouldbeoddtoseeashoemaker,whoshouldconsiderthatpeoplewereboundtofeedhimbecauseheincessantlymadebootswhichhadbeenofnousetoanyoneforalongtime;butwhatshallwesayofthosemenwhomakenothing,——whonotonlyproducenothingthatisvisible,butnothingthatisofuseforpeopleatlarge,——forwhosewarestherearenocustomers,andwhoyetdemand,withthesameboldness,onthegroundofdivisionoflabor,thattheyshallbesuppliedwithfinefoodanddrink,andthattheyshallbedressedwell?Theremaybe,andthereare,sorcerersforwhoseservicesademandmakesitselffelt,andforthispurposetherearebroughttothempancakesandflasks;butitisdifficulttoimaginetheexistenceofsorcererswhosespellsareuselesstoeveryone,andwhoboldlydemandthattheyshallbeluxuriouslysupportedbecausetheyexercisesorcery。Anditisthesameinourworld。Andallthiscomesaboutonthebasisofthatfalseconceptionofthedivisionoflabor,whichisdefinednotbyreasonandconscience,butbyobservation,whichmenofscienceavowwithsuchunanimity。

Divisionoflaborhas,inreality,alwaysexisted,andstillexists;

butitisrightonlywhenmandecideswithhisreasonandhisconsciencethatitshouldbeso,andnotwhenhemerelyinvestigatesit。Andreasonandconsciencedecidethequestionforallmenverysimply,unanimously,andinamannernottobedoubted。Theyalwaysdecideitthus:thatdivisionoflaborisrightonlywhenaspecialbranchofman’sactivityissoneedfultomen,thatthey,entreatinghimtoservethem,voluntarilyproposetosupporthiminrequitalforthatwhichheshalldoforthem。But,whenamancanlivefrominfancytotheageofthirtyyearsonthenecksofothers,promisingtodo,whenheshallhavebeentaught,somethingextremelyuseful,forwhichnooneaskshim;andwhen,fromtheageofthirtyuntilhisdeath,hecanliveinthesamemanner,stillmerelyonthepromisetodosomething,forwhichtherehasbeennorequest,thiswillnotbedivisionoflabor(and,asamatteroffact,thereisnosuchthinginoursociety),butitwillbewhatitalreadyis,——

merelytheappropriation,byforce,ofthetoilofothers;thatsameappropriationbyforceofthetoilofotherswhichthephilosophersformerlydesignatedbyvariousnames,——forinstance,asindispensableformsoflife,——butwhichscientificsciencenowcallstheorganicdivisionoflabor。

Thewholesignificanceofscientificscienceliesinthisalone。Ithasnowbecomeadistributerofdiplomasforidleness;foritalone,initssanctuaries,selectsanddetermineswhatisparasitical,andwhatisorganicactivity,inthesocialorganism。Justasthougheverymancouldnotfindthisoutforhimselfmuchmoreaccuratelyandmorespeedily,bytakingcounselofhisreasonandhisconscience。Itseemstomenofscientificscience,thattherecanbenodoubtofthis,andthattheiractivityisalsoindubitablyorganic;they,thescientificandartisticworkers,arethebraincells,andthemostpreciouscellsinthewholeorganism。

Eversincemen——reasoningbeings——haveexisted,theyhavedistinguishedgoodfromevil,andhaveprofitedbythefactthatmenhavemadethisdistinctionbeforethem;theyhavewarredagainstevil,andhavesoughtthegood,andhaveslowlybutuninterruptedlyadvancedinthatpath。Anddiversdelusionshavealwaysstoodbeforemen,hemminginthispath,andhavingfortheirobjecttodemonstratetothem,thatitwasnotnecessarytodothis,andthatitwasnotnecessarytoliveastheywereliving。Withfearfulconflictanddifficulty,menhavefreedthemselvesfrommanydelusions。Andbehold,anewandastillmoreevildelusionhassprungupinthepathofmankind,——thescientificdelusion。

