Iamaware,that,accordingtoitsowndefinition,scienceoughttobeuseless,i。e。,scienceforthesakeofscience;butsurelythisisanobviousevasion。Theprovinceofscienceistoservethepeople。Wehaveinventedtelegraphs,telephones,phonographs;butwhatadvanceshaveweeffectedinthelife,inthelabor,ofthepeople?Wehavereckoneduptwomillionsofbeetles!Andwehavenottamedasingleanimalsincebiblicaltimes,whenallouranimalswerealreadydomesticated;butthereindeer,thestag,thepartridge,theheath—cock,allremainwild。
Ourbotanistshavediscoveredthecell,andinthecellprotoplasm,andinthatprotoplasmstillsomethingmore,andinthatatomyetanotherthing。Itisevidentthattheseoccupationswillnotendforalongtimetocome,becauseitisobviousthattherecanbenoendtothem,andthereforethescientisthasnotimetodevotetothosethingswhicharenecessarytothepeople。Andtherefore,again,fromthetimeofEgyptianandHebrewantiquity,whenwheatandlentilshadalreadybeencultivated,downtoourowntimes,notasingleplanthasbeenaddedtothefoodofthepeople,withtheexceptionofthepotato,andthatwasnotobtainedbyscience。
Torpedoeshavebeeninvented,andapparatusfortaxation,andsoforth。Butthespinning—whined,thewoman’sweaving—loom,theplough,thehatchet,thechain,therake,thebucket,thewell—
sweep,areexactlythesameastheywereinthedaysofRurik;andiftherehasbeenanychange,thenthatchangehasnotbeeneffectedbyscientificpeople。
Anditisthesamewiththearts。Wehaveelevatedalotofpeopletotherankofgreatwriters;wehavepickedthesewriterstopieces,andhavewrittenmountainsofcriticism,andcriticismonthecritics,andcriticismonthecriticsofthecritics。Andwehavecollectedpicture—galleries,andhavestudieddifferentschoolsofartindetail;andwehavesomanysymphoniesandorchestrasandoperas,thatitisbecomingdifficultevenforustolistentothem。
Butwhathaveweaddedtothepopularbylini[theepicsongs],legends,tales,songs?Whatmusic,whatpictures,havewegiventothepeople?
OntheNikolskayabooksaremanufacturedforthepeople,andharmonicasinTula;andinneitherhavewetakenanypart。Thefalsityofthewholedirectionofourartsandsciencesismorestrikingandmoreapparentinpreciselythoseverybranches,which,itwouldseem,should,fromtheirverynature,beofusetothepeople,andwhich,inconsequenceoftheirfalseattitude,seemratherinjuriousthanuseful。Thetechnologist,thephysician,theteacher,theartist,theauthor,should,invirtueoftheirverycallings,itwouldseem,servethepeople。And,whatthen?Underthepresentregime,theycandonothingbutharmtothepeople。
Thetechnologistorthemechanichastoworkwithcapital。Withoutcapitalheisgoodfornothing。Allhisacquirementsaresuchthatfortheirdisplayherequirescapital,andtheexploitationofthelaboring—manonthelargestscale;and——nottomentionthatheistrainedtolive,atthelowest,onfromfifteenhundredtotwothousandayear,andthat,therefore,hecannotgotothecountry,wherenoonecangivehimsuchwages,——heis,byvirtueofhisveryoccupation,unfittedforservingthepeople。Heknowshowtocalculatethehighestmathematicalarchofabridge,howtocalculatetheforceandtransferofthemotivepower,andsoon;butheisconfoundedbythesimplestquestionsofapeasant:howtoimproveaploughoracart,orhowtomakeirrigatingcanals。Allthisintheconditionsoflifeinwhichthelaboringmanfindshimself。Ofthis,heneitherknowsnorunderstandsanything,——
less,indeed,thantheverystupidestpeasant。Givehimworkshops,allsortsofworkmenathisdesire,anorderforamachinefromabroad,andhewillgetalong。Buthowtodevisemeansoflighteningtoil,undertheconditionsoflaborofmillionsofmen,——
thisiswhathedoesnotandcannotknow;andbecauseofhisknowledge,hishabits,andhisdemandsonlife,heisunfittedforthisbusiness。
Inastillworsepredicamentisthephysician。Hisfanciedscienceisallsoarranged,thatheonlyknowshowtohealthosepersonswhodonothing。Herequiresanincalculablequantityofexpensivepreparations,instruments,drugs,andhygienicapparatus。
Hehasstudiedwithcelebritiesinthecapitals,whoonlyretainpatientswhocanbecuredinthehospital,orwho,inthecourseoftheircure,canpurchasetheappliancesrequisiteforhealing,andevengoatoncefromtheNorthtotheSouth,tosomebathsorother。
Scienceisofsuchanature,thateveryruralphysic—manlamentsbecausetherearenomeansofcuringworking—men,becauseheissopoorthathehasnotthemeanstoplacethesickmanintheproperhygienicconditions;andatthesametimethisphysiciancomplainsthattherearenohospitals,andthathecannotgetthroughwithhiswork,thatheneedsassistants,moredoctorsandpractitioners。
Whatistheinference?This:thatthepeople’sprincipallack,fromwhichdiseasesarise,andspreadabroad,andrefusetobehealed,isthelackofmeansofsubsistence。AndhereScience,underthebannerofthedivisionoflabor,summonsherwarriorstotheaidofthepeople。Scienceisentirelyarrangedforthewealthyclasses,andithasadoptedforitstaskthehealingofthepeoplewhocanobtaineverythingforthemselves;anditattemptstohealthosewhopossessnosuperfluity,bythesamemeans。
Buttherearenomeans,andthereforeitisnecessarytotakethemfromthepeoplewhoareailing,andpest—stricken,andwhocannotrecoverforlackofmeans。Andnowthedefendersofmedicineforthepeoplesaythatthismatterhasbeen,asyet,butlittledeveloped。Evidentlyithasbeenbutlittledeveloped,becauseif(whichGodforbid!)ithadbeendeveloped,andthatthroughoppressingthepeople,——insteadoftwodoctors,midwives,andpractitionersinadistrict,twentywouldhavesettleddown,sincetheydesirethis,andhalfthepeoplewouldhavediedthroughthedifficultyofsupportingthismedicalstaff,andsoontherewouldbenoonetoheal。
