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and desire in psychology； those of utility； contract and law in
politics and morality； those of capital； production； value； exchange
in political economy； and the； same in the other sciences； all of
these being conceptions derived from passing experience； from which it
follows that； in appealing to common experience by means of a few
familiar circumstances； such as short stories； anecdotes； agreeable
tales； and the like； these conceptions are fashioned anew and rendered
precise。 This being accomplished； almost everything is accomplished；
for nothing then remains but to lead the listener along step by step；
flight by flight； to the remotest consequences。
〃Will Madame la Maréchale have the kindness to recall my
definition？ 〃 … 〃I remember it well…do you call that a definition？〃
… 〃Yes。〃 …〃That； then； is philosophy！ 〃 … 〃Admirable ！ 〃 … 〃And I
have been philosophical？ 〃 … 〃 As you read prose； without being
aware of it。〃
The rest is simply a matter of reasoning； that is to say； of
leading on； of putting questions in the right order； and of analysis。
With the conception thus renewed and rectified the truth nearest at
hand is brought out； then out of this； a second truth related to the
first one； and so on to the end； no other obligation being involved in
this method but that of carefully advancing step by step； and of
omitting no intermediary step。 … With this method one is able to
explain all； to make everything understood； even by women； and even by
women of society。 In the eighteenth century it forms the substance of
all talents； the warp of all masterpieces； the lucidity； popularity
and authority of philosophy。 The 〃Eloges〃 of Fontenelle； the
〃Philosophe ignorant et le principe d'action〃 by Voltaire； the 〃
Lettre à M。 de Beaumont；〃 and the 〃Vicaire Savoyard〃 by Rousseau； the
〃Traité de l'homme〃 and the 〃époques de la Nature〃 by Buffon； the 〃
Dialogues sur les blés〃 by Galiani； the 〃 Considérations〃 by
d'Alembert； on mathematics； the 〃 Langue des Calculs〃 and the
〃Logique〃 by Condillac； and； a little later； the 〃Exposition du
système du Monde〃 by Laplace； and 〃Discours généraux〃 by Bichat and
Cuvier； all are based on this method＇12＇。 Finally； this is the method
which Condillac erects into a theory under the name of ideology； soon
acquiring the ascendancy of a dogma； and which then seems to sum up
all methods。 At the very least it sums up the process by which the
philosophers of the century obtained their audience； propagated their
doctrine and achieved their success。
III。 ITS POPULARITY。
Owing to style it becomes pleasing。 … Two stimulants peculiar to
the 18th century； coarse humor and irony。
Thanks to this method one can be understood； but； to be read；
something more is necessary。 I compare the eighteenth century to a
company of people around a table； it is not sufficient that the food
before them be well prepared； well served； within reach and easy to
digest； but it is important that it should be some choice dish or；
better still； some dainty。 The intellect is Epicurean； let us supply
it with savory； delicate viands adapted to its taste； it will eat so
much the more owing to its appetite being sharpened by sensuality。
Two special condiments enter into the cuisine of this century； and；
according to the hand that makes use of them； they furnish all
literary dishes with a coarse or delicate seasoning。 In an Epicurean
society； to which a return to nature and the rights of instinct are
preached； voluptuous images and ideas present themselves
involuntarily； this is the appetizing； exciting spice…box。 Each guest
at the table uses or abuses it； many empty its entire contents on
their plate。 And I do not allude merely to the literature read in
secret； to the extraordinary books Madame d'Audlan； governess to the
French royal children； peruses； and which stray off into the hands of
the daughters of Louis XV；＇13＇ nor to other books； still more
extraordinary；＇14＇ in which philosophical arguments appear as an
interlude between filth and the illustrations； and which are kept by
the ladies of the court on their toilet…tables； under the title of
〃Heures de Paris。〃 I refer here to the great men； to the masters of
the public intellect。 With the exception of Buffon； all put pimento
into their sauces； that is to say； loose talk or coarseness of
expression。 We find this even in the〃 Esprit des Lois；〃 there is an
enormous amount of it； open and covered up； in the 〃Lettres Persanes。〃
Diderot； in his two great novels； puts it in by handfuls； as if during
an orgy。 The teeth crunch on it like so many grains of pepper； on
every page of Voltaire。 We find it； not only piquant； but strong and
of burning intensity； in the 〃Nouvelle Hélo？se；〃 scores of times in 〃
Emile；〃 and； in the 〃Confessions；〃 from one end to the other。 It was
the taste of the day。 M。 de Malesherbes； so upright and so grave；
committed 〃La Pucelle〃 to memory and recited it。 We have from the pen
of Saint…Just； the gloomiest of the 〃Mountain；〃 a poem as lascivious
as that of Voltaire； while Madame Roland； the noblest of the
Girondins； has left us confessions as venturesome and specific as
those of Rousseau＇15＇。 … On the other hand there is a second box；
that containing the old Gallic salt； that is to say； humor and
raillery。 Its mouth is wide open in the hands of a philosophy
proclaiming the sovereignty of reason。 Whatever is contrary to Reason
is to it absurd and therefore open to ridicule。 The moment the solemn
hereditary mask covering up an abuse is brusquely and adroitly torn
aside； we feel a curious spasm； the corners of our mouth stretching
apart and our breast heaving violently； as at a kind of sudden relief；
an unexpected deliverance； experiencing a sense of our recovered
superiority； of our revenge being gratified and of an act of justice
having been performed。 But it depends on the mode in which the mask
is struck off whether the laugh shall be in turn light or loud；
suppressed or unbridled； now amiable and cheerful； or now bitter and
sardonic。 Humor （la plaisanterie） comports with all aspects； from
buffoonery to indignation； no literary seasoning affords such a
variety； or so many mixtures； nor one that so well enters into
combination with that above…mentioned。 The two together； from the
middle ages down； form the principal ingredients employed by the
French cuisine in the composition of its most agreeable dainties； …
fables； tales； witticisms； jovial songs and waggeries； the eternal
heritage of a good…humored； mocking people； preserved by La Fontaine
athwart the pomp and sobriety of the seventeenth century； and； in the
eighteenth； reappearing everywhere at the philosophic banquet。 Its
charm is great to the brilliant company at this table； so amply
provided； whose principal occupation is pleasure and amusement。 It is
all the greater because； on this occasion； the passing disposition is
in harmony with h