Thisnewdelusionispreciselythesameinnatureastheoldones;

itsgistliesinsecretlyleadingastraytheactivityofourreasonandconscience,andofthosewhohavelivedbeforeus,bysomethingexternal。Inscientificscience,thisexternalthingis——

investigation。

Thecunningofthisscienceconsistsinthis,——that,afterpointingouttomenthecoarsestfalseinterpretationsoftheactivityofthereasonandconscienceofman,itdestroysinthemfaithintheirownreasonandconscience,andassuresthemthateverythingwhichtheirreasonandconsciencesaytothem,thatallthatthesehavesaidtotheloftiestrepresentativesofmanheretofore,eversincetheworldhasexisted,——thatallthisisconventionalandsubjective。\"Allthismustbeabandoned,\"theysay;\"itisimpossibletounderstandthetruthbythereason,forwemaybemistaken。Butthereexistsanotherunerringandalmostmechanicalpath:itisnecessarytoinvestigatefacts。\"

Butfactsmustbeinvestigatedonthefoundationofscientificscience,i。e。,ofthetwohypothesesofpositivismandevolution,whicharenotborneoutbyanything,andwhichgivethemselvesoutasundoubtedtruths。Andthereigningscienceannounces,withdelusivesolemnity,thatthesolutionofallproblemsoflifeispossibleonlythroughthestudyoffacts,ofnature,and,inparticular,oforganisms。Thecredulousmassofyoungpeople,overwhelmedbythenoveltyofthisauthority,whichhasnotyetbeenoverthrownoreventouchedbycriticism,flingsitselfintothestudyofnaturalsciences,intothatsolepath,which,accordingtotheassertionofthereigningscience,canleadtotheelucidationoftheproblemsoflife。

Butthefartherthedisciplesproceedinthisstudy,thefartherandfartherdoesnotonlythepossibility,buteventheveryidea,ofthesolutionoftheproblemsoflifewithdrawfromthem,andthemoreandmoredotheybecomeaccustomed,notsomuchtoinvestigate,astobelieveintheassertionsofotherinvestigators(tobelieveincells,inprotoplasm,inthefourthconditionofbodies,andsoforth);themoreandmoredoestheformveilthecontentsfromthem;

themoreandmoredotheylosetheconsciousnessofgoodandevil,andthecapacityofunderstandingthoseexpressionsanddefinitionsofgoodandevilwhichhavebeenelaboratedthroughthewholeforegoinglifeofmankind;andthemoreandmoredotheyappropriatetothemselvesthespecialscientificjargonofconventionalexpressions,whichpossessesnouniversallyhumansignificance;andthedeeperanddeeperdotheyplungeintothedebrisofutterlyunilluminatedinvestigations;themoreandmoredotheylosethepower,notonlyofindependentthought,butevenofunderstandingthefreshhumanthoughtofothers,whichliesbeyondtheboundsoftheirTalmud。Buttheprincipalthingis,thattheypasstheirbestyearsingettingdisusedtolife;theygrowaccustomedtoconsidertheirpositionasjustifiable;andtheyconvertthemselvesphysicallyintoutterlyuselessparasites,andmentallytheydislocatetheirbrainsandbecomementaleunuchs。Andinpreciselythesamemanner,accordingtothemeasureoftheirfolly,dotheyacquireself—conceit,whichdeprivesthemforeverofallpossibilityofreturntoasimplelifeoftoil,toasimple,clear,anduniversallyhumantrainofreasoning。

Divisionoflaboralwayshasexistedinhumancommunities,andwillprobablyalwaysexist;butthequestionforusliesnotinthefactthatithasexisted,andthatitwillexist,butinthis,——howarewetogovernourselvessothatthisdivisionshallberight?Butifwetakeinvestigationasourruleofaction,webythisveryactrepudiateallrule;theninthatcaseweshallregardasrighteverydivisionoflaborwhichweshalldescryamongmen,andwhichappearstoustoberight——towhichconclusiontheprevailingscientificsciencealsoleads。

Divisionoflabor!

