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convert it into flesh。 I animalize it。 I render it sensitive。〃 It
harbors latent； imperfect sensibility rendered perfect and made
manifest。 Organization is the cause； and life and sensation are the
effects； I need no spiritual monad to account for effects since I am
in possession of the cause。 〃Look at this egg； with which all schools
of theology and all the temples of the earth can be overthrown。 What
is this egg？ An inanimate mass previous to the introduction of the
germ。 And what is it after the introduction of the germ？ An insensible
mass； an inert fluid。〃 Add heat to it； keep it in an oven； and let the
operation continue of itself； and we have a chicken； that is to say；
〃sensibility； life； memory； conscience； passions and thought。〃 That
which you call soul is the nervous center in which all sensitive
chords concentrate。 Their vibrations produce sensations； a quickened
or reviving sensation is memory； our ideas are the result of
sensations； memory and signs。 Matter； accordingly； is not the work of
an intelligence； but matter； through its own arrangement； produces
intelligence。 Let us fix intelligence where it is； in the organized
body； we must not detach it from its support to perch it in the sky on
an imaginary throne。 This disproportionate conception； once introduced
into our minds； ends in perverting the natural play of our sentiments；
and； like a monstrous parasite； abstracts for itself all our
substance。＇15＇ The first interest of a sane person is to get rid of
it； to discard every superstition； every 〃fear of invisible
powers。〃＇16＇ Then only can he establish a moral order of things
and distinguish 〃the natural law。〃 The sky consisting of empty space；
we have no need to seek commands from on high。 Let us look down to the
ground； let us consider man in himself； as he appears in the eyes of
the naturalist； namely； an organized body； a sensitive animal
possessing wants； appetites and instincts。 Not only are these
indestructible but they are legitimate。 Let us throw open the prison
in which prejudice confines them； let us give them free air and space；
let them be displayed in all their strength and all will go well。
According to Diderot；＇17＇ a lasting marriage is an abuse； being 〃the
tyranny of a man who has converted the possession of a woman into
property。〃 Purity is an invention and conventional； like a dress；＇18＇
happiness and morals go together only in countries where instinct is
sanctioned； as in Tahiti； for instance； where marriage lasts but a
month； often only a day； and sometimes a quarter of an hour； where； in
the evening and with hospitable intent； a host offers his daughters
and wife to his guests； where the son espouses his mother out of
politeness； where the union of the sexes is a religious festivity
celebrated in public。 And； pushing things to extremes； the
logician ends with five or six pages calculated 〃to make one's hair
stand on end；〃＇19＇ himself avowing that his doctrine is 〃neither
suited for children nor for adults。〃 With Diderot； to say the least；
these paradoxes have their correctives。 In his pictures of modern ways
and habits； he is the moralist。 He not only is familiar with all the
chords of the human keyboard； but he classifies each according to its
rank。 He loves fine and pure tones； and is full of enthusiasm for
noble harmonies； his heart is equal to his genius。＇20＇ And better
still； on the question of primitive impulses arising； he assigns； side
by side with vanity； an independent and superior position to pity；
friendship； kindness and charity； to every generous affection of the
heart displaying sacrifice and devotion without calculation or
personal benefit。 But associated with him are others； cold and
narrow； who form moral systems according to the mathematical methods
of the ideologists； ＇21＇ after the style of Hobbes。 One motive alone
satisfies these； the simplest and most palpable； utterly gross； almost
mechanical； completely physiological； the natural animal tendency of
avoiding pain and seeking pleasure：
〃Pain and pleasure；〃 says Helvétius； 〃form the only springs of the
moral universe； while the sentiment of vanity is the only basis on
which we can lay the foundations of moral usefulness。 What motive but
that of self…interest could lead a man to perform a generous action？
He can as little love good for the sake of good as evil for the sake
of evil。〃＇22＇ 〃The principles of natural law； say the disciples； are
reduced to one unique and fundamental principle； self…
preservation。〃＇23＇ 〃To preserve oneself； to be happy；〃 is instinct；
right and duty。 〃Oh； yea；〃＇24＇ says nature； 〃who； through the
impulsion I bestow on you； tending towards happiness at every moment
of your being； resist not my sovereign law； strive for your own
felicity； enjoy fearlessly and be happy！〃 But to be happy； contribute
to the happiness of others； if you wish them to be useful to you； be
useful to them。 〃every man； from birth to death； has need of mankind。〃
〃Live then for them； that they may live for you。〃 〃Be good； because
goodness links hearts together； be gentle； because gentleness wins
affection； be modest； because pride repels beings full of their self…
importance。 。 。 。 Be citizens； because your country is necessary to
ensure your safety and well…being。 Defend your country； because it
renders you happy and contains your possessions。〃
Virtue thus is simply egotism furnished with a telescope； man has
no other reason for doing good but the fear of doing himself harm；
while self…devotion consists of self…interest。
One goes fast and far on this road。 When the sole law for each
person is to be happy； each wishes to be so immediately and in his own
way； the herd of appetites is let loose； rushing ahead and breaking
down all barriers。 And the more readily because it has been
demonstrated to them that every barrier is an evil； invented by
cunning and malicious shepherds； the better to milk and shear them：
〃The state of society is a state of warfare of the sovereign
against all； and of each member against the rest。＇25＇ 。 。 We see on
the face of the globe only incapable； unjust sovereigns； enervated by
luxury； corrupted by flattery； depraved through unpunished license；
and without talent； morals； or good qualities。 。 。 。 Man is wicked not
because he is wicked； but because he has been made so。〃…〃Would you
know the story； in brief； of almost all our wretchedness？ Here it is。
There existed the natural man； and into this man was introduced an
artificial man； whereupon a civil war arose within him； lasting
through life。 ＇26＇ 。 。 If you propose to become a tyrant over him； 。 。
。 do your best to poison him with a theory of morals against nature；
impose every kind of fetter on him； embarrass his movements with a
thousand obstacles； place phantoms around him to frighten him。 。 。 。
Would you see him happy and free？ Do not meddle with his affairs 。 。 。
Remain c