Scientificco—operationwiththepeople,ofwhichthedefendersofsciencetalk,mustbesomethingquitedifferent。Andthisco—
operationwhichshouldexisthasnotyetbegun。Itwillbeginwhenthemanofscience,technologistorphysician,willnotconsideritlegaltotakefrompeople——Iwillnotsayahundredthousand,butevenamodesttenthousand,orfivehundredrublesforassistingthem;butwhenhewillliveamongthetoilingpeople,underthesameconditions,andexactlyastheydo,thenhewillbeabletoapplyhisknowledgetothequestionsofmechanics,technics,hygiene,andthehealingofthelaboringpeople。Butnowscience,supportingitselfattheexpenseoftheworking—people,hasentirelyforgottentheconditionsoflifeamongthesepeople,ignores(asitputsit)
theseconditions,andtakesverygraveoffencebecauseitsfanciedknowledgefindsnoadherentsamongthepeople。
Thedomainofmedicine,likethedomainoftechnicalscience,stillliesuntouched。Allquestionsastohowthetimeoflaborisbestdivided,whatisthebestmethodofnourishment,withwhat,inwhatshape,andwhenitisbesttoclotheone’sself,toshoeone’sself,tocounteractdampnessandcold,howbesttowashone’sself,tofeedthechildren,toswaddlethem,andsoon,injustthoseconditionsinwhichtheworking—peoplefindthemselves,——allthesequestionshavenotyetbeenpropounded。
Thesameisthecasewiththeactivityoftheteachersofscience,——
pedagogicalteachers。Exactlyinthesamemannersciencehassoarrangedthismatter,thatonlywealthypeopleareabletostudyscience,andteachers,liketechnologistsandphysicians,clingtomoney。
Andthiscannotbeotherwise,becauseaschoolbuiltonamodelplan(asageneralrule,themorescientificallybuilttheschool,themorecostlyitis),withpivotchains,andglobes,andmaps,andlibrary,andpettytext—booksforteachersandscholarsandpedagogues,isasortofthingforwhichitwouldbenecessarytodoublethetaxesineveryvillage。Thissciencedemands。Thepeopleneedmoneyfortheirwork;andthemorethereisneeded,thepoorertheyare。
Defendersofsciencesay:\"Pedagogyisevennowprovingofadvantagetothepeople,butgiveitachancetodevelop,andthenitwilldostillbetter。\"Yes,ifitdoesdevelop,andinsteadoftwentyschoolsinadistrictthereareahundred,andallscientific,andifthepeoplesupporttheseschools,theywillgrowpoorerthanever,andtheywillmorethaneverneedworkfortheirchildren’ssake。\"Whatistobedone?\"theysaytothis。Thegovernmentwillbuildtheschools,andwillmakeeducationobligatory,asitisinEurope;butagain,surely,themoneyistakenfromthepeoplejustthesame,anditwillbehardertowork,andtheywillhavelessleisureforwork,andtherewillbenoeducationevenbycompulsion。Againthesolesalvationisthis:
thattheteachershouldliveundertheconditionsoftheworking—
men,andshouldteachforthatcompensationwhichtheygivehimfreelyandvoluntarily。
Suchisthefalsecourseofscience,whichdeprivesitofthepoweroffulfillingitsobligation,whichis,toservethepeople。
Butinnothingisthisfalsecourseofsciencesoobviouslyapparent,asinthevocationofart,which,fromitsverysignificance,oughttobeaccessibletothepeople。Sciencemayfallbackonitsstupidexcuse,thatscienceactsforscience,andthatwhenitturnsoutlearnedmenitislaboringforthepeople;
butart,ifitisart,shouldbeaccessibletoallthepeople,andinparticulartothoseinwhosenameitisexecuted。Andourdefinitionofart,inastrikingmanner,convictsthosewhobusythemselveswithart,oftheirlackofdesire,lackofknowledge,andlackofpower,tobeusefultothepeople。
Thepainter,fortheproductionofhisgreatworks,musthaveastudioofatleastsuchdimensionsthatawholeassociationofcarpenters(fortyinnumber)orshoemakers,nowsickeningorstiflinginlairs,wouldbeabletoworkinit。Butthisisnotall;hemusthaveamodel,costumes,travels。Millionsareexpendedontheencouragementofart,andtheproductsofthisartarebothincomprehensibleanduselesstothepeople。Musicians,inordertoexpresstheirgrandideas,mustassembletwohundredmeninwhiteneckties,orincostumes,andspendhundredsofthousandsofrublesfortheequipmentofanopera。Andtheproductsofthisartcannotevokefromthepeople——evenifthelattercouldatanytimeenjoyit——anythingexceptamazementandennui。
Writers——authors——itappears,donotrequiresurroundings,studios,models,orchestras,andactors;butitthenappearsthattheauthorneeds(nottomentioncomfortinhisquarters)allthedaintiesoflifeforthepreparationofhisgreatworks,travels,palaces,cabinets,libraries,thepleasuresofart,visitstotheatres,concerts,thebaths,andsoon。Ifhedoesnotearnafortuneforhimself,heisgrantedapension,inorderthathemaycomposethebetter。Andagain,thesecompositions,soprizedbyus,remainuselesslumberforthepeople,andutterlyunserviceabletothem。
Andifstillmoreofthesedealersinspiritualnourishmentaredevelopedfurther,asmenofsciencedesire,andastudioiserectedineveryvillage;ifanorchestraissetup,andauthorsaresupportedinthoseconditionswhichartisticpeopleregardasindispensableforthemselves,——Iimaginethattheworking—classeswillsoonertakeanoathnevertolookatanypictures,nevertolistentoasymphony,nevertoreadpoetryornovels,thantofeedallthesepersons。
Andwhy,apparently,shouldartnotbeofservicetothepeople?Ineverycottagethereareimagesandpictures;everypeasantmanandwomansings;manyownharmonicas;andallrecitestoriesandverses,andmanyread。Itisasifthosetwothingswhicharemadeforeachother——thelockandthekey——hadpartedcompany;theyhavesprungsofarapart,thatnoteventhepossibilityofunitingthempresentsitself。Telltheartistthatheshouldpaintwithoutastudio,model,orcostumes,andthatheshouldpaintfive—kopekpictures,andhewillsaythatthatistantamounttoabandoninghisart,asheunderstandsit。Tellthemusicianthatheshouldplayontheharmonica,andteachthewomentosingsongs;saytothepoet,totheauthor,thatheoughttocastasidehispoemsandromances,andcomposesong—books,tales,andstories,comprehensibletotheuneducatedpeople,——theywillsaythatyouaremad。
