II。ANCESTRALTRADITIONANDCULTURE。
Origin,natureandvalueofhereditaryprejudice。—Howfarcustom,religionandgovernmentarelegitimate。
Nothingcouldbebetterhadthenewdoctrinebeencomplete,andifReason,instructedbyhistory,hadbecomecritical,andthereforequalifiedtocomprehendtherivalshereplaced。Forthen,insteadofregardingherasanusurpertoberepelledshewouldhaverecognizedinheraneldersisterwhosepartmustbelefttoher。HereditaryprejudiceisasortofReasonoperatingunconsciously。Ithasclaimsaswellasreason,butitisunabletopresentthese;insteadofadvancingthosethatareauthenticitputsforththedoubtfulones。
Itsarchivesareburied;toexhumetheseitisnecessarytomakeresearchesofwhichitisincapable;neverthelesstheyexist,andhistoryatthepresentdayisbringingthemtolight。——Carefulinvestigationsshowsthat,likescience,itissuesfromalongaccumulationofexperiences;apeople,afteramultitudeofgropingsandefforts,hasdiscoveredthatacertainwayoflivingandthinkingistheonlyoneadaptedtoitssituation,themostpracticalandthemostsalutary,thesystemordogmanowseemingarbitrarytousbeingatfirstaconfirmedexpedientofpublicsafety。Frequentlyitissostill;inanyevent,initsleadingfeaturesitisindispensable;itmaybestatedwithcertaintythat,iftheleadingprejudicesofthecommunityshouldsuddenlydisappear,Man,deprivedofthepreciouslegacytransmittedtohimbythewisdomofages,wouldatoncefallbackintoasavageconditionandagainbecomewhathewasatfirst,namely,arestless,famished,wandering,huntedbrute。Therewasatimewhenthisheritagewaslacking;therearepopulationstodaywithwhichitisstillutterlylacking。[4]Toabstainfromeatinghumanflesh,fromkillinguselessorburdensomeagedpeople,fromexposing,sellingorkillingchildrenonedoesnotknowwhattodowith,tobetheonehusbandofbutonewoman,toholdinhorrorincestandunnaturalpractices,tobethesoleandrecognizedownerofadistinctfield,tobemindfulofthesuperiorinjunctionsofmodesty,humanity,honorandconscience,alltheseobservances,formerlyunknownandslowlyestablished,composethecivilizationofhumanbeings。Becauseweaccepttheminfullsecuritytheyarenotthelesssacred,andtheybecomeonlythemoresacredwhen,submittedtoinvestigationandtracedthroughhistory,theyaredisclosedtousasthesecretforcewhichhasconvertedaherdofbrutesintoasocietyofmen。Ingeneral,theolderandmoreuniversalacustom,themoreitisbasedonprofoundmotives,onphysiologicalmotivesonthoseofhygiene,andonthoseinstitutedforsocialprotection。Atonetime,asintheseparationofcastes,aheroicorthoughtfulstockmustbepreservedbypreventingthemixturesbywhichinferiorbloodintroducesmentaldebilityandlowinstincts。[5]Atanother,asintheprohibitionofspirituousliquors,andofanimalfood,itisnecessarytoconformtotheclimateprescribingavegetablediet,ortotherace—temperamentforwhichstrongdrinkispernicious。[6]Atanother,asintheinstitutionoftherightoffirst—borntoinherittitleandcastle,itwasimportanttoprepareanddesignatebeforehandthemilitarycommanderwhothetribewouldobey,orthecivilchieftainthatwouldpreservethedomain,superintenditscultivation,andsupportthefamily。[7]——IftherearevalidreasonsforlegitimizingcustomtherearereasonsofhigherimportfortheconsecrationofreligionConsiderthispoint,notingeneralandaccordingtoavaguenotion,butattheoutset,atitsbirth,inthetexts,takingforanexampleoneofthefaithswhichnowruleinsociety,Christianity,Hinduism,thelawofMohammedorofBuddha。Atcertaincriticalmomentsinhistory,afewmen,emergingfromtheirnarrowanddailyroutineoflife,areseizedbysomegeneralizedconceptionoftheinfiniteuniverse;theaugustfaceofnatureissuddenlyunveiledtothem;intheirsublimeemotiontheyseemtohavedetecteditsfirstcause;theyhaveatleastdetectedsomeofitselements。Throughafortunateconjunctionofcircumstancestheseelementsarejustthosewhichtheircentury,theirpeople,agroupofpeoples,afragmentofhumanityisinastatetocomprehend。Theirpointofviewistheonlyoneatwhichthegraduatedmultitudesbelowthemareabletoaccept。Formillionsofmen,forhundredsofgenerations,onlythroughthemisanyaccesstodivinethingstobeobtained。Theirsistheuniqueutterance,heroicoraffecting,enthusiasticortranquilizing;theonlyonewhichtheheartsandmindsaroundthemandafterthemwillheed;theonlyoneadaptedtoprofoundcravings,toaccumulatedaspirations,tohereditaryfaculties,toacompleteintellectualandmoralorganism;
YonderthatofHindostanoroftheMongolian;herethatoftheSemiteortheEuropean;inourEuropethatoftheGerman,theLatinortheSlave;insuchawaythatitscontradictions,insteadofcondemningit,justifyit,itsdiversityproducingitsadaptationanditsadaptationproducingbenefits。——Thisisnobarrenformula。A
sentimentofsuchgrandeur,ofsuchcomprehensiveandpenetratinginsight,anideabywhichMan,compassingthevastnessanddepthofthings,sogreatlyoverstepstheordinarylimitsofhismortalcondition,resemblesanillumination;itiseasilytransformedintoavision;itisneverremotefromecstasy;itcanexpressitselfonlythroughsymbols;itevokesdivinefigures。[8]Religioninitsnatureisametaphysicalpoemaccompaniedbyfaith。Underthistitleitispopularandefficacious;for,apartfromaninvisibleselectfew,apureabstractideaisonlyanemptyterm,andtruth,tobeapparent,mustbeclothedwithabody。Itrequiresaformofworship,alegend,andceremoniesinordertoaddressthepeople,women,children,thecredulous,everyoneabsorbedbydailycares,anyunderstandinginwhichideasinvoluntarilytranslatethemselvesthroughimagery。Owingtothispalpableformitisabletogiveitsweightysupporttotheconscience,tocounterbalancenaturalegoism,tocurbthemadonsetofbrutalpassions,toleadthewilltoabnegationanddevotion,totearManawayfromhimselfandplacehimwhollyintheserviceoftruth,orofhiskind,toformascetics,martyrs,sistersofcharityandmissionaries。Thus,throughoutsociety,religionbecomesatonceanaturalandpreciousinstrumentality。Ontheonehandmenrequireitforthecontemplationofinfinityandtoliveproperly;ifitweresuddenlytobetakenawayfromthemtheirsoulswouldbeamournfulvoid,andtheywoulddogreaterinjurytotheirneighbors。Besides,itwouldbevaintoattempttotakeitawayfromthem;thehandraisedagainstitwouldencounteronlyitsenvelope;itwouldberepelledafterasanguinarystruggle,itsgermlyingtoodeeptobeextirpated。
Andwhen,atlength,afterreligionandcustom,weregardtheState,thatistosay,thearmedpowerpossessingbothphysicalforceandmoralauthority,wefindforitanalmostequallynobleorigin。Ithas,inEuropeatleast,fromRussiatoPortugalandfromNorwaytothetwoSicilies,initsoriginandessence,amilitaryfoundationinwhichheroismconstitutesitselfthechampionofright。Hereandthereinthechaosoftribesandcrumblingsocieties,somemanhasarisenwho,throughhisascendancy,ralliesaroundhimaloyalband,drivingoutintruders,overcomingbrigands,re—establishingorder,revivingagriculture,foundingapatrimony,andtransmittingaspropertytohisdescendantshisofficeofhereditaryjusticiaryandborngeneral。
Throughthispermanentdelegationagreatpublicofficeisremovedfromcompetition,fixedinonefamily,sequesteredinsafehands;
