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most human sort； with the best defined of objects。 The deductions
directly arising from this theory were the following： The wretched
condition of the laboring classes was such in accordance with an
unalterable law； which does not depend upon men； and； if any one is
to blame in this matter； it is the hungry laboring classes
themselves。 Why are they such fools as to give birth to children；
when they know that there will be nothing for the children to eat？
And so this deduction； which is valuable for the herd of idle
people； has had this result： that all learned men overlooked the
incorrectness； the utter arbitrariness of these deductions； and
their insusceptibility to proof； and the throng of cultivated； i。e。；
of idle people； knowing instinctively to what these deductions lead；
saluted this theory with enthusiasm； conferred upon it the stamp of
truth； i。e。； of science； and dragged it about with them for half a
century。
Is not this same thing the cause of the confidence of men in
positive critical…experimental science； and of the devout attitude
of the crowd towards that which it preaches？ At first it seems
strange； that the theory of evolution can in any manner justify
people in their evil ways； and it seems as though the scientific
theory of evolution has to deal only with facts； and that it does
nothing else but observe facts。
But this only appears to be the case。
Exactly the same thing appeared to be the case with the Hegelian
doctrine； in a greater degree； and also in the special instance of
the Malthusian doctrine。 Hegelianism was； apparently； occupied only
with its logical constructions； and bore no relation to the life of
mankind。 Precisely this seemed to be the case with the Malthusian
theory。 It appeared to be busy itself only with statistical data。
But this was only in appearance。
Contemporary science is also occupied with facts alone： it
investigates facts。 But what facts？ Why precisely these facts； and
no others？
The men of contemporary science are very fond of saying；
triumphantly and confidently； 〃We investigate only facts；〃 imagining
that these words contain some meaning。 It is impossible to
investigate facts alone； because the facts which are subject to our
investigation are INNUMERABLE （in the definite sense of that word）；…
…innumerable。 Before we proceed to investigate facts； we must have
a theory on the foundation of which these or those facts can be
inquired into； i。e。； selected from the incalculable quantity。
And this theory exists； and is even very definitely expressed；
although many of the workers in contemporary science do not know it；
or often pretend that they do not know it。 Exactly thus has it
always been with all prevailing and guiding doctrines。 The
foundations of every doctrine are always stated in a theory； and the
so…called learned men merely invent further deductions from the
foundations once stated。 Thus contemporary science is selecting its
facts on the foundation of a very definite theory； which it
sometimes knows； sometimes refuses to know； and sometimes really
does not know； but the theory exists。
The theory is as follows： All mankind is an undying organism； men
are the particles of that organism； and each one of them has his own
special task for the service of others。 In the same manner； the
cells united in an organism share among them the labor of fight for
existence of the whole organism； they magnify the power of one
capacity； and weaken another； and unite in one organ； in order the
better to supply the requirements of the whole organism。 And
exactly in the same manner as with gregarious animals；ants or
bees；the separate individuals divide the labor among them。 The
queen lays the egg； the drone fructifies it； the bee works his whole
life long。 And precisely this thing takes place in mankind and in
human societies。 And therefore； in order to find the law of life
for man； it is necessary to study the laws of the life and the
development of organisms。
In the life and development of organisms； we find the following
laws： the law of differentiation and integration； the law that
every phenomenon is accompanied not by direct consequences alone；
another law regarding the instability of type； and so on。 All this
seems very innocent； but it is only necessary to draw the deductions
from all these laws； in order to immediately perceive that these
laws incline in the same direction as the law of Malthus。 These
laws all point to one thing； namely； to the recognition of that
division of labor which exists in human communities； as organic；
that is to say； as indispensable。 And therefore； the unjust
position in which we； the people who have freed ourselves from
labor； find ourselves； must be regarded not from the point of view
of common…sense and justice； but merely as an undoubted fact；
confirming the universal law。
Moral philosophy also justified every sort of cruelty and harshness；
but this resulted in a philosophical manner； and therefore wrongly。
But with science； all this results scientifically； and therefore in
a manner not to be doubted。
How can we fail to accept so very beautiful a theory？ It is merely
necessary to look upon human society as an object of contemplation；
and I can console myself with the thought that my activity； whatever
may be its nature； is a functional activity of the organism of
humanity； and that therefore there cannot arise any question as to
whether it is just that I； in employing the labor of others； am
doing only that which is agreeable to me； as there can arise no
question as to the division of labor between the brain cells and the
muscular cells。 How is it possible not to admit so very beautiful a
theory； in order that one may be able； ever after； to pocket one's
conscience； and have a perfectly unbridled animal existence； feeling
beneath one's self that support of science which is not to be shaken
nowadays！
And it is on this new doctrine that the justification for men's
idleness and cruelty is now founded。
CHAPTER II。
This doctrine had its rise not so very longfifty yearsago。 Its
principal founder was the French savant Comte。 There occurred to
Comte；a systematist； and a religious man to boot；under the
influence of the then novel physiological investigations of Biche；
the old idea already set forth by Menenius Agrippa；the idea that
human society； all humanity even； might be regarded as one whole； as
an organism； and men as living parts of the separate organs； having
each his own definite appointment to serve the entire organism。
This idea so pleased Comte； that upon it he began to erect a
philosophical theory； and this theory so carried him away； that he
utterly forgot that the point of departure for his theory was
nothing more than a very pretty comparison； which was suitable for a
fable； but which could by no means serve as the foundation for
science。 He； as frequently happens； mistook his pet hypothesis for
an axiom； and imagined that his whole theory was erected on the very
firmest of foundations。 According to his theory； it seemed that
since humanity is an organism； the knowledge of what