Theserviceofthepeoplebyscienceandartwillonlybeperformedwhenpeople,dwellinginthemidstofthecommonfolk,and,likethecommonfolk,puttingforwardnodemands,claimingnorights,shalloffertothecommonfolktheirscientificandartisticservices;theacceptanceorrejectionofwhichshalldependwhollyonthewillofthecommonfolk。
Itissaidthattheactivityofscienceandarthasaidedintheforwardmarchofmankind,——meaningbythisactivity,thatwhichisnowcalledbythatname;whichisthesameassayingthatanunskilledbangingofoarsonavesselthatisfloatingwiththetide,whichmerelyhinderstheprogressofthevessel,isassistingthemovementoftheship。Itonlyretardsit。Theso—calleddivisionoflabor,whichhasbecomeinourdaytheconditionofactivityofmenofscienceandart,was,andhasremained,thechiefcauseofthetardyforwardmovementofmankind。
Theproofsofthislieinthatconfessionofallmenofscience,thatthegainsofscienceandartareinaccessibletothelaboringmasses,inconsequenceofthefaultydistributionofriches。Theirregularityofthisdistributiondoesnotdecreaseinproportiontotheprogressofscienceandart,butonlyincreases。Menofartandscienceassumeanairofdeeppityforthisunfortunatecircumstancewhichdoesnotdependuponthem。Butthisunfortunatecircumstanceisproducedbythemselves;forthisirregulardistributionofwealthflowssolelyfromthetheoryofthedivisionoflabor。
Sciencemaintainsthedivisionoflaborasaunalterablelaw;itseesthatthedistributionofwealth,foundedonthedivisionoflabor,iswrongandruinous;anditaffirmsthatitsactivity,whichrecognizesthedivisionoflabor,willleadpeopletobliss。Theresultis,thatsomepeoplemakeuseofthelaborofothers;butthat,iftheyshallmakeuseofthelaborofothersforaverylongperiodoftime,andinstilllargermeasure,thenthiswrongfuldistributionofwealth,i。e。,theuseofthelaborofothers,willcometoanend。
Menstandbesideaconstantlyswellingspringofwater,andareoccupiedwiththeproblemofdivertingittooneside,awayfromthethirstypeople,andtheyassertthattheyareproducingthiswater,andthatsoonenoughwillbecollectedforall。Butthiswaterwhichhasflowed,andwhichstillflowsunceasingly,andnourishesallmankind,notonlyisnottheresultoftheactivityofthemenwho,standingatitssource,turnitaside,butthiswaterflowsandgushesout,inspiteoftheeffortsofthesementoobstructitsflow。
Therehavealwaysexistedatruescience,andatrueart;buttruescienceandartarenotsuchbecausetheycalledthemselvesbythatname。Italwaysseemstothosewhoclaimatanygivenperiodtobetherepresentativesofscienceandart,thattheyhaveperformed,andareperforming,and——mostofall——thattheywillpresentlyperform,themostamazingmarvels,andthatbesidethemthereneverhasbeenandthereisnotanyscienceoranyart。Thusitseemedtothesophists,thescholastics,thealchemists,thecabalists,thetalmudists;andthusitseemstoourownscientificscience,andtoourartforthesakeofart。
CHAPTERV。
\"Butart,——science!Yourepudiateartandscience;thatis,yourepudiatethatbywhichmankindlives!\"Peopleareconstantlymakingthis——itisnotareply——tome,andtheyemploythismodeofreceptioninordertorejectmydeductionswithoutexaminingintothem。\"Herepudiatesscienceandart,hewantstosendpeoplebackagainintoasavagestate;sowhatistheuseoflisteningtohimandoftalkingtohim?\"Butthisisunjust。Inotonlydonotrepudiateartandscience,but,inthenameofthatwhichistrueartandtruescience,IsaythatwhichIdosay;merelyinorderthatmankindmayemergefromthatsavagestateintowhichitwillspeedilyfall,thankstotheerroneousteachingofourtime,——onlyforthispurposedoIsaythatwhichIsay。
Artandscienceareasindispensableasfoodanddrinkandclothing,——moreindispensableeven;buttheybecomeso,notbecausewedecidethatwhatwedesignateasartandscienceareindispensable,butsimplybecausetheyreallyareindispensabletopeople。
Surely,ifhayispreparedforthebodilynourishmentofmen,thefactthatweareconvincedthathayistheproperfoodformanwillnotmakehaythefoodofman。SurelyIcannotsay,\"Whydonotyoueathay,whenitistheindispensablefood?\"Foodisindispensable,butitmayhappenthatthatwhichIofferisnotfoodatall。Thissamethinghasoccurredwithourartandscience。Itseemstous,thatifweaddtoaGreekwordtheword\"logy,\"andcallthatascience,itwillbeascience;and,ifwecallanyabominablething—
—likethedancingofnudefemales——byaGreekword,choreography,thatthatisart,andthatitwillbeart。Butnomatterhowmuchwemaysaythis,thebusinesswithwhichweoccupyourselveswhenwecountbeetles,andinvestigatethechemicalconstituentsofthestarsintheMilkyWay,whenwepaintnymphsandcomposenovelsandsymphonies,——ourbusinesswillnotbecomeeitherartorscienceuntilsuchtimeasitisacceptedbythosepeopleforwhomitiswrought。
Ifitweredecidedthatonlycertainpeopleshouldproducefood,andifalltherestwereforbiddentodothis,oriftheywererenderedincapableofproducingfood,Isupposethatthequalityoffoodwouldbelowered。IfthepeoplewhoenjoyedthemonopolyofproducingfoodwereRussianpeasants,therewouldbenootherfoodthanblackbreadandcabbage—soup,andsoon,andkvas,——nothingexceptwhattheylike,andwhatisagreeabletothem。Thesamethingwouldhappeninthecaseofthatloftiesthumanpursuit,ofartsandsciences,ifonecasteweretoarrogatetoitselfamonopolyofthem:butwiththissoledifference,that,inthematterofbodilyfood,therecanbenogreatdeparturefromnature,andbreadandcabbage—soup,althoughnotverysavoryviands,arefitforconsumption;butinspiritualfood,theremayexisttheverygreatestdeparturesfromnature,andsomepeoplemayfeedthemselvesforalongtimeonpoisonousspiritualnourishment,whichisdirectlyunsuitablefor,orinjuriousto,them;theymayslowlykillthemselveswithspiritualopiumorliquors,andtheymayofferthissamefoodtothemasses。