thenceforththenationpossessesavitalcenterandeachrightobtainsavisibleprotector。Ifthesovereignconfineshimselftohistraditionalresponsibilities,isrestrainedindespotictendencies,andavoidsfallingintoegoism,heprovidesthecountrywiththebestgovernmentofwhichtheworldhasanyknowledge。Notaloneisitthemoststable,capableofcontinuation,andthemostsuitableformaintainingtogetherabodyof20or30millionpeople,butagainoneofthemostnoblebecausedevotiondignifiesbothcommandandobedienceand,throughtheprolongationofmilitarytradition,fidelityandhonor,fromgradetograde,attachestheleadertohisdutyandthesoldiertohiscommander。——Sucharethestrikinglyvalidclaimsofsocialtraditionswhichwemay,similartoaninstinct,considerasbeingablindformofreason。Thatwhichmakesitfullylegitimateisthatreasonherself,tobecomeefficient,isobligedtoborrowitsform。Adoctrinebecomesinspiringonlythroughablindmedium。Tobecomeofpracticaluse,totakeuponitselfthegovernmentofsouls,tobetransformedintoaspringofaction,itmustbedepositedinmindsgivenuptosystematicbelief,offixedhabits,ofestablishedtendencies,ofdomestictraditionsandprejudice,andthatit,fromtheagitatedheightsoftheintellect,descendsintoandbecomeamalgamatedwiththepassiveforcesofthewill;thenonlydoesitformapartofthecharacterandbecomeasocialforce。Atthesametime,however,itceasestobecriticalandclairvoyant;itnolongertoleratesdoubtandcontradiction,noradmitsfurtherrestrictionsornicedistinctions;itiseithernolongercognizantof,orbadlyappreciates,itsownevidences。Weofthepresentdaybelieveininfiniteprogressaboutthesameaspeopleoncebelievedinoriginalsin;westillreceiveready—madeopinionsfromabove,theAcademyofSciencesoccupyinginmanyrespectstheplaceoftheancientcouncils。Exceptwithafewspecialsavants,beliefandobediencewillalwaysbeunthinking,whileReasonwouldwrongfullyresenttheleadershipofprejudiceinhumanaffairs,since,tolead,itmustitselfbecomeprejudiced。
III。REASONATWARWITHILLUSION。
Theclassicintellectincapableofacceptingthispointofview。—
—Thepastandpresentusefulnessoftraditionaremisunderstood。——
Reasonundertakestosetthemaside。
Unfortunately,intheeighteenthcentury,reasonwasclassic;notonlytheaptitudebutthedocumentswhichenableittocomprehendtraditionwereabsent。Inthefirstplace,therewasnoknowledgeofhistory;learningwas,duetoitsdullnessandtediousness,refused;
learnedcompilations,vastcollectionsofextractsandtheslowworkofcriticismwereheldindisdain。VoltairemadefunoftheBenedictines。Montesquieu,toensuretheacceptanceofhis"Espritdeslois,"indulgedinwitaboutlaws。Reynal,togiveanimpetustohishistoryofcommerceintheIndies,weldedtoitthedeclamationofDiderot。TheAbbéBarthélemycoveredovertherealitiesofGreekmannersandcustomswithhisliteraryvarnish。Sciencewasexpectedtobeeitherepigrammaticororatorical;crudeortechnicaldetailswouldhavebeenobjectionabletoapubliccomposedofpeopleofthegoodsociety;correctnessofstylethereforedroveoutorfalsifiedthosesmallsignificantfactswhichgiveapeculiarsenseandtheiroriginalrelieftoancientpersonalities。——Evenifwritershaddaredtonotethem,theirsenseandbearingwouldnothavebeenunderstood。Thesympatheticimaginationdidnotexist[9];peoplewereincapableofgoingoutofthemselves,ofbetakingthemselvestodistantpointsofview,ofconjecturingthepeculiarandviolentstatesofthehumanbrain,thedecisiveandfruitfulmomentduringwhichitgivesbirthtoavigorouscreation,areligiondestinedtorule,astatethatissuretoendure。TheimaginationofManislimitedtopersonalexperiences,andwhereintheirexperience,couldindividualsinthissocietyhavefoundthematerialwhichwouldhaveallowedthemtoimaginetheconvulsionsofadelivery?Howcouldminds,aspolishedandasamiableasthese,fullyadoptthesentimentsofanapostle,ofamonk,ofabarbarianorfeudalfounder;seetheseinthemilieuwhichexplainsandjustifiesthem;picturetothemselvesthesurroundingcrowd,atfirstsoulsindespairandhauntedbymysticdreams,andnexttherudeandviolentintellectsgivenuptoinstinctandimagery,thinkingwithhalf—visions,theirresolveconsistingofirresistibleimpulses?A
speculativereasoningofthisstampcouldnotimaginefigureslikethese。Tobringthemwithinitsrectilinearlimitstheyrequiretobereducedandmadeover;theMacbethofShakespearebecomesthatofDucis,andtheMahometoftheKoranthatofVoltaire。Consequently,astheyfailedtoseesouls,theymisconceivedinstitutions。Thesuspicionthattruthcouldhavebeenconveyedonlythroughthemediumoflegends,thatjusticecouldhavebeenestablishedonlybyforce,thatreligionwasobligedtoassumethesacerdotalform,thattheStatenecessarilytookamilitaryform,andthattheGothicedificepossessed,aswellasotherstructures,itsownarchitecture,proportions,balanceofparts,solidity,andevenbeauty,neverenteredtheirheads。——Furthermore,unabletocomprehendthepast,theycouldnotcomprehendthepresent。Theyknewnothingaboutthemechanic,theprovincialbourgeois,oreventhelessernobility;thesewereseenonlyfarawayinthedistance,half—effaced,andwhollytransformedthroughphilosophictheoriesandsentimentalhaze。"Twoorthreethousand"[10]polishedandcultivatedindividualsformedthecircleofladiesandgentlemen,theso—calledhonestfolks,andtheyneverwentoutsideoftheirowncircle。Iftheyfleetinghadaglimpseofthepeoplefromtheirchateauxandontheirjourneys,itwasinpassing,thesameasoftheirpost—horses,orofthecattleontheirfarms,showingcompassionundoubtedly,butneverdiviningtheiranxiousthoughtsandtheirobscureinstincts。Thestructureofthestillprimitivemindofthepeoplewasneverimagined,thepaucityandtenacityoftheirideas,thenarrownessoftheirmechanical,routineexistence,devotedtomanuallabor,absorbedwiththeanxietiesfordailybread,confinedtotheboundsofavisiblehorizon;theirattachmenttothelocalsaint,torites,tothepriest,theirdeep—
seatedrancor,theirinveteratedistrust,theircredulitygrowingoutoftheimagination,theirinabilitytocomprehendabstractrights,thelawandpublicaffairs,thehiddenoperationbywhichtheirbrainswouldtransformpoliticalnoveltiesintonurseryfablesorintoghoststories,theircontagiousinfatuationslikethoseofsheep,theirblindfurylikethatofbulls,andallthosetraitsofcharactertheRevolutionwasabouttobringtolight。Twentymillionsofmenandmorehadscarcelypassedoutofthementalconditionofthemiddleages;hence,initsgrandlines,thesocialedificeinwhichtheycoulddwellhadnecessarilytobemediaeval。Ithadtobecleanedup,windowsputinandwallspulleddown,butwithoutdisturbingthefoundations,orthemainbuildinganditsgeneralarrangement;
otherwiseafterdemolishingitandlivingencampedfortenyearsintheopenairlikesavages,itsinmateswouldhavebeenobligedtorebuilditonthesameplan。Inuneducatedminds,thosehavingnotyetattainedtoreflection,faithattachesitselfonlytothecorporealsymbol,obediencebeingbroughtaboutonlythroughphysicalrestraint;
religionisupheldbythepriestandtheStatebythepoliceman。——
Onewriteronly,Montesquieu,thebestinstructed,themostsagacious,andthebestbalancedofallthespiritsoftheage,madethesetruthsapparent,becausehewasatonceanerudite,anobserver,ahistorianandajurisconsult。Hespoke,however,asanoracle,inmaximsandriddles;andeverytimehetouchedmattersbelongingtohiscountryandepochhehoppedaboutasifuponredhotcoals。Thatiswhyheremainedrespectedbutisolated,hisfameexercisingnoinfluence。Theclassicreasonrefused[11]togosofarastomakeacarefulstudyofboththeancientandthecontemporaryhumanbeing。Itfounditeasierandmoreconvenienttofollowitsoriginalbent,toshutitseyesonmanasheis,tofallbackonitsstoresofcurrentnotions,toderivefromtheseanideaofmaningeneral,andbuildinemptyspace。——