Somearebusiedinmentalormoral,othersinmuscularorphysical,labor。Withwhatconfidencepeopleenunciatethis!Theywishtothinkso,anditseemstothemthat,inpointoffact,aperfectlyregularexchangeofservicesdoestakeplace。

Butwe,inourblindness,havesocompletelylostsightoftheresponsibilitywhichwehaveassumed,thatwehaveevenforgotteninwhosenameourlaborisprosecuted;andtheverypeoplewhomwehaveundertakentoservehavebecometheobjectsofourscientificandartisticactivity。Westudyanddepictthemforouramusementanddiversion。Wehavetotallyforgottenthatwhatweneedtodoisnottostudyanddepictthem,buttoservethem。Tosuchadegreehavewelostsightofthisdutywhichwehavetakenuponus,thatwehavenotevennoticedthatwhatwehaveundertakentoperformintherealmofscienceandarthasbeenaccomplishednotbyus,butbyothers,andthatourplacehasturnedouttobeoccupied。

Itprovesthatwhilewehavebeendisputing,oneaboutthespontaneousoriginoforganisms,anotherastowhatelsethereisinprotoplasm,andsoon,thecommonpeoplehavebeeninneedofspiritualfood;andtheunsuccessfulandrejectedofartandscience,inobediencetothemandateofadventurerswhohaveinviewthesoleaimofprofit,havebeguntofurnishthepeoplewiththisspiritualfood,andstillsofurnishthem。ForthelastfortyyearsinEurope,andforthelasttenyearswithushereinRussia,millionsofbooksandpicturesandsong—bookshavebeendistributed,andstallshavebeenopened,andthepeoplegazeandsingandreceivespiritualnourishment,butnotfromuswhohaveundertakentoprovideit;whilewe,justifyingouridlenessbythatspiritualfoodwhichwearesupposedtofurnish,sitbyandwinkatit。

Butitisimpossibleforustowinkatit,forourlastjustificationisslippingfrombeneathourfeet。Wehavebecomespecialized。Wehaveourparticularfunctionalactivity。Wearethebrainsofthepeople。Theysupportus,andwehaveundertakentoteachthem。Itisonlyunderthispretencethatwehaveexcusedourselvesfromwork。Butwhathavewetaughtthem,andwhatarewenowteachingthem?Theyhavewaitedforyears——fortens,forhundredsofyears。Andwekeepondivertingourmindswithchatter,andweinstructeachother,andweconsoleourselves,andwehaveutterlyforgottenthem。Wehavesoentirelyforgottenthem,thatothershaveundertakentoinstructthem,andwehavenotevenperceivedit。Wehavespokenofthedivisionoflaborwithsuchlackofseriousness,thatitisobviousthatwhatwehavesaidaboutthebenefitswhichwehaveconferredonthepeoplewassimplyashamelessevasion。

CHAPTERIV。

Scienceandarthavearrogatedtothemselvestherightofidleness,andoftheenjoymentofthelaborofothers,andhavebetrayedtheircalling。Andtheirerrorshavearisenmerelybecausetheirservants,havingsetforthafalselyconceivedprincipleofthedivisionoflabor,haverecognizedtheirownrighttomakeuseofthelaborofothers,andhavelostthesignificanceoftheirvocation;havingtakenfortheiraim,nottheprofitofthepeople,butthemysteriousprofitofscienceandart,anddeliveredthemselvesovertoidlenessandvice——notsomuchofthesensesasofthemind。

Theysay,\"Scienceandarthavebestowedagreatdealonmankind。\"

Scienceandarthavebestowedagreatdealonmankind,notbecausethemenofartandscience,underthepretextofadivisionoflabor,liveonotherpeople,butinspiteofthis。