Itisthisverythingthatisgoingonamongus。Andithascomeaboutbecausethepositionofmenofscienceandartisaprivilegedone,becauseartandscience(inourday),inourworld,arenotatallarationaloccupationofallmankindwithoutexception,exertingtheirbestpowersfortheserviceofartandscience,butanoccupationofarestrictedcircleofpeopleholdingamonopolyoftheseindustries,andentitlingthemselvesmenofartandscience,andwhohave,therefore,pervertedtheveryideaofartandscience,andhavelostallthemeaningoftheirvocation,andwhoareonlyconcernedinamusingandrescuingfromcrushingennuitheirtinycircleofidlemouths。
Eversincemenhaveexisted,theyhavealwayshadscienceandartinthesimplestandbroadestsenseoftheterm。Science,inthesenseofthewholeofknowledgeacquiredbymankind,existsandalwayshasexisted,andlifewithoutitisnotconceivable;andthereisnopossibilityofeitherattackingordefendingscience,takeninthissense。
Butthepointlieshere,——thatthescopeoftheknowledgeofallmankindasawholeissomultifarious,rangingfromtheknowledgeofhowtoextractirontotheknowledgeofthemovementsoftheplanets,thatmanloseshimselfinthismultitudeofexistingknowledge,——knowledgecapableofENDLESSpossibilities,ifhehavenoguidingthread,bytheaidofwhichhecanclassifythisknowledge,andarrangethebranchesaccordingtothedegreesoftheirsignificanceandimportance。
Beforeamanundertakestolearnanythingwhatever,hemustmakeuphismindthatthatbranchofknowledgeisofweighttohim,andofmoreweightandimportancethanthecountlessotherobjectsofstudywithwhichheissurrounded。Beforeundertakingthestudyofanything,amandecidesforwhatpurposeheisstudyingthissubject,andnottheothers。Buttostudyeverything,asthemenofscientificscienceinourdaypreach,withoutanyideaofwhatistocomeoutofsuchstudy,isdownrightimpossible,becausethenumberofsubjectsofstudyisENDLESS;andhence,nomatterhowmanybrancheswemayacquire,theiracquisitioncanpossessnosignificanceorreason。And,therefore,inancienttimes,downtoevenaveryrecentdate,untiltheappearanceofscientificscience,man’shighestwisdomconsistedinfindingthatguidingthread,accordingtowhichtheknowledgeofmenshouldbeclassifiedasbeingofprimaryorofsecondaryimportance。Andthisknowledge,whichformstheguidetoallotherbranchesofknowledge,menhavealwayscalledscienceinthestrictestacceptationoftheword。Andsuchsciencetherehasalwaysbeen,evendowntoourownday,inallhumancommunitieswhichhaveemergedfromtheirprimalstateofsavagery。
Eversincemankindhasexisted,teachershavealwaysarisenamongpeoples,whohaveenunciatedscienceinthisrestrictedsense,——thescienceofwhatitismostusefulformantoknow。Thissciencehasalwayshadforitsobjecttheknowledgeofwhatisthetruegroundofthewell—beingofeachindividualman,andofallmen,andwhy。
SuchwasthescienceofConfucius,ofBuddha,ofSocrates,ofMahomet,andofothers;suchisthisscienceastheyunderstoodit,andasallmen——withtheexceptionofourlittlecircleofso—calledculturedpeople——understandit。Thissciencehasnotonlyalwaysoccupiedthehighestplace,buthasbeentheonlyandsolescience,fromwhichthestandingoftheresthasbeendetermined。Andthiswasthecase,notintheleastbecause,astheso—calledscientificpeopleofourdaythink,cunningpriestlyteachersofthisscienceattributedtoitsuchsignificance,butbecauseinreality,aseveryoneknows,bothbypersonalexperienceandbyreflection,therecanbenoscienceexceptthescienceofthatinwhichthedestinyandwelfareofmanconsist。FortheobjectsofscienceareINCALCULABLE
innumber,——Iunderminetheword\"incalculable\"intheexactsenseinwhichIunderstandit,——andwithouttheknowledgeofthatinwhichthedestinyandwelfareofallmenconsist,thereisnopossibilityofmakingachoiceamidthisinterminablemultitudeofsubjects;andtherefore,withoutthisknowledge,allotherartsandbranchesoflearningwillbecome,astheyhavebecomeamongus,anidleandhurtfuldiversion。
Mankindhasexistedandexisted,andneverhasitexistedwithoutthescienceofthatinwhichthedestinyandthewelfareofmenconsist。Itistruethatthescienceofthewelfareofmenappearsdifferentonsuperficialobservation,amongtheBuddhists,theBrahmins,theHebrews,theConfucians,theTauists;butnevertheless,whereverwehearofmenwhohaveemergedfromastateofsavagery,wefindthisscience。Andallofasuddenitappearsthatthemenofourdayhavedecidedthatthissamescience,whichhashithertoservedastheguidingthreadofallhumanknowledge,istheverythingwhichhinderseverything。Menerectbuildings;andonearchitecthasmadeoneestimateofcost,asecondhasmadeanother,andathirdyetanother。Theestimatesdiffersomewhat;
buttheyarecorrect,sothatanyonecansee,that,ifthewholeiscarriedoutinaccordancewiththecalculations,thebuildingwillbeerected。Alongcomepeople,andassertthatthechiefpointliesinhavingnoestimates,andthatitshouldbebuiltthus——bytheeye。Andthis\"thus,\"mencallthemostaccurateofscientificscience。Menrepudiateeveryscience,theverysubstanceofscience,——thedefinitionofthedestinyandthewelfareofmen,——andthisrepudiationtheydesignateasscience。