Throughthisnaturalandcompletestateofblindnessitnolongerheedstheoldandlivingrootsofcontemporaryinstitutions;nolongerseeingthemmakesitdenytheirexistence。Customnowappearsaspureprejudice;thetitlesoftraditionarelost,androyaltyseemsbasedonrobbery。SofromnowonReasonisarmedandatwarwithitspredecessortowrenchawayitscontroloverthemindsandtoreplacearuleoflieswitharuleoftruth。
IV。CASTINGOUTTHERESIDUEOFTRUTHANDJUSTICE。
Twostagesinthisoperation。—Voltaire,Montesquieu,thedeistsandthereformersrepresentthefirstone。—Whattheydestroyandwhattheyrespect。
Inthisgreatundertakingtherearetwostages。Owingtocommonsenseortimiditymanystophalf—way。Motivatedbypassionorlogicothersgototheend。——Afirstcampaignresultsincarryingtheenemy’sout—worksandhisfrontierfortresses,thephilosophicalarmybeingledbyVoltaire。Tocombathereditaryprejudice,otherprejudicesareopposedtoitwhoseempireisasextensiveandwhoseauthorityisnotlessrecognized。MontesquieulooksatFrancethroughtheeyesofaPersian,andVoltaire,onhisreturnfromEngland,describestheEnglish,anunknownspecies。Confrontingdogmaandtheprevailingsystemofworship,accountsaregiven,eitherwithopenorwithdisguisedirony,ofthevariousChristiansects,theAnglicans,theQuakers,thePresbyterians,theSocinians,thoseofancientorofremotepeople,theGreeks,Romans,Egyptians,Muslims,andGuebers,oftheworshippersofBrahma,oftheChineseandofpureidolaters。Inrelationtoestablishedlawsandcustoms,expositionsaremade,withevidentintentions,ofotherconstitutionsandothersocialhabits,ofdespotism,oflimitedmonarchy,ofarepublic,herethechurchsubjecttothestate,therethechurchfreeofthestate,inthiscountrycastes,inanotherpolygamy,and,fromcountrytocountry,fromcenturytocentury,thediversity,contradictionandantagonismoffundamentalcustomswhich,eachonitsownground,areallequallyconsecratedbytradition,alllegitimatelyformingthesystemofpublicrights。Fromnowonthecharmisbroken。Ancientinstitutionslosetheirdivineprestige;theyaresimplyhumanworks,thefruitsoftheplaceandofthemoment,andbornoutofconvenienceandacovenant。Skepticismentersthroughallthebreaches。WithregardtoChristianityitatonceentersintoopenhostility,intoabitterandprolongedpolemicalwarfare;for,underthetitleofastatereligionthisoccupiestheground,censuringfreethought,burningwritings,exiling,imprisoningordisturbingauthors,andeverywhereactingasanaturalandofficialadversary。Moreover,byvirtueofbeinganasceticreligion,itcondemnsnotonlythefreeandcheerfulwaystoleratedbythenewphilosophybutagainthenaturaltendenciesitsanctions,andthepromisesofterrestrialfelicitywithwhichiteverywheredazzlestheeyes。Thustheheartandtheheadbothagreeintheiropposition。——Voltaire,withtextsinhand,pursuesitfromoneendtotheotherofitshistory,fromthefirstbiblicalnarrationtothelatestpapalbulls,withunflagginganimosityandenergy,ascritic,ashistorian,asgeographer,aslogician,asmoralist,questioningitssources,opposingevidences,drivingridiculelikeapick—axintoeveryweakspotwhereanoutragedinstinctbeatsagainstitsmysticwalls,andintoalldoubtfulplaceswhereulteriorpatchworkdisfigurestheprimitivestructure。——Herespects,however,thefirstfoundation,and,inthisparticular,thegreatestwritersofthedayfollowthesamecourse。Underpositivereligionsthatarefalsethereisanaturalreligionthatistrue。Thisisthesimpleandauthentictextofwhichtheothersarealteredandamplifiedtranslations。Removetheulterioranddivergentexcessesandtheoriginalremains;thiscommonessence,onwhichallcopiesharmonize,isdeism。——Thesameoperationistobemadeoncivilandpoliticallaw。InFrance,wheresomanysurvivetheirutility,whereprivilegesarenolongerpaidforwithservice,whererightsarechangedintoabuses,howincoherentisthearchitectureoftheoldGothicbuilding!Howpoorlyadaptedtoamodernnation!Ofwhatuse,inanuniqueandcompactstate,arethosefeudalcompartmentsseparatingorders,corporationsandprovinces?Whatalivingparadoxisthearchbishopofasemi—province,achapterowning12,000serfs,adrawingroomabbéwellsupportedbyamonasteryheneversaw,alordliberallypensionedtofigureinantechambers,amagistratepurchasingtherighttoadministerjustice,acolonelleavingcollegetotakethecommandofhisinheritedregiment,aParisiantraderwho,rentingahouseforoneyearinFranche—Comté,alienatesthroughthisactalonetheownershipofhispropertyandofhisperson。ThroughoutEuropethereareothersofthesamecharacter。Thebestthatcanbesaidof"acivilizednation"[12]isthatitslaws,customsandpracticesarecomposed"one—halfofabusesandone—halfoftolerableusage"。——
But,underneaththeseconcretelaws,whichcontradicteachother,andofwhicheachcontradictsitself,anaturallawexists,impliedinthecodes,appliedsocially,andwritteninallhearts。
"Showmeacountrywhereitishonesttostealthefruitsofmylabor,toviolateengagements,tolieforinjuriouspurposes,tocalumniate,toassassinate,topoison,tobeungratefultoone’sbenefactor,tostrikeone’sfatherandmotheronofferingyoufood"。—
"Justiceandinjusticeisthesamethroughouttheuniverse,"
and,asintheworstcommunityforcealways,insomerespects,isattheserviceofright,so,intheworstreligion,theextravagantdogmaalwaysinsomefashionproclaimsasupremearchitect。——
Religionsandcommunities,accordingly,disintegratedundertheinvestigatingprocess,discloseatthebottomofthecrucible,someresidueoftruth,othersaresidueofjustice,asmallbutpreciousbalance,asortofgoldingotofpreservedtradition,purifiedbyReason,andwhichlittlebylittle,freedfromitsalloys,elaboratedanddevotedtoallusage,mustsolelyprovidethesubstanceofreligionandallthreadsofthesocialwarp。
V。THEDREAMOFARETURNTONATURE。
Thesecondstage,areturntonature。—Diderot,d’Holbachandthematerialists。—Theoryofanimatedmatterandspontaneousorganization。—Themoralofanimalinstinctandself—interestproperlyunderstood。
Herebeginsthesecondphilosophicexpedition。Itconsistsoftwoarmies:thefirstcomposedoftheencyclopedists,someofthemskepticsliked’Alembert,otherspantheistslikeDiderotandLamarck,thesecondopenatheistsandmaterialistsliked’Holbach,LamettrieandHelvétius,andlaterCondorcet,LalandeandVolney,alldifferentandindependentofeachother,butunanimousinregardingtraditionasthecommonenemy。Asaresultofprolongedhostilitiesthepartiesbecomeincreasinglyexasperatedandfeeladesiretobemasterofeverything,topushtheadversarytothewall,todrivehimoutofallhispositions。TheyrefusetoadmitthatReasonandtraditioncanoccupyanddefendthesamecitadeltogether;assoonasoneenterstheothermustdepart;henceforthoneprejudiceisestablishedagainstanotherprejudice。——Infact,Voltaire,"thepatriarch,doesnotdesiretoabandonhisredeemingandavengingGod;"[13]letustolerateinhimthisremnantofsuperstitiononaccountofhisgreatservices;
