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softens in us？ The only gain of civilisation for mankind is the
greater capacity for variety of sensationsand absolutely
nothing more。 And through the development of this many…
sidedness man may come to finding enjoyment in bloodshed。 In
fact； this has already happened to him。 Have you noticed that it
is the most civilised gentlemen who have been the subtlest
slaughterers； to whom the Attilas and Stenka Razins could not
hold a candle； and if they are not so conspicuous as the Attilas
and Stenka Razins it is simply because they are so often met
with； are so ordinary and have become so familiar to us。 In any
case civilisation has made mankind if not more blood…thirsty； at
least more vilely； more loathsomely bloodthirsty。 In old days he
saw justice in bloodshed and with his conscience at peace
exterminated those he thought proper。 Now we do think bloodshed
abominable and yet we engage in this abomination； and with more
energy than ever。 Which is worse？ Decide that for yourselves。
They say that Cleopatra （excuse an instance from Roman history）
was fond of sticking gold pins into her slave…girls' breasts and
derived gratification from their screams and writhings。 You will
say that that was in the comparatively barbarous times； that
these are barbarous times too； because also； comparatively
speaking； pins are stuck in even now； that though man has now
learned to see more clearly than in barbarous ages； he is still
far from having learnt to act as reason and science would
dictate。 But yet you are fully convinced that he will be sure to
learn when he gets rid of certain old bad habits； and when common
sense and science have completely re… educated human nature and
turned it in a normal direction。 You are confident that then man
will cease from _intentional_ error and will； so to say； be
compelled not to want to set his will against his normal
interests。 That is not all； then； you say； science itself will
teach man （though to my mind it's a superfluous luxury） that he
never has really had any caprice or will of his own； and that he
himself is something of the nature of a piano…key or the stop of
an organ； and that there are； besides； things called the laws of
nature； so that everything he does is not done by his willing it；
but is done of itself； by the laws of nature。 Consequently we
have only to discover these laws of nature； and man will no
longer have to answer for his actions and life will become
exceedingly easy for him。 All human actions will then； of
course； be tabulated according to these laws； mathematically；
like tables of logarithms up to 108；000； and entered in an index；
or； better still； there would be published certain edifying works
of the nature of encyclopaedic lexicons； in which everything will
be so clearly calculated and explained that there will be no more
incidents or adventures in the world。
Thenthis is all what you saynew economic relations will be
established； all ready…made and worked out with mathematical
exactitude； so that every possible question will vanish in the
twinkling of an eye； simply because every possible answer to it
will be provided。 Then the 〃Palace of Crystal〃 will be built。
Then 。。。 In fact； those will be halcyon days。 Of course there is
no guaranteeing （this is my comment） that it will not be； for
instance； frightfully dull then （for what will one have to do
when everything will be calculated and tabulated）； but on the
other hand everything will be extraordinarily rational。 Of
course boredom may lead you to anything。 It is boredom sets one
sticking golden pins into people； but all that would not matter。
What is bad （this is my comment again） is that I dare say people
will be thankful for the gold pins then。 Man is stupid； you
know； phenomenally stupid； or rather he is not at all stupid； but
he is so ungrateful that you could not find another like him in
all creation。 I； for instance； would not be in the least
surprised if all of a sudden； a propos of nothing； in the midst
of general prosperity a gentleman with an ignoble； or rather with
a reactionary and ironical； countenance were to arise and；
putting his arms akimbo； say to us all： 〃I say； gentleman； hadn't
we better kick over the whole show and scatter rationalism to the
winds； simply to send these logarithms to the devil； and to
enable us to live once more at our own sweet foolish will！〃 That
again would not matter； but what is annoying is that he would be
sure to find followerssuch is the nature of man。 And all that
for the most foolish reason； which； one would think； was hardly
worth mentioning： that is； that man everywhere and at all times；
whoever he may be； has preferred to act as he chose and not in
the least as his reason and advantage dictated。 And one may
choose what is contrary to one's own interests； and sometimes one
_positively ought_ （that is my idea）。 One's own free unfettered
choice； one's own caprice； however wild it may be； one's own
fancy worked up at times to frenzyis that very 〃most
advantageous advantage〃 which we have overlooked； which comes
under no classification and against which all systems and
theories are continually being shattered to atoms。 And how do
these wiseacres know that man wants a normal； a virtuous choice？
What has made them conceive that man must want a rationally
advantageous choice？ What man wants is simply _independent_
choice； whatever that independence may cost and wherever it may
lead。 And choice； of course； the devil only knows what choice。
VIII
〃Ha！ ha！ ha！ But you know there is no such thing as choice in
reality； say what you like；〃 you will interpose with a chuckle。
〃Science has succeeded in so far analysing man that we know
already that choice and what is called freedom of will is nothing
else than〃
Stay； gentlemen； I meant to begin with that myself I confess； I
was rather frightened。 I was just going to say that the devil
only knows what choice depends on； and that perhaps that was a
very good thing； but I remembered the teaching of science 。。。 and
pulled myself up。 And here you have begun upon it。 Indeed； if
there really is some day discovered a formula for all our desires
and capricesthat is； an explanation of what they depend upon；
by what laws they arise； how they develop； what they are aiming
at in one case and in another and so on； that is a real
mathematical formulathen； most likely； man will at once cease
to feel desire； indeed； he will be certain to。 For who would
want to choose by rule？ Besides； he will at once be transformed
from a human being into an organ…stop or something of the sort；
for what is a man without desires； without free will and without
choice； if not a stop in an organ？ What do you think？ Let us
reckon the chancescan such a thing happen or not？
〃H'm！〃 you decide。 〃Our choice is usually mistaken from a false
view of our advantage。 We sometimes choose absolute nonsens