Eversincemenhaveexisted,greatmindshavebeenbornintotheirmidst,which,intheconflictwithreasonandconscience,haveputtothemselvesquestionsasto\"whatconstituteswelfare,——thedestinyandwelfare,notofmyselfalone,butofeveryman?\"Whatdoesthatpowerwhichhascreatedandwhichleadsme,demandofmeandofeveryman?Andwhatisitnecessaryformetodo,inordertocomplywiththerequirementsimposeduponmebythedemandsofindividualanduniversalwelfare?Theyhaveaskedthemselves:\"I
amawhole,andalsoapartofsomethinginfinite,eternal;what,then,aremyrelationstootherpartssimilartomyself,tomenandtothewhole——totheworld?\"
Andfromthevoicesofconscienceandofreason,andfromacomparisonofwhattheircontemporariesandmenwhohadlivedbeforethem,andwhohadpropoundedtothemselvesthesamequestions,hadsaid,thesegreatteachershavededucedtheirdoctrines,whichweresimple,clear,intelligibletoallmen,andalwayssuchasweresusceptibleoffulfilment。Suchmenhaveexistedofthefirst,second,third,andlowestranks。Theworldisfullofsuchmen。
Everylivingmanpropoundsthequestiontohimself,howtoreconcilethedemandsofwelfare,andofhispersonalexistence,withconscienceandreason;andfromthisuniversallabor,slowlybutuninterruptedly,newformsoflife,whicharemoreinaccordwiththerequirementsofreasonandofconscience,areworkedout。
Allatonce,anewcasteofpeoplemakesitsappearance,andtheysay,\"Allthisisnonsense;allthismustbeabandoned。\"Thisisthedeductivemethodofratiocination(whereinliesthedifferencebetweenthedeductiveandtheinductivemethod,noonecanunderstand);thesearethedogmasofthetechnologicalandmetaphysicalperiod。Everythingthatthesemendiscoverbyinwardexperience,andwhichtheycommunicatetooneanother,concerningtheirknowledgeofthelawoftheirexistence(oftheirfunctionalactivity,accordingtotheirownjargon),everythingthatthegrandestmindsofmankindhaveaccomplishedinthisdirection,sincethebeginningoftheworld,——allthisisnonsense,andhasnoweightwhatever。Accordingtothisnewdoctrine,itappearsthatyouarecells:andthatyou,asacell,haveaverydefinitefunctionalactivity,whichyounotonlyfulfil,butwhichyouinfalliblyfeelwithinyou;andthatyouareathinking,talking,understandingcell,andthatyou,forthisreason,canaskanothersimilartalkingcellwhetheritisjustthesame,andinthiswayverifyyourownexperience;thatyoucantakeadvantageofthefactthatspeakingcells,whichhavelivedbeforeyou,havewrittenonthesamesubject,andthatyouhavemillionsofcellswhichconfirmyourobservationsbytheiragreementwiththecellswhichhavewrittendowntheirthoughts,——allthissignifiesnothing;allthisisanevilandanerroneousmethod。
Thetruescientificmethodisthis:Ifyouwishtoknowinwhatthedestinyandthewelfareofallmankindandofalltheworldconsists,youmust,firstofall,ceasetolistentothevoicesofyourconscienceandofyourreason,whichpresentthemselvesinyouandinotherslikeyou;youmustceasetobelieveallthatthegreatteachersofmankindhavesaidwithregardtoyourconscienceandreason,andyoumustconsiderallthisasnonsense,andbeginalloveragain。And,inordertounderstandeverythingfromthebeginning,youmustlookthroughmicroscopesatthemovementsofamoebae,andcellsinworms,or,withstillgreatercomposure,believeineverythingthatmenwithadiplomaofinfallibilityshallsaytoyouaboutthem。Andasyougazeatthemovementsofthesecells,orreadaboutwhatothershaveseen,youmustattributetothesecellsyourownhumansensationsandcalculationsastowhattheydesire,whithertheyaredirectingthemselves,howtheycompareanddiscuss,andtowhattheyhavebecomeaccustomed;andfromtheseobservations(inwhichthereisnotawordaboutanerrorofthoughtorofexpression)youmustdeduceaconclusionbyanalogyastowhatyouare,whatisyourdestiny,whereinliesthewelfareofyourselfandofothercellslikeyou。Inordertounderstandyourself,youmuststudynotonlythewormswhichyousee,butmicroscopiccreatureswhichyoucanbarelysee,andtransformationsfromonesetofcreaturesintoothers,whichnoonehaseverbeheld,andwhichyou,mostassuredly,willneverbehold。Andthesamewithart。
Wheretherehasbeentruescience,arthasalwaysbeenitsexponent。
Eversincemenhavebeeninexistence,theyhavebeeninthehabitofdeducing,fromallpursuits,theexpressionsofvariousbranchesoflearningconcerningthedestinyandthewelfareofman,andtheexpressionofthisknowledgehasbeenartinthestrictsenseoftheword。
Eversincemenhaveexisted,therehavebeenthosewhowerepeculiarlysensitiveandresponsivetothedoctrineregardingthedestinyandwelfareofman;whohavegivenexpressiontotheirownandthepopularconflict,tothedelusionswhichleadthemastrayfromtheirdestinies,theirsufferingsinthisconflict,theirhopesinthetriumphofgood,themdespairoverthetriumphofevil,andtheirrapturesintheconsciousnessoftheapproachingblissofman,onviolandtabret,inimagesandwords。Always,downtothemostrecenttimes,arthasservedscienceandlife,——onlythenwasitwhathasbeensohighlyesteemedofmen。Butart,initscapacityofanimportanthumanactivity,disappearedsimultaneouslywiththesubstitutionforthegenuinescienceofdestinyandwelfare,ofthescienceofanythingyouchoosetofancy。Arthasexistedamongallpeoples,andwillexistuntilthatwhichamongusisscornfullycalledreligionhascometobeconsideredtheonlyscience。
InourEuropeanworld,solongasthereexistedaChurch,asthedoctrineofdestinyandwelfare,andsolongastheChurchwasregardedastheonlytruescience,artservedtheChurch,andremainedtrueart:butassoonasartabandonedtheChurch,andbegantoservescience,whilescienceservedwhatevercametohand,artlostitssignificance。Andnotwithstandingtherightsclaimedonthescoreofancientmemories,andoftheclumsyassertionwhichonlyprovesitslossofitscalling,thatartservesart,ithasbecomeatrade,providingmenwithsomethingagreeable;andassuch,itinevitablycomesintothecategoryofchoreographic,culinary,hair—dressing,andcosmeticarts,whosepractitionersdesignatethemselvesasartists,withthesamerightasthepoets,printers,andmusiciansofourday。