letusneverthelessexaminethisphantominmanwhichheregardswithinfantilevision。Weadmititintoourmindsthroughfaith,andfaithisalwayssuspicious。Itisforgedbyignorance,fear,andimagination,whicharealldeceptivepowers。Atfirstitwassimplythefetishofsavages;invainhavewestriventopurifyandaggrandizeit;itsoriginisalwaysapparent;itshistoryisthatofahereditarydreamwhich,arisinginarudeanddotingbrain,prolongsitselffromgenerationtogeneration,andstilllastsinthehealthyandcultivatedbrain。Voltairewantedthatthisdreamshouldbetruebecause,otherwise,hecouldnotexplaintheadmirableorderoftheworld。Sinceawatchsuggestsawatchmakerhehadfirstlytoprovethattheworldisawatchand,thenseeifthehalf—finishedarrangement,suchasitisandwhichwehaveobserved,couldnotbetterbeexplainedbyasimplertheory,moreinconformitywithexperience,thatofeternalmatterinwhichmotioniseternal。Mobileandactiveparticles,ofwhichthedifferentkindsareindifferentstatesofequilibrium,theseareminerals,inorganicsubstances,marble,lime,air,waterandcoal。[14]Iformhumusoutofthis,"I
sowpeas,beansandcabbages;"plantsfindtheirnourishmentinthehumus,and"Ifindmynourishmentintheplants。"Ateverymeal,withinme,andthroughme,inanimatematterbecomesanimate;"I
convertitintoflesh。Ianimalizeit。Irenderitsensitive。"Itharborslatent,imperfectsensibilityrenderedperfectandmademanifest。Organizationisthecause,andlifeandsensationaretheeffects;IneednospiritualmonadtoaccountforeffectssinceIaminpossessionofthecause。"Lookatthisegg,withwhichallschoolsoftheologyandallthetemplesoftheearthcanbeoverthrown。Whatisthisegg?Aninanimatemassprevioustotheintroductionofthegerm。Andwhatisitaftertheintroductionofthegerm?Aninsensiblemass,aninertfluid。"Addheattoit,keepitinanoven,andlettheoperationcontinueofitself,andwehaveachicken,thatistosay,"sensibility,life,memory,conscience,passionsandthought。"Thatwhichyoucallsoulisthenervouscenterinwhichallsensitivechordsconcentrate。Theirvibrationsproducesensations;aquickenedorrevivingsensationismemory;ourideasaretheresultofsensations,memoryandsigns。Matter,accordingly,isnottheworkofanintelligence,butmatter,throughitsownarrangement,producesintelligence。Letusfixintelligencewhereitis,intheorganizedbody;wemustnotdetachitfromitssupporttoperchitintheskyonanimaginarythrone。Thisdisproportionateconception,onceintroducedintoourminds,endsinpervertingthenaturalplayofoursentiments,and,likeamonstrousparasite,abstractsforitselfalloursubstance。[15]Thefirstinterestofasanepersonistogetridofit,todiscardeverysuperstition,every"fearofinvisiblepowers。"[16]——Thenonlycanheestablishamoralorderofthingsanddistinguish"thenaturallaw。"Theskyconsistingofemptyspace,wehavenoneedtoseekcommandsfromonhigh。Letuslookdowntotheground;letusconsidermaninhimself,asheappearsintheeyesofthenaturalist,namely,anorganizedbody,asensitiveanimalpossessingwants,appetitesandinstincts。Notonlyaretheseindestructiblebuttheyarelegitimate。Letusthrowopentheprisoninwhichprejudiceconfinesthem;letusgivethemfreeairandspace;
letthembedisplayedinalltheirstrengthandallwillgowell。
AccordingtoDiderot,[17]alastingmarriageisanabuse,being"thetyrannyofamanwhohasconvertedthepossessionofawomanintoproperty。"Purityisaninventionandconventional,likeadress;[18]
happinessandmoralsgotogetheronlyincountrieswhereinstinctissanctioned;asinTahiti,forinstance,wheremarriagelastsbutamonth,oftenonlyaday,andsometimesaquarterofanhour,where,intheeveningandwithhospitableintent,ahostoffershisdaughtersandwifetohisguests,wherethesonespouseshismotheroutofpoliteness,wheretheunionofthesexesisareligiousfestivitycelebratedinpublic。——And,pushingthingstoextremes,thelogicianendswithfiveorsixpagescalculated"tomakeone’shairstandonend,"[19]himselfavowingthathisdoctrineis"neithersuitedforchildrennorforadults。"——WithDiderot,tosaytheleast,theseparadoxeshavetheircorrectives。Inhispicturesofmodernwaysandhabits,heisthemoralist。Henotonlyisfamiliarwithallthechordsofthehumankeyboard,butheclassifieseachaccordingtoitsrank。Helovesfineandpuretones,andisfullofenthusiasmfornobleharmonies;hisheartisequaltohisgenius。[20]Andbetterstill,onthequestionofprimitiveimpulsesarising,heassigns,sidebysidewithvanity,anindependentandsuperiorpositiontopity,friendship,kindnessandcharity;toeverygenerousaffectionoftheheartdisplayingsacrificeanddevotionwithoutcalculationorpersonalbenefit。——Butassociatedwithhimareothers,coldandnarrow,whoformmoralsystemsaccordingtothemathematicalmethodsoftheideologists,[21]afterthestyleofHobbes。Onemotivealonesatisfiesthese,thesimplestandmostpalpable,utterlygross,almostmechanical,completelyphysiological,thenaturalanimaltendencyofavoidingpainandseekingpleasure:
"Painandpleasure,"saysHelvétius,"formtheonlyspringsofthemoraluniverse,whilethesentimentofvanityistheonlybasisonwhichwecanlaythefoundationsofmoralusefulness。Whatmotivebutthatofself—interestcouldleadamantoperformagenerousaction?
Hecanaslittlelovegoodforthesakeofgoodasevilforthesakeofevil。"[22]"Theprinciplesofnaturallaw,saythedisciples,arereducedtooneuniqueandfundamentalprinciple,self—
preservation。"[23]"Topreserveoneself,tobehappy,"isinstinct,rightandduty。"Oh,yea,"[24]saysnature,"who,throughtheimpulsionIbestowonyou,tendingtowardshappinessateverymomentofyourbeing,resistnotmysovereignlaw,striveforyourownfelicity,enjoyfearlesslyandbehappy!"Buttobehappy,contributetothehappinessofothers;ifyouwishthemtobeusefultoyou,beusefultothem。"everyman,frombirthtodeath,hasneedofmankind。"
"Livethenforthem,thattheymayliveforyou。""Begood,becausegoodnesslinksheartstogether;begentle,becausegentlenesswinsaffection;bemodest,becausepriderepelsbeingsfulloftheirself—
importance……Becitizens,becauseyourcountryisnecessarytoensureyoursafetyandwell—being。Defendyourcountry,becauseitrendersyouhappyandcontainsyourpossessions。"
Virtuethusissimplyegotismfurnishedwithatelescope;manhasnootherreasonfordoinggoodbutthefearofdoinghimselfharm,whileself—devotionconsistsofself—interest。
Onegoesfastandfaronthisroad。Whenthesolelawforeachpersonistobehappy,eachwishestobesoimmediatelyandinhisownway;theherdofappetitesisletloose,rushingaheadandbreakingdownallbarriers。Andthemorereadilybecauseithasbeendemonstratedtothemthateverybarrierisanevil,inventedbycunningandmaliciousshepherds,thebettertomilkandshearthem:
"Thestateofsocietyisastateofwarfareofthesovereignagainstall,andofeachmemberagainsttherest。[25]……Weseeonthefaceoftheglobeonlyincapable,unjustsovereigns,enervatedbyluxury,corruptedbyflattery,depravedthroughunpunishedlicense,andwithouttalent,morals,orgoodqualities……Maniswickednotbecauseheiswicked,butbecausehehasbeenmadeso。"—"Wouldyouknowthestory,inbrief,ofalmostallourwretchedness?Hereitis。
Thereexistedthenaturalman,andintothismanwasintroducedanartificialman,whereuponacivilwararosewithinhim,lastingthroughlife。[26]……Ifyouproposetobecomeatyrantoverhim,……doyourbesttopoisonhimwithatheoryofmoralsagainstnature;
imposeeverykindoffetteronhim;embarrasshismovementswithathousandobstacles;placephantomsaroundhimtofrightenhim……
Wouldyouseehimhappyandfree?Donotmeddlewithhisaffairs……