TheRomanRepublicwaspowerful,notbecausehercitizenshadthepowertoliveaviciouslife,butbecauseamongtheirnumbertherewereheroiccitizens。Itisthesamewithartandscience。Artandsciencehavebestowedmuchonmankind,butnotbecausetheirfollowersformerlypossessedonrareoccasions(andnowpossessoneveryoccasion)thepossibilityofgettingridoflabor;butbecausetherehavebeenmenofgenius,who,withoutmakinguseoftheserights,haveledmankindforward。

Theclassoflearnedmenandartists,whichhasadvanced,onthefictitiousbasisofadivisionoflabor,itsdemandstotherightofusingthelaborsofothers,cannotco—operateinthesuccessoftruescienceandtrueart,becausealiecannotbringforththetruth。

Wehavebecomesoaccustomedtothese,ourtenderlyrearedorweakenedrepresentativesofmentallabor,thatitseemstoushorriblethatamanofscienceoranartistshouldploughorcartmanure。Itseemstousthateverythingwouldgotodestruction,andthatallhiswisdomwouldberattledoutofhiminthecart,andthatallthosegrandpicturesqueimageswhichhebearsaboutinhisbreastwouldbesoiledinthemanure;butwehavebecomesoinuredtothis,thatitdoesnotstrikeusasstrangethatourservitorofscience——thatistosay,theservantandteacherofthetruth——bymakingotherpeopledoforhimthatwhichhemightdoforhimself,passeshalfhistimeindaintyeating,insmoking,intalking,infreeandeasygossip,inreadingthenewspapersandromances,andinvisitingthetheatres。Itisnotstrangetoustoseeourphilosopherinthetavern,inthetheatre,andattheball。Itisnotstrangeinoureyestolearnthatthoseartistswhosweetenandennobleoursoulshavepassedtheirlivesindrunkenness,cards,andwomen,ifnotinsomethingworse。

Artandscienceareverybeautifulthings;butjustbecausetheyaresobeautifultheyshouldnotbespoiledbythecompulsorycombinationwiththemofvice:thatistosay,amanshouldnotgetridofhisobligationtoservehisownlifeandthatofotherpeoplebyhisownlabor。Artandsciencehavecausedmankindtoprogress。

Yes;butnotbecausemenofartandscience,undertheguiseofdivisionoflabor,haveridthemselvesoftheveryfirstandmostindisputableofhumanobligations,——tolaborwiththeirhandsintheuniversalstruggleofmankindwithnature。

\"Butonlythedivisionoflabor,thefreedomofmenofscienceandofartfromthenecessityofearningthemliving,hasrenderedpossiblethatremarkablesuccessofsciencewhichwebeholdinourday,\"istheanswertothis。\"Ifallwereforcedtotillthesoil,thoseVASTresultswouldnothavebeenattainedwhichhavebeenattainedinourday;therewouldhavebeennoneofthoseSTRIKING

successeswhichhavesogreatlyaugmentedman’spowerovernature,wereitnotfortheseastronomicaldiscoveriesWHICHARESO

ASTOUNDINGTOTHEMINDOFMAN,andwhichhaveaddedtothesecurityofnavigation;therewouldbenosteamers,norailways,noneofthoseWONDERFULbridges,tunnels,steam—enginesandtelegraphs,photography,telephones,sewing—machines,phonographs,electricity,telescopes,spectroscopes,microscopes,chloroform,Lister’sbandages,andcarbolicacid。\"

Iwillnotenumerateeverythingonwhichouragethuspridesitself。Thisenumerationandprideofenthusiasmoverourselvesandourexploitscanbefoundinalmostanynewspaperandpopularpamphlet。Thisenthusiasmoverourselvesisoftenrepeatedtosuchadegreethatnoneofuscansufficientlyrejoiceoverourselves,thatweareseriouslyconvincedthatartandsciencehavenevermadesuchprogressasinourowntime。And,asweareindebtedforallthismarvellousprogresstothedivisionoflabor,whynotacknowledgeit?