Glancebackwardintothepast,andyouwillseethatinthecourseofthousandsofyears,outofmilliardsofpeople,onlyhalfascoreofConfucius’,Buddhas,Solomons,Socrates,Solons,andHomershavebeenproduced。Evidently,theyarerarelymetwithamongmen,inspiteofthefactthatthesemenhavenotbeenselectedfromasinglecaste,butfrommankindatlarge。Evidently,thesetrueteachersandartistsandlearnedmen,thepurveyorsofspiritualnourishment,arerare。Anditisnotwithoutreasonthatmankindhasvaluedandstillvaluesthemsohighly。
Butitnowappears,thatallthesegreatfactorsinthescienceandartofthepastarenolongerofusetous。Nowadays,scientificandartisticauthoritiescan,inaccordancewiththelawofdivisionoflabor,beturnedoutbyfactorymethods;and,inonedecade,moregreatmenhavebeenmanufacturedinartandscience,thanhaveeverbeenbornofsuchamongallnations,sincethefoundationoftheworld。Nowadaysthereisaguildoflearnedmenandartists,andtheyprepare,byperfectedmethods,allthatspiritualfoodwhichmanrequires。Andtheyhavepreparedsomuchofit,thatitisnolongernecessarytorefertotheelderauthorities,whohaveprecededthem,——notonlytotheancients,buttothosemuchnearertous。Allthatwastheactivityofthetheologicalandmetaphysicalperiod,——allthatmustbewipedout:butthetrue,therationalactivitybegan,say,fiftyyearsago,andinthecourseofthosefiftyyearswehavemadesomanygreatmen,thatthereareabouttengreatmentoeverybranchofscience。Andtherehavecometobesomanysciences,that,fortunately,itiseasytomakethem。
AllthatisrequiredistoaddtheGreekword\"logy\"tothename,andforcethemtoconformtoasetrubric,andthescienceisallcomplete。Theyhavecreatedsomanysciences,thatnotonlycannoonemanknowthemall,butnotasingleindividualcanrememberallthetitlesofalltheexistingsciences;thetitlesaloneformathicklexicon,andnewsciencesaremanufacturedeveryday。TheyhavebeenmanufacturedonthepatternofthatFinnishteacherwhotaughtthelandedproprietor’schildrenFinnishinsteadofFrench。
Everythinghasbeenexcellentlyinculcated;butthereisoneobjection,——thatnooneexceptourselvescanunderstandanythingofit,andallthisisreckonedasutterlyuselessnonsense。However,thereisanexplanationevenforthis。Peopledonotappreciatethefullvalueofscientificscience,becausetheyareundertheinfluenceofthetheologicalperiod,thatprofoundperiodwhenallthepeople,bothamongtheHebrews,andtheChinese,andtheIndians,andtheGreeks,understoodeverythingthattheirgreatteacherssaidtothem。
But,fromwhatevercausethishascomeabout,thefactremains,thatsciencesandartshavealwaysexistedamongmankind,and,whentheyreallydidexist,theywereusefulandintelligibletoallthepeople。Butwepractisesomethingwhichwecallscienceandart,butitappearsthatwhatwedoisunnecessaryandunintelligibletoman。Andhence,howeverbeautifulmaybethethingsthatweaccomplish,wehavenorighttocallthemartsandsciences。
CHAPTERVI。
\"Butyouonlyfurnishadifferentdefinitionofartsandsciences,whichisstricter,andisincompatiblewithscience,\"Ishallbetoldinanswertothis;\"nevertheless,scientificandartisticactivitydoesstillexist。TherearetheGalileos,Brunos,Homers,MichaelAngelos,Beethovens,andallthelesserlearnedmenandartists,whohaveconsecratedtheirentirelivestotheserviceofscienceandart,andwhowere,andwillremain,thebenefactorsofmankind。\"
Generallythisiswhatpeoplesay,strivingtoforgetthatnewprincipleofthedivisionoflabor,onthebasisofwhichscienceandartnowoccupytheirprivilegedposition,andonwhosebasiswearenowenabledtodecidewithoutgrounds,butbyagivenstandard:
Isthere,oristherenot,anyfoundationforthatactivitywhichcallsitselfscienceandart,tosomagnifyitself?
WhentheEgyptianortheGrecianpriestsproducedtheirmysteries,whichwereunintelligibletoanyone,andstatedconcerningthesemysteriesthatallscienceandallartwerecontainedinthem,I
couldnotverifytherealityoftheirscienceonthebasisofthebenefitprocuredbythemtothepeople,becausescience,accordingtotheirassertions,wassupernatural。Butnowweallpossessaverysimpleandcleardefinitionoftheactivityofartandscience,whichexcludeseverythingsupernatural:scienceandartpromisetocarryoutthementalactivityofmankind,forthewelfareofsociety,orofallthehumanrace。
Thedefinitionofscientificscienceandartisentirelycorrect;
but,unfortunately,theactivityofthepresentartsandsciencesdoesnotcomeunderthishead。Someofthemaredirectlyinjurious,othersareuseless,othersstillareworthless,——goodonlyforthewealthy。Theydonotfulfilthatwhich,bytheirowndefinition,theyhaveundertakentoaccomplish;andhencetheyhaveaslittlerighttoregardthemselvesasmenofartandscience,asacorruptpriesthood,whichdoesnotfulfiltheobligationswhichithasassumed,hastherighttoregarditselfasthebearerofdivinetruth。
Anditcanbeunderstoodwhythemakersofthepresentartsandscienceshavenotfulfilled,andcannotfulfil,theirvocation。
Theydonotfulfilit,becauseoutoftheirobligationstheyhaveerectedaright。
Scientificandartisticactivity,initsrealsense,isonlyfruitfulwhenitknowsnorights,butrecognizesonlyobligations。
Onlybecauseitisitspropertytobealwaysthus,doesmankindsohighlyprizethisactivity。Ifmenreallywerecalledtotheserviceofothersthroughartisticwork,theywouldseeinthatworkonlyobligation,andtheywouldfulfilitwithtoil,withprivations,andwithself—abnegation。