Remainconvincedofthis,(wroteDiderot)thatthesewiselegislatorshaveformedandshapedyouastheyhavedone,notforyourbenefit,butfortheirown。Iappealtoeverycivil,religious,andpoliticalinstitution;examinetheseclosely,and,ifIamnotmistaken,youwillfindthehumanspecies,centuryaftercentury,subjecttoayokewhichamerehandfulofknaveschosetoimposeonit……Bewaryofhimwhoseekstoestablishorder;toorderistoobtainthemasteryofothersbygivingthemtrouble。"
Therenothinganymoretobeashamedof;thepassionsaregood,andiftheherdwouldeatfreely,itsfirstcaremustbetotrampleunderitswoodenshoesthemiteredandcrownedanimalswhokeepitinthefoldfortheirownadvantage。[27]
VI。THEABOLITIONOFSOCIETY。ROUSSEAU。
Rousseauandthespiritualists。—Theoriginalgoodnessofman。—
Themistakecommittedbycivilization。—Theinjusticeofpropertyandofsociety。
Areturntonature,meaningbythistheabolitionofsociety,isthewar—cryofthewholeencyclopedicbattalion。Thesameshoutisheardinanotherquarter,comingthebattalionofRousseauandthesocialistswho,intheirturn,marchuptotheassaultoftheestablishedrégime。Theminingandthesappingofthewallspracticedbythelatterseemslessextensive,butareneverthelessmoreeffective,andthedestructivemachineryitemploysconsistsofanewconceptionofhumannature。ThisRousseauhasdrawnexclusivelyfromthespectacleinhisownheart:[28]Rousseau,astrange,originalandsuperiorman,who,fromhisinfancy,harboredwithinhimagermofinsanity,andwhofinallybecamewhollyinsane;awonderful,ill—
balancedmindinwhichsensations,emotionsandimagesaretoopowerful:atonceblindandperspicacious,averitablepoetandamorbidpoet,who,insteadofthingsandeventsbeheldreveries,livinginaromanceanddyinginanightmareofhisowncreation;incapableofcontrollingandofbehavinghimself,confoundingresolutionwithaction,vaguedesirewithresolution,andtheroleheassumedwiththecharacterhethoughthepossessed;whollydisproportionatetotheordinarywaysofsociety,hitting,woundingandsoilinghimselfagainsteveryhindranceonhisway;attimesextravagant,meanandcriminal,yetpreservinguptotheendadelicateandprofoundsensibility,ahumanity,pity,thegiftoftears,thefacultyofliving,thepassionforjustice,thesentimentofreligionandofenthusiasm,likesomanyvigorousrootsinwhichgeneroussapisalwaysfermenting,whilstthestemandthebranchesproveabortiveandbecomedeformedorwitherundertheinclemencyoftheatmosphere。Howexplainsuchacontrast?HowdidRousseauhimselfaccountforit?A
critic,apsychologistwouldmerelyregardhimasasingularcase,theeffectofanextraordinarilydiscordantmentalformation,analogoustothatofHamlet,Chatterton,RenéorWerther,adoptedtopoeticspheres,butunsuitableforreallife。Rousseaugeneralizes;occupiedwithhimself,eventoinfatuation,and,seeingonlyhimself,heimaginesmankindtobelikehimself,and"describesitasthefeelsitinsidehimself"。Hispride,moreover,findsthisprofitable;heisgratifiedatconsideringhimselftheprototypeofhumanity;thestatueheerectsofhimselfbecomesmoreimportant;herisesinhisownestimationwhen,inconfessingtohimself,hethinksheisconfessingthehumanspecies。Rousseauconvokestheassemblyofgenerationswiththetrumpetofthedayofjudgment,andboldlystandsupintheeyesofallmenandoftheSupremeJudge,exclaiming,"Letanyonesay,ifhedares:’IwasabettermanthanThou!’"[29]Allhisblemishesmustbethefaultofsociety;hisvicesandhisbasenessmustbeattributedtocircumstances:
"IfIhadfallenintothehandsofabettermaster……IshouldhavebeenagoodChristian,agoodfather,agoodfriend,agoodworkman,agoodmaninallthings。"
Thewrongisthusallonthesideofsociety。——Inthesameway,withManingeneral,hisnatureisgood。
"Hisfirstimpulsesarealwaysright……ThefundamentalprincipleofallmoralquestionswhichIhavearguedinallmywritings,isthatManisnaturallygood,andlovingjusticeandorder……’Emile,’especially,isatreatiseonthenaturalgoodnessofMan,intendedtoshowhowviceanderror,foreigntohisconstitution,graduallyfindtheirwayintoitfromwithoutandinsensiblychangehim……NaturecreatedManhappyandgood,whilesocietyhasdepravedhimandmadehimmiserable。"[30]
Imaginehimdivestedofhisfactitioushabits,ofhissuperaddednecessities,ofhisfalseprejudices;putasidesystems,studyyourownheart,listentotheinwarddictatesoffeeling,letyourselfbeguidedbythelightofinstinctandofconscience,andyouwillagainfindthefirstAdam,likeanincorruptiblemarblestatuethathasfallenintoamarsh,alongtimelostunderacrustofslimeandmud,butwhich,releasedfromitsfoulcovering,maybereplacedonitspedestalinthecompletenessofitsformandintheperfectpurityofitswhiteness。
Aroundthiscentralideaareformoccursinthespiritualisticdoctrine。——Abeingsonoblecannotpossiblyconsistofasimplecollectionoforgans;heissomethingmorethanmerematter;theimpressionhederivesfromhissensesdonotconstitutehisfullbeing。
"Iamnotmerelyasensitiveandpassivebeing,butanactiveandintelligentbeing,and,whateverphilosophymaysay,Idareclaimthehonorofthinking。"
Andbetterstill,thisthinkingprinciple,inMan,atleast,isofasuperiorkind。
"Showmeanotheranimalontheglobecapableofproducingfireandofadmiringthesun。What?Iwhoamabletoobserve,tocomprehendbeingsandtheirassociations;whocanappreciateorder,beautyandvirtue;whocancontemplatetheuniverseandexaltmyselftothehandwhichcontrolsit;whocanlovethegoodanddogood,shouldIcomparemyselftobrutes!"Manisfree,capableofdecidingbetweentwoactions,andthereforethecreatorofhisactions;heisaccordinglyafirstandoriginalcause,"animmaterialsubstance,"distinctfromthebody,asoulhamperedbythebodyandwhichmaysurvivethebody。
——Thisimmortalsoulimprisonedwithinthefleshhasconscienceforitsorgan。"OConscience,divineinstinct,immortalandcelestialvoice,unfailingguideofanignorantandfinitebutfreeandintelligentbeing,infalliblejudgebetweengoodandevil,andrenderingMansimilartoGod,Thouforemostthesuperiorityofhisnature!"
Alongsideofvanity,bywhichwesubordinateeverythingtoourselves,thereisaloveoforderbywhichwesubordinateourselvestothewhole。Alongsideofegoism,bywhichManseekshappinessevenattheexpenseofothers,issympathy,bywhichheseeksthehappinessofothersevenattheexpenseofhisown。Personalenjoymentdoesnotsufficehim;hestillneedstranquillityofconscienceandtheeffusionsoftheheart。——SuchisManasGoddesignedandcreatedhim;inhisorganizationthereisnodefect。Inferiorelementsareasserviceableasthesuperiorelements;allareessential,proportionate,inproperplace,notonlytheheart,theconscience,theintellect,andthefacultiesbywhichwesurpassbrutes,butagaintheinclinationsincommonwithanimals,theinstinctofself—
preservationandofself—defense,theneedofphysicalactivity,sexualappetite,andotherprimitiveimpulsesasweobservetheminthechild,thesavageandtheuncultivatedMan。[31]Noneoftheseinthemselvesareeitherviciousorinjurious。Nonearetoostrong,eventheloveofself。Nonecomeintoplayoutofseason。Ifwewouldnotinterferewiththem,ifwewouldimposenoconstraintonthem,ifwewouldpermitthesesparklingfountainstoflowaccordingtotheirbent,ifwewouldnotconfinethemtoourartificialandfoulchannels,weshouldneverseethemboilingoverandbecomingturbid。
