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＇13＇ The number of cerebral cells is estimated （the cortical layer）
at twelve hundred millions （in 1880）and the fibers binding them
together at four thousand millions。 （Today in 1990 it is thought that
the brain contains one million million neurons and many times more
fibers。 SR。）
＇14＇ In his best…selling book 〃The Blind Watchmaker〃；（Published
1986） the biologist Richard Dawkins writes： 〃All appearances to the
contrary； the only watchmaker in nature is the blind forces of
physics； albeit deployed in a very special way。 A true watchmaker has
foresight： he designs his cogs and springs； and plans their
interconnections； with a future purpose in his mind's eye。 Natural
selection； the blind； unconscious； automatic process which Darwin
discovered； and which we now know is the explanation for the existence
and apparently purposeful form of all life； has no purpose in mind。 It
has no mind and no mind's eye。 it does not plan for the future。 It has
no vision； no foresight； no sight at all。 If it can be said to play
the role of watchmaker in nature； it is the blind watchmaker。〃 （SR。）
＇15＇ Already Michel Montaigne （1533…1592） had noted man's tendency
to over…estimate his own powers of judgment：
'So； to return to myself； the sole feature for which I hold myself
in some esteem is that in which no man has ever thought himself
defective。 My self…approbation is common； and shared by all。 For who
has ever considered himself lacking in common sense？ This would be a
self…contradictory proposition。 Lack of sense is a disease that never
exists when it is seen； it is most tenacious and strong； yet the first
glance from the patient's eye pierces it through and disperses it； as
a dense mist is dispersed by the sun's beams。 To accuse oneself would
amount to self…absolution。 There never was a street…porter or a silly
woman who was not sure of having as much sense as was necessary。 We
readily recognize in others a superiority in courage； physical
strength； experience； agility； or beauty。 But a superior judgment we
concede to nobody。 And we think that we could ourselves have
discovered the reasons which occur naturally to others； if only we had
looked in the same direction。'） （SR。）
＇16＇ My father's cousin； a black…smith issue from a long line of
country black…smiths； born in 1896； used to say that the basic
principle elevating children was to ensure 〃that the child never
should be able to exclude the possibility of good thrashing。〃 （SR）。
＇17＇ Rousseau； 〃Contrat social；〃 I； ch。 7； III。 ch。 13； 14； 15； 18；
IV。 ch。 1。 … Cf。 Condorcet； ninth epoch。
＇18＇ Rousseau； 〃Contrat social；〃 III； 1； 18； IV； 3。
＇19＇ De Tocqueville； 〃L'Ancien régime；〃 book II。 entire； and book
III。 ch。 3。
＇20＇ Rousseau； 〃Contrat social。〃 I。6。
＇21＇ Ibidem I。 9。 〃The State in relation to its members is master
of all their possessions according to the social compact 。 。 。
possessors are considered as depositaries of the public wealth。〃
＇22＇ Rousseau； 〃Discours sur l'Economie politique；〃 308。
＇23＇ Ibid。 〃Emile；〃 book V。 175。
＇24＇ Rousseau； 〃Discours sur l'Economie politique；〃 302
＇25＇ Rousseau； on the 〃Government de Pologne；〃 277； 283； 287。
＇26＇ Ibid。 〃Emile；〃 book I。
＇27＇ Morelly； 〃Code de la nature。〃 〃At the age of five all children
should be removed their families and brought up in common； at the
charge of the State； in a uniform manner。〃 A similar project；
perfectly Spartan； was found among the papers of St。…Just。
＇28＇ Rousseau； 〃Contrat social；〃 II。 3； IV。8。
＇29＇ Cf。 Mercier； 〃L'an 2240；〃 I。 ch。 17 and 18。 From 1770 on； he
traces the programme of a system of worship similar to that of the
Théophilanthropists； the chapter being entitled： 〃Pas si éloigné qu'on
pense。〃
BOOK FOURTH。 THE PROPAGATION OF THE DOCTRINE。
CHAPTER I。
SUCCESS OF THIS PHILOSOPHY IN FRANCE。 … FAILURE OF THE SAME
PHILOSOPHY IN ENGLAND。
Several similar theories have in the past traversed the
imagination of men； and similar theories are likely do so again。 In
all ages and in all countries； it sufficed that man's concept of his
own nature changed for； as an indirect consequence； new utopias and
discoveries would sprout in the fields of politics and religion。＇1＇ …
But this does not suffice for the propagation of the new doctrine nor；
more important； for theory to be put into practice。 Although born in
England； the philosophy of the eighteenth century could not develop
itself in England； the fever for demolition and reconstruction
remained but briefly and superficial there。 Deism； atheism；
materialism； skepticism； ideology； the theory of the return to nature；
the proclamations of the rights of man； all the temerities of
Bolingbroke； Collins； Toland； Tindal and Mandeville； the bold ideas of
Hume； Hartley； James Mill and Bentham； all the revolutionary
doctrines； were so many hotbed plants produced here and there； in the
isolated studies of a few thinkers： out in the open； after blooming
for a while； subject to a vigorous competition with the old vegetation
to which the soil belonged； they failed＇2＇。 … On the contrary； in
France； the seed imported from England； takes root and spreads with
extraordinary vigor。 After the Regency it is in full bloom＇3＇。 Like
any species favored by soil and climate； it invades all the fields；
appropriating light and air to itself； scarcely allowing in its shade
a few puny specimens of a hostile species； a survivor of an antique
flora like Rollin； or a specimen of an eccentric flora like Saint…
Martin。 With large trees and dense thickets； through masses of
brushwood and low plants； such as Voltaire； Montesquieu； Rousseau；
Diderot； d'Alembert and Buffon； or Duclos； Mably； Condillac； Turgot；
Beaumarchais； Bernadin de Saint…Pierre； Barthélemy and Thomas； such as
a crowd of journalists； compilers and conversationalists； or the elite
of the philosophical； scientific and literary multitude； it occupies
the Academy； the stage； the drawing room and the debate。 All the
important persons of the century are its offshoots； and among these
are some of the grandest ever produced by humanity。 … This was
possible because the seed had fallen on suitable ground； that is to
say； on the soil in the homeland of the classic spirit。 In this land
of the raison raisonnante＇4＇ it no longer encounters the antagonists
who impeded its growth on the other side of the Channel； and it not
only immediately acquires vigor of sap but the propagating organ which
it required as well。
I。 THE PROPAGATING ORGAN； ELOQUENCE。
Causes of this difference。 … This art of writing in France。 … Its
superiority at this epoch。 … It serves as the vehicle of new ideas。
… Books are written for people of the world。 … This accounts for
philosophy descending to the drawing room。
This organ is the 〃talent of speech； eloquence applied to the
gravest subject