ThethinkerortheartistwillneversitcalmlyonOlympianheights,aswehavebecomeaccustomedtorepresentthemtoourselves。Thethinkerortheartistshouldsufferincompanywiththepeople,inorderthathemayfindsalvationorconsolation。Besidesthis,hewillsufferbecauseheisalwaysandeternallyinturmoilandagitation:hemightdecideandsaythatthatwhichwouldconferwelfareonmen,wouldfreethemfromsuffering,wouldaffordthemconsolation;buthehasnotsaidso,andhasnotpresenteditasheshouldhavedone;hehasnotdecided,andhehasnotspoken;andto—
morrow,possibly,itwillbetoolate,——hewilldie。Andthereforesufferingandself—sacrificewillalwaysbethelotofthethinkerandtheartist。
Notofthisdescriptionwillbethethinkerandartistwhoisrearedinanestablishmentwhere,apparently,theymanufacturethelearnedmanortheartist(butinpointoffact,theymanufacturedestroyersofscienceandofart),whoreceivesadiplomaandacertificate,whowouldbegladnottothinkandnottoexpressthatwhichisimposedonhissoul,butwhocannotavoiddoingthattowhichtwoirresistibleforcesdrawhim,——aninwardprompting,andthedemandofmen。
Therewillbenosleek,plump,self—satisfiedthinkersandartists。
Spiritualactivity,anditsexpression,whichareactuallynecessarytoothers,arethemostburdensomeofallman’savocations;across,astheGospelsphraseit。Andthesoleindubitablesignofthepresenceofavocationisself—devotion,thesacrificeofselfforthemanifestationofthepowerthatisimposeduponmanforthebenefitofothers。
Itispossibletostudyouthowmanybeetlesthereareintheworld,toviewthespotsonthesun,towriteromancesandoperas,withoutsuffering;butitisimpossible,withoutself—sacrifice,toinstructpeopleintheirtruehappiness,whichconsistssolelyinrenunciationofselfandtheserviceofothers,andtogivestrongexpressiontothisdoctrine,withoutself—sacrifice。
Christdidnotdieonthecrossinvain;notinvaindoesthesacrificeofsufferingconquerallthings。
Butourartandscienceareprovidedwithcertificatesanddiplomas;
andtheonlyanxietyofallmenis,howtostillbetterguaranteethem,i。e。,howtorendertheserviceofthepeopleimpracticableforthem。
Trueartandtruesciencepossesstwounmistakablemarks:thefirst,aninwardmark,whichisthis,thattheservitorofartandsciencewillfulfilhisvocation,notforprofitbutwithself—
sacrifice;andthesecond,anexternalsign,——hisproductionswillbeintelligibletoallthepeoplewhosewelfarehehasinview。
Nomatterwhatpeoplehavefixeduponastheirvocationandtheirwelfare,sciencewillbethedoctrineofthisvocationandwelfare,andartwillbetheexpressionofthatdoctrine。Thatwhichiscalledscienceandart,amongus,istheproductofidlemindsandfeelings,whichhavefortheirobjecttoticklesimilaridlemindsandfeelings。Ourartsandsciencesareincomprehensible,andsaynothingtothepeople,fortheyhavenotthewelfareofthecommonpeopleinview。
Eversincethelifeofmenhasbeenknowntous,wefind,alwaysandeverywhere,thereigningdoctrinefalselydesignatingitselfasscience,notmanifestingitselftothecommonpeople,butobscuringforthemthemeaningoflife。ThusitwasamongtheGreeksthesophists,thenamongtheChristiansthemystics,gnostics,scholastics,amongtheHebrewstheTalmudistsandCabalists,andsooneverywhere,downtoourowntimes。
Howfortunateitisforusthatweliveinsopeculiaranage,whenthatmentalactivitywhichcallsitselfscience,notonlydoesnoterr,butfindsitself,asweareassured,inaremarkablyflourishingcondition!Doesnotthispeculiargoodfortunearisefromthefactthatmancannotandwillnotseehisownhideousness?
Whyistherenothingleftofthosesciences,andsophists,andCabalists,andTalmudists,butwords,whilewearesoexceptionallyhappy?Surelythesignsareidentical。Thereisthesameself—
satisfactionandblindconfidencethatwe,preciselywe,andonlywe,areontherightpath,andthattherealthingisonlybeginningwithus。Thereisthesameexpectationthatweshalldiscoversomethingremarkable;andthatchiefsignwhichleadsusastrayconvictsusofourerror:allourwisdomremainswithus,andthecommonpeopledonotunderstand,anddonotaccept,anddonotneedit。
Ourpositionisaverydifficultone,butwhynotlookatitsquarely?
Itistimetorecoveroursenses,andtoscrutinizeourselves。
SurelywearenothingelsethanthescribesandPharisees,whositinMoses’seat,andwhohavetakenthekeysofthekingdomofheaven,andwillneithergoinourselves,norpermitotherstogoin。Surelywe,thehighpriestsofscienceandart,areourselvesworthlessdeceivers,possessingmuchlessrighttoourpositionthanthemostcraftyanddepravedpriests。Surelywehavenojustificationforourprivilegedposition。Thepriestshadarighttotheirposition:theydeclaredthattheytaughtthepeoplelifeandsalvation。Butwehavetakentheirplace,andwedonotinstructthepeopleinlife,——weevenadmitthatsuchinstructionisunnecessary,——butweeducateourchildreninthesameTalmudic—GreekandLatingrammar,inorderthattheymaybeabletopursuethesamelifeofparasiteswhichweleadourselves。Wesay,\"Thereusedtobecastes,buttherearenoneamongus。\"Butwhatdoesitmean,thatsomepeopleandtheirchildrentoil,whileotherpeopleandtheirchildrendonottoil?
BringhitheranIndianignorantofourlanguage,andshowhimEuropeanlife,andourlife,forseveralgenerations,andhewillrecognizethesameleading,well—definedcastes——oflaborersandnon—laborers——asthereareinhisowncountry。Andasinhisland,soinours,therightofrefusingtolaborisconferredbyapeculiarconsecration,whichwecallscienceandart,or,ingeneralterms,culture。Itisthisculture,andallthedistortionsofsenseconnectedwithit,whichhavebroughtustothatmarvellousmadness,inconsequenceofwhichwedonotseethatwhichissoclearandindubitable。
CHAPTERVII。
Then,whatistobedone?Whatarewetodo?
