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free and easy gossip； in reading the newspapers and romances； and in
visiting the theatres。 It is not strange to us to see our
philosopher in the tavern； in the theatre； and at the ball。 It is
not strange in our eyes to learn that those artists who sweeten and
ennoble our souls have passed their lives in drunkenness； cards； and
women； if not in something worse。
Art and science are very beautiful things； but just because they are
so beautiful they should not be spoiled by the compulsory
combination with them of vice： that is to say； a man should not get
rid of his obligation to serve his own life and that of other people
by his own labor。 Art and science have caused mankind to progress。
Yes； but not because men of art and science； under the guise of
division of labor； have rid themselves of the very first and most
indisputable of human obligations；to labor with their hands in the
universal struggle of mankind with nature。
〃But only the division of labor； the freedom of men of science and
of art from the necessity of earning them living； has rendered
possible that remarkable success of science which we behold in our
day；〃 is the answer to this。 〃If all were forced to till the soil；
those VAST results would not have been attained which have been
attained in our day； there would have been none of those STRIKING
successes which have so greatly augmented man's power over nature；
were it not for these astronomical discoveries WHICH ARE SO
ASTOUNDING TO THE MIND OF MAN； and which have added to the security
of navigation； there would be no steamers； no railways； none of
those WONDERFUL bridges； tunnels； steam…engines and telegraphs；
photography； telephones； sewing…machines； phonographs； electricity；
telescopes； spectroscopes； microscopes； chloroform； Lister's
bandages； and carbolic acid。〃
I will not enumerate every thing on which our age thus prides
itself。 This enumeration and pride of enthusiasm over ourselves and
our exploits can be found in almost any newspaper and popular
pamphlet。 This enthusiasm over ourselves is often repeated to such
a degree that none of us can sufficiently rejoice over ourselves；
that we are seriously convinced that art and science have never made
such progress as in our own time。 And； as we are indebted for all
this marvellous progress to the division of labor； why not
acknowledge it？
Let us admit that the progress made in our day is noteworthy；
marvellous； unusual； let us admit that we are fortunate mortals to
live in such a remarkable epoch： but let us endeavor to appraise
this progress； not on the basis of our self…satisfaction； but of
that principle which defends itself with this progress；the
division of labor。 All this progress is very amazing； but by a
peculiarly unlucky chance； admitted even by the men of science； this
progress has not so far improved； but it has rather rendered worse；
the position of the majority； that is to say； of the workingman。
If the workingman can travel on the railway； instead of walking；
still that same railway has burned down his forest； has carried off
his grain under his very nose； and has brought his condition very
near to slaveryto the capitalist。 If； thanks to steam…engines and
machines； the workingman can purchase inferior calico at a cheap
rate； on the other hand these engines and machines have deprived him
of work at home； and have brought him into a state of abject slavery
to the manufacturer。 If there are telephones and telescopes； poems；
romances； theatres； ballets； symphonies； operas； picture…galleries；
and so forth； on the other hand the life of the workingman has not
been bettered by all this； for all of them； by the same unlucky
chance； are inaccessible to him。
So that； on the whole （and even men of science admit this）； up to
the present time； all these remarkable discoveries and products of
science and art have certainly not ameliorated the condition of the
workingman； if； indeed； they have not made it worse。 So that； if we
set against the question as to the reality of the progress attained
by the arts and sciences； not our own rapture； but that standard
upon the basis of which the division of labor is defended；the good
of the laboring man；we shall see that we have no firm foundations
for that self…satisfaction in which we are so fond of indulging。
The peasant travels on the railway； the woman buys calico； in the
isba （cottage） there will be a lamp instead of a pine…knot； and the
peasant will light his pipe with a match；this is convenient； but
what right have I to say that the railway and the factory have
proved advantageous to the people？
If the peasant rides on the railway； and buys calico； a lamp； and
matches； it is only because it is impossible to forbid the peasant's
buying them； but surely we are all aware that the construction of
railways and factories has never been carried out for the benefit of
the lower classes： so why should a casual convenience which the
workingman enjoys lead to a proof of the utility of all these
institutions for the people？
There is something useful in every injurious thing。 After a
conflagration； one can warm one's self； and light one's pipe with a
firebrand； but why declare that the conflagration is beneficial？
Men of art and science might say that their pursuits are beneficial
to the people； only when men of art and science have assigned to
themselves the object of serving the people； as they now assign
themselves the object of serving the authorities and the
capitalists。 We might say this if men of art and science had taken
as their aim the needs of the people； but there are none such。 All
scientists are busy with their priestly avocations； out of which
proceed investigations into protoplasm； the spectral analyses of
stars； and so on。 But science has never once thought of what axe or
what hatchet is the most profitable to chop with； what saw is the
most handy； what is the best way to mix bread； from what flour； how
to set it； how to build and heat an oven； what food and drink； and
what utensils； are the most convenient and advantageous under
certain conditions； what mushrooms may be eaten； how to propagate
them； and how to prepare them in the most suitable manner。 And yet
all this is the province of science。
I am aware； that； according to its own definition； science ought to
be useless； i。e。； science for the sake of science； but surely this
is an obvious evasion。 The province of science is to serve the
people。 We have invented telegraphs； telephones； phonographs； but
what advances have we effected in the life； in the labor； of the
people？ We have reckoned up two millions of beetles！ And we have
not tamed a single animal since biblical times； when all our animals
were already domesticated； but the reindeer； the stag； the
partridge； the heath…cock； all remain wild。
Our botanists have discovered the cell； and in the cell protoplasm；
and in that protoplasm still something more； and in that atom yet
another thing。 It is evident that these occupations will not end
for a long time to come； because it is obvious that there can be no
end to them； and therefore the scientist has