Welookwithwonderontheirravagesandontheirstains;weforgetthat,inthebeginning,theywerepureandundefiled。Thefaultiswithus,inoursocialarrangements,inourencrustedandformalchannelswherebywecausedeviationsandwindings,andmakethemheaveandbound。"Yourverygovernmentsarethecauseoftheevilswhichtheypretendtoremedy。Yesceptersofiron!yeabsurdlaws,yewereproachforourinabilitytofulfillourdutiesonearth!"Awaywiththesedikes,theworkoftyrannyandroutine!Anemancipatednaturewillatonceresumeadirectandhealthycourseandman,withouteffort,willfindhimselfnotonlyhappybutvirtuousaswell。[32]Onthisprincipletheattackbegins:thereisnonethatispushedfurther,norconductedwithmorebitterhostility。Thusfarexistinginstitutionsaredescribedsimplyasoppressiveandunreasonable;butnowtheyarenowtheyareaccusedofbeingunjustandcorruptingaswell。Reasonandthenaturaldesiresweretheonlyinsurgents;
conscienceandpridearenowinrebellion。WithVoltaireandMontesquieuallImighthopeforisthatfewerevilsmightbeanticipated。WithDiderotandd’HolbachthehorizondisclosesonlyaglowingElDoradooracomfortableCythera。WithRousseauIbeholdwithinreachanEdenwhereIshallimmediatelyrecoveranobilityinseparablefrommyhappiness。Itismyright;natureandProvidencesummonmetoit;itismyheritage。Onearbitraryinstitutionalonekeepsmeawayfromit,thecreatorofmyvicesasofmymisery。WithwhatrageandfuryIwilloverthrowthisancientbarrier!——Wedetectthisinthevehementtone,intheembitteredstyle,andinthesombreeloquenceofthenewdoctrine。Funandgamesarenolongerinvogue,aserioustoneismaintained;peoplebecomeexasperated,whilethepowerfulvoicenowheardpenetratesbeyondthedrawing—room,totherudeandsufferingcrowdtowhichnowordhadyetbeenspoken,whosemuteresentmentforthefirsttimefindsaninterpreter,andwhosedestructiveinstinctsaresoontobesetinmotionatthesummonsofitsherald。——Rousseauisamanofthepeople,andnotamanofhighsociety。Hefeelsawkwardinadrawing—room。[33]Heisnotcapableofconversingandofappearingamiable;theniceexpressionsonlycomeintohisheadtoolate,onthestaircaseasheleavesthehouse;hekeepssilentwithasulkyairoruttersstupidities,redeeminghisawkwardnesswiththesalliesofaclownorwiththephrasesofavulgarpedant。Eleganceannoyshim,luxurymakeshimuncomfortable,politenessisalie,conversationmereprattle,easeofmanneragrimace,gaietyaconvention,witaparade,sciencesomuchcharlatanry,philosophyanaffectionandmoralsuttercorruption。Allisfactitious,falseandunwholesome,[34]fromthemake—up,toiletandbeautyofwomentotheatmosphereoftheapartmentsandtheragoutsonthedinner—table,insentimentasinamusement,inliteratureasinmusic,ingovernmentasinreligion。Thiscivilization,whichboastsofitssplendor,issimplytherestlessnessofover—excited,servilemonkeyseachimitatingtheother,andeachcorruptingtheotherto,throughsophistication,endupinworryandboredom。Humanculture,accordingly,isinitselfbad,whilethefruititproducesismerelyexcrescenceorpoison。——Ofwhatusearethesciences?Uncertainanduseless,theyaffordmerelyapasture—groundforidlersandwranglers。[35]
"Whowouldwanttopassalifetimeinsterileobservation,ifthey,apartfromtheirdutiesandnature’sdemands,hadhadtobestowtheirtimeontheircountry,ontheunfortunateandontheirfriends!"
——Ofwhatusearethefinearts?Theyserveonlyaspublicflatteryofdominantpassions。"Themorepleasingandthemoreperfectthedrama,themorebanefulitsinfluence;"thetheater,evenwithMolière,isaschoolofbadmorals,"inasmuchasitexcitesdeceitfulsoulstoridicule,inthenameofcomedy,thecandorofartlesspeople。"Tragedy,saidtobemoralizing,wastesincounterfeiteffusionsthelittlevirtuethatstillremains。"Whenamanhasbeenadmiringthenoblefeatsinthefableswhatmoreisexpectedofhim?
Afterpayinghomagetovirtueishenotdischargedfromallthatheowestoit?Whatmorewouldtheyhavehimdo?Musthepracticeithimself?Hehasnoparttoplay,heisnotacomedian。"——Thesciences,thefinearts,theartsofluxury,philosophy,literature,allthisserveonlytoeffeminateanddistractthemind;allthatisonlymadeforthesmallcrowdofbrilliantandnoisyinsectsbuzzingaroundthesummitsofsocietyandsuckingawayallpublicsubstance。
——Asregardsthesciences,butoneisimportant,thatofourduties,and,withoutsomanysubtletiesandsomuchstudy,ourinnermostconsciencesufficetoshowustheway。——Asregardstheartsandtheskills,onlythoseshouldbetoleratedwhich,ministeringtoourprimenecessities,provideuswithbreadtofeedus,witharooftoshelterus,clothingtocoverus,andarmswithwhichtodefendourselves。——Inthewayofexistencethatonlyishealthywhichenablesustoliveinthecountry,artlessly,withoutdisplay,infamilyunion,devotedtocultivation,livingontheproductsofthesoilandamongneighborsthatareequalsandwithservantsthatonetrustsasfriends。[36]——Asfortheclasses,butoneisrespectable,thatoflaboringmen,especiallythatofmenworkingwiththeirownhands,artisansandmechanics,onlythesebeingreallyofservice,theonlyoneswho,throughtheirsituation,areincloseproximitytothenaturalstate,andwhopreserve,underaroughexterior,thewarmth,thegoodnessandtheintegrityofprimitiveinstincts。——Accordingly,letuscallbyitstruenamethiselegance,thisluxury,thisurbanity,thisliterarydelicacy,thisphilosophicaleccentricity,admiredbytheprejudicedastheflowerofthelifeofhumanity;itisonlymoldandmildew。Inlikemanneresteematitsjustvaluetheswarmthatliveuponit,namely,theindolentaristocracy,thefashionableworld,theprivilegedwhodirectandmakeadisplay,theidlersofthedrawingroomwhotalk,divertthemselvesandregardthemselvesastheelectofhumanity,butwhoaresimplysomanyparasites。Whetherparasiticorexcretory,oneattractstheother,andthetreecanonlybewellifwegetridofboth。
Ifcivilizationisbad,societyisworse。[37]Forthiscouldnothavebeenestablishedexceptbydestroyingprimitiveequality,whileitstwoprincipalinstitutions,propertyandgovernment,areencroachments。
"Hewhofirstenclosedaplotofground,andwhotookitintohistosaythisbelongstome,andwhofoundpeoplesimpleenoughtobelievehim,[38]wasthetruefounderofcivilsociety。Whatcrimes,whatwars,whatmurders,whatmiseryandwhathorrorswouldhavebeensparedthehumanraceifhewho,pullingupthelandmarkandfillinguptheditch,hadcriedouttohisfellows:Bewaryofthatimpostor;
youarelostifyouforgetthatnoonehasarighttothelandandthatitsfruitsarethepropertyofall!"——Thefirstownershipwasarobberybywhichanindividualabstractedfromthecommunityaportionofthepublicdomain。Nothingcouldjustifytheoutrage,nothingaddedbyhimtothesoil,neitherhisindustry,norhistrouble,norhisvalor。"Invainmayheassertthathebuiltthiswall,andacquiredthislandbyhislabor。Whomarkeditoutforhim,onemightask,andhowdoyoucometobepaidforlaborwhichwasneverimposedonyou?Areyounotawarethatamultitudeofyourbrethrenaresufferingandperishingwithwantbecauseyouhavetoomuch,andthattheexpressandunanimousconsentofthewholehumanspeciesisrequisitebeforeappropriatingtoyourselfmorethanyourshareofthecommonsubsistence?"——
Underneaththistheorywerecognizethepersonalattitude,thegrudgeofthepoorembitteredcommoner,who,onenteringsociety,findstheplacesalltaken,andwhoisincapableofcreatingoneforhimself;who,inhisconfessions,marksthedaywhenheceasedtofeelhungry;who,forlackofsomethingbetter,livesinconcubinagewithaserving—womanandplaceshisfivechildreninanorphanage;whoisinturnservant,clerk,vagabond,teacherandcopyist,alwaysonthelook—out,usinghiswitstomaintainhisindependence,disgustedwiththecontrastbetweenwhatheisoutwardlyandwhathefeelshimselfinwardly,avoidingenvyonlybydisparagement,andpreservinginthefoldsofhisheartanoldgrudge"againsttherichandthefortunateinthisworldasiftheyweresoathisexpense,asiftheirassumedhappinesshadbeenaninfringementonhishappiness。"[39]——Notonlyisthereinjusticeintheoriginofpropertybutagainthereisinjusticeinthepoweritsecurestoitself,thewrongincreasinglikeacankerunderthepartialityoflaw。