Thisquestion,whichincludeswithinitselfbothanadmissionthatourlifeisevilandwrong,andinconnectionwiththis,——asthoughitwereanexerciseforit,——thatitisimpossible,nevertheless,tochangeit,thisquestionIhaveheard,andIcontinuetohear,onallsides。Ihavedescribedmyownsufferings,myowngropings,andmyownsolutionofthisquestion。Iamthesamekindofamanaseverybodyelse;andifIaminanywisedistinguishedfromtheaveragemanofourcircle,itischieflyinthisrespect,thatI,morethantheaverageman,haveservedandwinkedatthefalsedoctrineofourworld;Ihavereceivedmoreapprobationfrommenprofessingtheprevailingdoctrine:andtherefore,morethanothers,haveIbecomedepraved,andwanderedfromthepath。AndthereforeIthinkthatthesolutionoftheproblem,whichIhavefoundinmyowncase,willbeapplicabletoallsincerepeoplewhoarepropoundingthesamequestiontothemselves。
Firstofall,inanswertothequestion,\"Whatistobedone?\"I
toldmyself:\"Imustlieneithertootherpeoplenortomyself。I
mustnotfearthetruth,whithersoeveritmayleadme。\"
Weallknowwhatitmeanstolietootherpeople,butwearenotafraidtolietoourselves;yettheveryworstdownrightlie,tootherpeople,isnottobecomparedinitsconsequenceswiththelietoourselves,uponwhichwebaseourwholelife。
Thisisthelieofwhichwemustnotbeguiltyifwearetobeinapositiontoanswerthequestion:\"Whatistobedone?\"And,infact,howamItoanswerthequestion,\"Whatistobedone?\"wheneverythingthatIdo,whenmywholelife,isfoundedonalie,andwhenIcarefullyparadethislieasthetruthbeforeothersandbeforemyself?Nottolie,inthissense,meansnottofearthetruth,nottodevisesubterfuges,andnottoacceptthesubterfugesdevisedbyothersforthepurposeofhidingfrommyselfthedeductionsofmyreasonandmyconscience;nottofeartopartcompanywithallthosewhosurroundme,andtoremainaloneincompanywithreasonandconscience;nottofearthatpositiontowhichthetruthshallleadme,beingfirmlyconvincedthatthatpositiontowhichtruthandconscienceshallconductme,howeversingularitmaybe,cannotbeworsethantheonewhichisfoundedonalie。Nottolie,inourpositionofprivilegedpersonsofmentallabor,means,nottobeafraidtoreckonone’sselfupwrongly。Itispossiblethatyouarealreadysodeeplyindebtedthatyoucannottakestockofyourself;buttowhateverextentthismaybethecase,howeverlongmaybetheaccount,howeverfaryouhavestrayedfromthepath,itisstillbetterthantocontinuetherein。Alietootherpeopleisnotaloneunprofitable;everymatterissettledmoredirectlyandmorespeedilybythetruththanbyalie。Alietoothersonlyentanglesmatters,anddelaysthesettlement;butalietoone’sself,setforthasthetruth,ruinsaman’swholelife。Ifaman,havingenteredonthewrongpath,assumesthatitisthetrueone,theneverystepthathetakesonthatpathremoveshimfartherfromhisgoal。Ifamanwhohaslongbeentravellingonthisfalsepathdivinesforhimself,orisinformedbysomeone,thathiscourseisamistakenone,butgrowsalarmedattheideathathehaswanderedveryfarastrayandtriestoconvincehimselfthathemay,possibly,stillstrikeintotherightroad,thenheneverwillgetintoit。Ifamanquailsbeforethetruth,and,onperceivingit,doesnotacceptit,butdoesacceptalieforthetruth,thenheneverwilllearnwhatheoughttodo。We,thenotonlywealthy,butprivilegedandso—calledcultivatedpersons,haveadvancedsofaronthewrongroad,thatagreatdealofdetermination,oraverygreatdealofsufferingonthewrongroad,isrequired,inordertobringustooursensesandtotheacknowledgmentofthelieinwhichweareliving。Ihaveperceivedthelieofourlives,thankstothesufferingswhichthefalsepathentaileduponme,and,havingrecognizedthefalsenessofthispathonwhichIstood,Ihavehadtheboldnesstogoatfirstinthoughtonly——whitherreasonandconscienceledme,withoutreflectingwheretheywouldbringmeout。
AndIhavebeenrewardedforthisboldness。
Allthecomplicated,broken,tangled,andincoherentphenomenaoflifesurroundingme,havesuddenlybecomeclear;andmypositioninthemidstofthesephenomena,whichwasformerlystrangeandburdensome,hasbecome,allatonce,natural,andeasytobear。
Inthisnewposition,myactivitywasdefinedwithperfectaccuracy;
notatallasithadpreviouslypresenteditselftome,butasanewandmuchmorepeaceful,loving,andjoyousactivity。Theverythingwhichhadformerlyterrifiedme,nowbegantoattractme。HenceI
think,thatthemanwhowillhonestlyputtohimselfthequestion,\"Whatistobedone?\"and,replyingtothisquery,willnotlietohimself,butwillgowhitherhisreasonleads,hasalreadysolvedtheproblem。
Thereisonlyonethingthatcanhinderhiminhissearchforanissue,——anerroneouslyloftyideaofhimselfandofhisposition。
Thiswasthecasewithme;andthenanother,arisingfromthefirstanswertothequestion:\"Whatistobedone?\"consistedformeinthis,thatitwasnecessaryformetorepent,inthefullsenseofthatword,——i。e。,toentirelyaltermyconceptionofmypositionandmyactivity;toconfessthehurtfulnessandemptinessofmyactivity,insteadofitsutilityandgravity;toconfessmyownignoranceinsteadofculture;toconfessmyimmoralityandharshnessintheplaceofmykindnessandmorality;insteadofmyelevation,toacknowledgemylowliness。Isay,thatinadditiontonotlyingtomyself,Ihadtorepent,because,althoughtheoneflowsfromtheother,afalseconceptionofmyloftyimportancehadsogrownupwithme,that,untilIsincerelyrepentedandcutmyselffreefromthatfalseestimatewhichIhadformedofmyself,IdidnotperceivethegreaterpartofthelieofwhichIhadbeenguiltytomyself。
OnlywhenIhadrepented,thatistosay,whenIhadceasedtolookuponmyselfasaregularman,andhadbeguntoregardmyselfasamanexactlylikeeveryoneelse,——onlythendidmypathbecomeclearbeforeme。BeforethattimeIhadnotbeenabletoanswerthequestion:\"Whatistobedone?\"becauseIhadstatedthequestionitselfwrongly。