按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
for a long time to come； because it is obvious that there can be no
end to them； and therefore the scientist has no time to devote to
those things which are necessary to the people。 And therefore；
again； from the time of Egyptian and Hebrew antiquity； when wheat
and lentils had already been cultivated； down to our own times； not
a single plant has been added to the food of the people； with the
exception of the potato； and that was not obtained by science。
Torpedoes have been invented； and apparatus for taxation； and so
forth。 But the spinning…whined； the woman's weaving…loom； the
plough； the hatchet； the chain； the rake； the bucket； the well…
sweep； are exactly the same as they were in the days of Rurik； and
if there has been any change； then that change has not been effected
by scientific people。
And it is the same with the arts。 We have elevated a lot of people
to the rank of great writers； we have picked these writers to
pieces； and have written mountains of criticism； and criticism on
the critics； and criticism on the critics of the critics。 And we
have collected picture…galleries； and have studied different schools
of art in detail； and we have so many symphonies and orchestras and
operas； that it is becoming difficult even for us to listen to them。
But what have we added to the popular bylini ＇the epic songs＇；
legends； tales； songs？ What music； what pictures； have we given to
the people？
On the Nikolskaya books are manufactured for the people； and
harmonicas in Tula； and in neither have we taken any part。 The
falsity of the whole direction of our arts and sciences is more
striking and more apparent in precisely those very branches； which；
it would seem； should； from their very nature； be of use to the
people； and which； in consequence of their false attitude； seem
rather injurious than useful。 The technologist； the physician； the
teacher； the artist； the author； should； in virtue of their very
callings； it would seem； serve the people。 And； what then？ Under
the present regime； they can do nothing but harm to the people。
The technologist or the mechanic has to work with capital。 Without
capital he is good for nothing。 All his acquirements are such that
for their display he requires capital； and the exploitation of the
laboring…man on the largest scale； andnot to mention that he is
trained to live； at the lowest； on from fifteen hundred to two
thousand a year； and that； therefore； he cannot go to the country；
where no one can give him such wages；he is； by virtue of his very
occupation； unfitted for serving the people。 He knows how to
calculate the highest mathematical arch of a bridge； how to
calculate the force and transfer of the motive power； and so on； but
he is confounded by the simplest questions of a peasant： how to
improve a plough or a cart； or how to make irrigating canals。 All
this in the conditions of life in which the laboring man finds
himself。 Of this； he neither knows nor understands any thing；
less； indeed； than the very stupidest peasant。 Give him workshops；
all sorts of workmen at his desire； an order for a machine from
abroad； and he will get along。 But how to devise means of
lightening toil； under the conditions of labor of millions of men；
this is what he does not and can not know； and because of his
knowledge； his habits； and his demands on life； he is unfitted for
this business。
In a still worse predicament is the physician。 His fancied science
is all so arranged； that he only knows how to heal those persons who
do nothing。 He requires an incalculable quantity of expensive
preparations； instruments； drugs； and hygienic apparatus。
He has studied with celebrities in the capitals； who only retain
patients who can be cured in the hospital； or who； in the course of
their cure； can purchase the appliances requisite for healing； and
even go at once from the North to the South； to some baths or other。
Science is of such a nature； that every rural physic…man laments
because there are no means of curing working…men； because he is so
poor that he has not the means to place the sick man in the proper
hygienic conditions； and at the same time this physician complains
that there are no hospitals； and that he cannot get through with his
work； that he needs assistants； more doctors and practitioners。
What is the inference？ This： that the people's principal lack；
from which diseases arise； and spread abroad； and refuse to be
healed； is the lack of means of subsistence。 And here Science；
under the banner of the division of labor； summons her warriors to
the aid of the people。 Science is entirely arranged for the wealthy
classes； and it has adopted for its task the healing of the people
who can obtain every thing for themselves； and it attempts to heal
those who possess no superfluity； by the same means。
But there are no means； and therefore it is necessary to take them
from the people who are ailing； and pest…stricken； and who cannot
recover for lack of means。 And now the defenders of medicine for
the people say that this matter has been； as yet； but little
developed。 Evidently it has been but little developed； because if
（which God forbid！） it had been developed； and that through
oppressing the people；instead of two doctors； midwives； and
practitioners in a district； twenty would have settled down； since
they desire this； and half the people would have died through the
difficulty of supporting this medical staff； and soon there would be
no one to heal。
Scientific co…operation with the people； of which the defenders of
science talk； must be something quite different。 And this co…
operation which should exist has not yet begun。 It will begin when
the man of science； technologist or physician； will not consider it
legal to take from peopleI will not say a hundred thousand； but
even a modest ten thousand； or five hundred rubles for assisting
them； but when he will live among the toiling people； under the same
conditions； and exactly as they do； then he will be able to apply
his knowledge to the questions of mechanics； technics； hygiene； and
the healing of the laboring people。 But now science； supporting
itself at the expense of the working…people； has entirely forgotten
the conditions of life among these people； ignores （as it puts it）
these conditions； and takes very grave offence because its fancied
knowledge finds no adherents among the people。
The domain of medicine； like the domain of technical science； still
lies untouched。 All questions as to how the time of labor is best
divided； what is the best method of nourishment； with what； in what
shape； and when it is best to clothe one's self； to shoe one's self；
to counteract dampness and cold； how best to wash one's self； to
feed the children； to swaddle them； and so on； in just those
conditions in which the working…people find themselves；all these
questions have not yet been propounded。
The same is the case with the activity of the teachers of science；
pedagogical teachers。 Exactly in the same manner science has so
arranged this matter； that only wealthy people are able to study
science； and teachers； like tec