"Arenotalltheadvantagesofsocietyfortherichandforthepowerful?[40]Dotheynotabsorbtothemselvesalllucrativepositions?Isnotthepublicauthoritywhollyintheirinterest?Ifamanofpositionrobshiscreditorsorcommitsotheroffensesishenotcertainofimpunity?Arenottheblowshebestows,hisviolentassaults,themurdersandtheassassinationsheisguiltyof,mattersthatarehushedupandforgotteninafewmonths?——Letthissamemanberobbedandtheentirepolicesettowork,andwoetothepoorinnocentstheysuspect!——Hashetopassadangerousplace,escortsoverrunthecountry。—Iftheaxleofhiscoachbreaksdowneverybodyrunstohelphim。——Isanoisemadeathisgate,awordfromhimandallissilent。——Doesthecrowdannoyhim,hemakesasignandorderreigns。——Doesacarterchancetocrosshispath,hisattendantsarereadytoknockhimdown,whilefiftyhonestpedestriansmightbecrushedratherthandelayingarascalinhiscarriage。——
Alltheseconsiderationsdonotcosthimapenny。;theyarearichman’sentitlementsandnotthepriceforbeingrich。——Whatadifferentpictureofthepoor!Themorehumanityowesthemthemoreitrefusesthem。Alldoorsareclosedtothemevenwhentheyhavetherighttohavethemopened,andiftheysometimesobtainjusticetheyhavemoretroublethanothersinobtainingfavors。Ifthereisstatutelabortobecarriedout,amilitiatoraise,thepoorarethemosteligible。Italwaysbearsburdensfromwhichitswealthierneighborwithinfluencesecuresexemption。Attheleastaccidenttoapoormaneverybodyabandonshim。LethiscarttoppleoverandIregardhimasfortunateifheescapestheinsultsofthesmartcompanionsofayoungdukepassingby。Inawordallassistancefreeofchargeiswithheldfromhimintimeofneed,preciselybecausehecannotpayforit。I
regardhimasalostmanifheissounfortunateastobehonestandhaveaprettydaughterandapowerfulneighbor。——Letussumupinafewwordsthesocialpactofthetwoestates:
YouneedmebecauseIamrichandyouarepoor:letusthenmakeanagreementtogether。IwillallowyouthehonorofservingmeonconditionthatyougivemethelittlethatremainstoyouforthetroubleIhaveingoverningyou。"
Thisshowsthespirit,theaimandtheeffectofpoliticalsociety。
——Atthestart,accordingtoRousseau,itconsistedofanunfairbargain,madebyanadroitrichmanwithapoordupe,"providingnewfettersfortheweakandfreshpowerfortherich,"and,underthetitleoflegitimateproperty,consecratingtheusurpationofthesoil。
——Todaythecontractisstillmoreunjust"bymeansofwhichachildmaygovernanoldman,afoolleadthewise,andahandfulofpeopleliveinabundancewhilstafamishedmultitudelackthenecessitiesforlife。"Itisthenatureofinequalitytogrow;hencetheauthorityofsomeincreasesalongwiththedependenceoftherest,sothatthetwoconditions,havingatlastreachedtheirextremes,thehereditaryandperpetualobjectionofthepeopleseemstobeadivinerightequallywiththehereditaryandperpetualdespotismoftheking。
——Thisisthepresentsituationand,anychange,willbefortheworse。"For,[41]theoccupationofallkings,orofthosechargedwiththeirfunctions,consistswhollyoftwoobjects,toextendtheirswayabroadandtorenderitmoreabsoluteathome。"Whentheypleadsomeothercauseitisonlyapretext。"Thetermspublicgood,happinessofsubjects,thegloryofthenation,soheavilyemployedingovernmentannouncements,neverdenoteotherthandisastrouscommands,andthepeopleshudderbeforehandwhenitsmastersalludetotheirpaternalsolicitude。"——However,thisfatalpointoncereached,"thecontractwiththegovernmentisdissolved;thedespotismasteronlywhileremainingthemostpowerful,and,assoonashecanbeexpelled,itisuselessforhimtocryoutagainstviolence。"Becauserightcanonlyexistthroughconsent,andnoconsentnorrightcanexistbetweenmasterandslave。
Whetherbetweenonemanandanotherman,orbetweenonemanandapeople,thefollowingisanabsurdaddress:’ImakeanagreementwithyouwhollyatyourexpenseandtomyadvantagewhichIshallrespectaslongasIpleaseandwhichyoushallrespectaslongasitpleasesme。’"——
Onlymadmenmaysignsuchatreaty,but,asmadmen,theyarenotinaconditiontonegotiateandtheirsignatureisnotbinding。Onlythevanquishedontheground,withswordspointedattheirthroats,mayacceptsuchconditionsbut,beingunderconstraint,theirpromiseisnullandvoid。Madmenandtheconqueredmayforathousandyearshaveboundoverallsubsequentgenerations,butacontractforaminorisnotacontractforanadult,andonthechildarrivingattheageofReasonhebelongstohimself。Weatlasthavebecomeadults,andwehaveonlytomakeuseofourrightstoreducethepretensionsofthisself—styledauthoritytotheirjustvalue。Ithaspoweronitssideandnothingmore。But"apistolinthehandofabrigandisalsopower,"butdoyouthinkthatIshouldbemorallyobligedtogivehimmypurse?——IobeyonlycompelledbyforceandIwillhavemypursebackassoonasIcantakehispistolawayfromhim。
VII:THELOSTCHILDREN。
Thelostchildrenofthephilosophicparty。—Naigeon,SylvainMaréchal,Mably,Morelly。—Theentirediscreditoftraditionsandinstitutionsderivedfromit。
Westophere。Itispointlesstofollowthelostchildrenoftheparty,NaigeonandSylvainMaréchal,MablyandMorelly,thefanaticsthatsetatheismupasanobligatorydogmaandasuperiorduty;thesocialistswho,tosuppressegoism,proposeacommunityofproperty,andwhofoundarepublicinwhichanymanthatproposestore—
establish"detestableownership"shallbedeclaredanenemyofhumanity,treatedasa"ragingmaniac"andshutupinadungeonforlife。Itissufficienttohavestudiedtheoperationsoflargearmiesandofgreatcampaigns。——Withdifferentgadgetsandoppositetactics,thevariousattackshaveallhadthesameresults,alltheinstitutionshavebeenunderminedfrombelow。Thegoverningideologyhaswithdrawnallauthorityfromcustom,fromreligion,fromtheState。Notonlyisitassumedthattraditioninitselfisfalse,butagainthatitisharmfulthroughitsworks,thatitbuildsupinjusticeonerror,andthatbyrenderingmanblinditleadshimtooppress。Henceforthitisoutlawed。Letthis"loathsomething"withitssupportersbecrushedout。Itisthegreatevilofthehumanspecies,and,whensuppressed,onlygoodnesswillremain。
"Thetimewillthencome[42]whenthesunwillshineonlyonfreemenrecognizingnoothermasterthanReason;whentyrantsandslaves,andpriestswiththeirsenselessorhypocriticalinstrumentswillexistonlyinhistoryandonthestage;whenattentionwillnolongerbebestowedonthemexcepttopitytheirvictimsandtheirdupes,keepingoneselfvigilantandusefulthroughhorroroftheirexcesses,andabletorecognizeandextinguishbytheforceofReasonthefirstgermsofsuperstitionandoftyranny,shouldtheyeverventuretoreappear。"
ThemillenniumisdawninganditisoncemoreReason,whichshouldsetitup。Inthiswayweshalloweeverythingtoitssalutaryauthority,thefoundationoftheneworderofthingsaswellasthedestructionoftheoldone。
NOTES:
[1]"DiscoursdelaMethode。"
[2]ThisisevidentwithDescartesinthesecondstephetakes。(Thetheoryofpurespirit,theideaofGod,theproofofhisexistence,theveracityofourintelligencedemonstratedtheveracityofGod,etc。)