Letusadmitthattheprogressmadeinourdayisnoteworthy,marvellous,unusual;letusadmitthatwearefortunatemortalstoliveinsucharemarkableepoch:butletusendeavortoappraisethisprogress,notonthebasisofourself—satisfaction,butofthatprinciplewhichdefendsitselfwiththisprogress,——thedivisionoflabor。Allthisprogressisveryamazing;butbyapeculiarlyunluckychance,admittedevenbythemenofscience,thisprogresshasnotsofarimproved,butithasratherrenderedworse,thepositionofthemajority,thatistosay,oftheworkingman。

Iftheworkingmancantravelontherailway,insteadofwalking,stillthatsamerailwayhasburneddownhisforest,hascarriedoffhisgrainunderhisverynose,andhasbroughthisconditionveryneartoslavery——tothecapitalist。If,thankstosteam—enginesandmachines,theworkingmancanpurchaseinferiorcalicoatacheaprate,ontheotherhandtheseenginesandmachineshavedeprivedhimofworkathome,andhavebroughthimintoastateofabjectslaverytothemanufacturer。Iftherearetelephonesandtelescopes,poems,romances,theatres,ballets,symphonies,operas,picture—galleries,andsoforth,ontheotherhandthelifeoftheworkingmanhasnotbeenbetteredbyallthis;forallofthem,bythesameunluckychance,areinaccessibletohim。

Sothat,onthewhole(andevenmenofscienceadmitthis),uptothepresenttime,alltheseremarkablediscoveriesandproductsofscienceandarthavecertainlynotamelioratedtheconditionoftheworkingman,if,indeed,theyhavenotmadeitworse。Sothat,ifwesetagainstthequestionastotherealityoftheprogressattainedbytheartsandsciences,notourownrapture,butthatstandarduponthebasisofwhichthedivisionoflaborisdefended,——thegoodofthelaboringman,——weshallseethatwehavenofirmfoundationsforthatself—satisfactioninwhichwearesofondofindulging。

Thepeasanttravelsontherailway,thewomanbuyscalico,intheisba(cottage)therewillbealampinsteadofapine—knot,andthepeasantwilllighthispipewithamatch,——thisisconvenient;butwhatrighthaveItosaythattherailwayandthefactoryhaveprovedadvantageoustothepeople?

Ifthepeasantridesontherailway,andbuyscalico,alamp,andmatches,itisonlybecauseitisimpossibletoforbidthepeasant’sbuyingthem;butsurelyweareallawarethattheconstructionofrailwaysandfactorieshasneverbeencarriedoutforthebenefitofthelowerclasses:sowhyshouldacasualconveniencewhichtheworkingmanenjoysleadtoaproofoftheutilityofalltheseinstitutionsforthepeople?

Thereissomethingusefulineveryinjuriousthing。Afteraconflagration,onecanwarmone’sself,andlightone’spipewithafirebrand;butwhydeclarethattheconflagrationisbeneficial?

Menofartandsciencemightsaythattheirpursuitsarebeneficialtothepeople,onlywhenmenofartandsciencehaveassignedtothemselvestheobjectofservingthepeople,astheynowassignthemselvestheobjectofservingtheauthoritiesandthecapitalists。Wemightsaythisifmenofartandsciencehadtakenastheiraimtheneedsofthepeople;buttherearenonesuch。Allscientistsarebusywiththeirpriestlyavocations,outofwhichproceedinvestigationsintoprotoplasm,thespectralanalysesofstars,andsoon。Butsciencehasneveroncethoughtofwhataxeorwhathatchetisthemostprofitabletochopwith,whatsawisthemosthandy,whatisthebestwaytomixbread,fromwhatflour,howtosetit,howtobuildandheatanoven,whatfoodanddrink,andwhatutensils,arethemostconvenientandadvantageousundercertainconditions,whatmushroomsmaybeeaten,howtopropagatethem,andhowtopreparetheminthemostsuitablemanner。Andyetallthisistheprovinceofscience。