[3]SeePascal,"Pensées"(ontheoriginofpropertyandrank)。The"Provinciales"(onhomicideandtherighttokill)。——Nicole,"Deuxièmetraitédelacharité,etdel’amour—propre"(onthenaturalmanandtheobjectofsociety)。Bossuet,"Politiquetiréedel’Ecrituresainte。"LaBruyère,"DesEspritsforts。"
[4]Cf。Sir。JohnLubbock,"OriginedelaCivilisation。"——
Gerand—Teulon,"LesOriginesdelafamille。"
[5]TheprincipleofcasteinIndia;weseethisinthecontrastbetweentheAryansandtheaborigines,theSoudrasandthePariahs。
[6]InaccordancewiththisprincipletheinhabitantsoftheSandwichIslandspassedalawforbiddingthesaleofliquortothenativesandallowingittoEuropeans。(DeVarigny,"QuatorzeansauxilesSandwich。")
[7]Cf。LePlay,"Del’Organizationdelafamille,"(thehistoryofadomaininthePyrenees。)
[8]See,especially,inBrahminliteraturethegreatmetaphysicalpoemsandthePuranas。
[9]Montaigne(1533—92)apparentlyalsohad’sympatheticimagination’whenhewrote:"Iammosttenderlysymphathetictowardstheafflictionsofothers,"("OnCruelty")。(SR。)
[10]Voltaire,"Dic。Phil。"thearticleonPunishments。
[11]"Resumédescahiers,"byPrud’homme,preface,1789。
[12]Voltaire,Dialogues,EntretiensentreA。B。C。
[13]Voltaire,"Dict。Phil。,"thearticleonReligion。"Ifthereisahamlettobegoverneditmusthaveareligion。"
[14]"Lerêveded’Alembert,"byDiderot,passim。
[15]"Ifamisanthrope(ahaterofmankind)hadproposedtohimselftoinjurehumanitywhatcouldhehaveinventedbetterthanfaithinanincomprehensiblebeing,aboutwhichmennevercouldcometoanyagreement,andtowhichtheywouldattachmoreimportancethantotheirownexistence?"Diderot,"Entretiend’unphilosopheaveclaMaréchalede……"(AndthatisjustwhatourMarxistsociologist,psychologistsetchavedoneininventingahumanbeingbereftofthoseemotionswhichinotheranimalsforcethemtogiveintotheirmaternal,paternalandleadershipinstinctstherebymakingthemhappyintheprocess……SR。)
[16]Cf。"CatéchismeUniversel,"bySaint—Lambert,andthe"LoinaturelleouCatéchismeducitoyenfran?ais,"byVolney。
[17]"SupplémentauvoyagedeBougainville。"
[18]Cf。"MémoiresdeMm。D’Epinay,"aconversationwithDuclosandSaint—LambertatthehouseofMlle。Quinault。—Rousseau’s"Confessions,"partI,bookV。ThesearethesameprinciplestaughtbyM。delaTaveltoMme。DeWarens。
[19]"Suitedurêveded’Alembert。""EntretienentreMlls。deLespinasseetBordeu。"—"MémoiresdeDiderot,"alettertoMlle。
Volant,III。66。
[20]Cf。hisadmirabletales,"Entretiensd’unpèreavecsesenfants,"and"LeneveudeRameau。"
[21]Volney,ibid。"Thenaturallaw……consistswhollyofeventswhoserepetitionmaybeobservedthroughthesensesandwhichcreateascienceaspreciseandaccurateasgeometryandmathematics。"
[22]Helvétius,"Del’Esprit。"passim。
[23]Volney,ibid。Chap。III。Saint—Lambert,ibid。Thefirstdialogue。
[24]D’Holbach,"SystemedelaNature,"II。408493。
[25]D’Holbach,"Systèmedelanature,"I。347。
[26]Diderot,"SupplémentauvoyagedeBougainville。"
[27]Diderot,"LesEleuthéromanes。"
Etsesmains,ourdissantlesentraillesduprêtre,Enferaientuncordonpourledernierdesrois。
Brissot:"Necessitybeingthesoletitletopropertytheresultisthatwhenawantissatisfiedmanisnolongerapropertyowner……
Twoprimenecessitiesareduetotheanimalconstitution,foodandwaste……Maymennourishthemselvesontheirfallencreatures?
(Yesfor)allbeingsmayjustlynourishthemselvesonanymaterialcalculatedtosupplytheirwants……Manofnature,fulfillyourdesire,giveheedtoyourcravings,yoursolemastersandyouronlyguide。Doyoufeelyourveinsthrobbingwithinwardfiresatthesightofacharmingcreature?Sheisyours,yourcaressesareinnocentandyourkissespure。Lovealoneentitlestoenjoymentashungeristhewarrantforproperty。"(Anessaypublishedin1780,andreprintedin1782inthe"BibliothèqueduLégislateur,"quotedbyRouxandBuchez"Histoireparlementaire,"XIII,431。
[28]ThewordsofRousseauhimself("RousseaujugedeJan—Jacques,"
thirddialogue,p193):Fromwhencemaythepainterandapologistofnature,nowsodisfiguredandsocalumniated,derivehismodelifnotfromhisownheart?"
[29]"Confessions,"BookI。p。1,andtheendofthefifthbook。——
FirstlettertoM。deMalesherbes:"Iknowmygreatfaults,andamprofoundlysensibleofmyvices。EvensoIshalldiewiththeconvictionthatofallthemenIhaveencounterednoonewasbetterthanmyself"。——ToMadameB———,March16,1770,hewrites:"Youhaveawardedmeesteemformywritings;youresteemwouldbeyetgreaterformylifeifitwereopentoyouinspection,andstillgreaterformyheartifitwereexposedtoyourview。Neverwasthereabetterone,aheartmoretenderormorejust……Mymisfortunesareallduetomyvirtues。"——ToMadamedelaTour,"Whoeverisnotenthusiasticinmybehalfinunworthyofme。"
[30]LettertoM。deBeaumont。p。24。—RousseaujugedeJean—
Jacques,troisièmeentretien,193。
[31]"Emile,"bookI,andthelettertoM。deBeaumont,passim。
[32]ArticleI。"AllFrenchmenshallbevirtuous。"ArticleII。"AllFrenchmenshallbehappy。"DraftofaconstitutionfoundamongthepapersofSismondi,atthattimeinschool。(MyFrenchdictionarywrites:"SISMONDI,(JeanCharlesLéonardSimondede)Genève,1773—
id。1842,SwisshistorianandeconomistofItalianorigin。HewasaforerunnerofdirigismeandhadinfluencedMarxwithhisbook:
"Nouveauxprincipesd’économiepolitique。1819。SR。)
[33]"Confessions,"part2,bookIX。368。"Icannotcomprehendhowanyonecanconverseinacircle……Istammeroutafewwords,withnomeaninginthem,asquicklyasIcan,verygladiftheyconveynosense……IshouldbeasfondofsocietyasanybodyifIwerenotcertainofappearingnotmerelytodisadvantagebutwhollydifferentfromwhatIreallyam。"——Cf。inthe"NouvelleHéloise,"
2ndpart,theletterofSaint—PreuxonParis。Alsoin"Emilie,"theendofbookIV。
[34]"Confessions,"part2,IX。361。"Iwassowearyofdrawing—
rooms,ofjetsofwater,ofbowers,offlower—bedsandofthosethatshowedthemtome;Iwassooverwhelmedwithpamphlets,harpsichords,games,knots,stupidwitticisms,simperinglooks,pettystory—tellersandheavysuppers,thatwhenIspiedoutacornerinahedge,abush,abarn,ameadow,orwhen,onpassingthroughahamlet,Icaughtthesmellofagoodparsleyomelet……Isenttothedevilalltherouge,frills,flouncesandperfumery,and,regrettingaplaindinnerandcommonwine,IwouldgladlyhaveclosedthemouthofboththeheadcookandthebutlerwhoforcedmetodinewhenIgenerallysup,andtosupwhenagenerallygotobed,but,especiallythelackeysthatenviedmeeverymorselIateandwho,attheriskofmydyingwiththirst,soldmethedruggedwineoftheirmasterattentimesthepriceIwouldhavetopayforabetterwineatatavern。"
[35]"Discourssurl’influencedessciencesetdesarts"——Thelettertod’Alembertontheatricalperformances。
[36]DoesitnotreadlikeadeclarationofintentforformingaKibbutz?(SR。)
[37]"Thehighsociety(Lasocieté)isasnaturaltothehumanspeciesasdecrepitudetotheindividual。Thepeoplerequirearts,laws,andgovernments,asoldmenrequirecrutches。"SeetheletterM。
Philopolis,p。248。
[38]Seethediscourseonthe"Originedel’Inégalite,"passim。
[39]"Emile,"bookIV。Rousseau’snarrative。P。13。
[40]"Discourssurl’économiepolitique,"326。
[41]"Discourssurl’Originedel’Inégalité,"178,"ContratSocial,"I。ch。IV。
[42]Condorcet,"Tableaudesprogrèsdel’esprithumain,"thetenthepoch。
CHAPTERIV。ORGANIZINGTHEFUTURESOCIETY。
I。LIBERTY,EQUALITYANDSOVEREIGNTYOFTHEPEOPLE。
Themathematicalmethod。—Definitionofmanintheabstract。—Thesocialcontract。—Independenceandequalityofthecontractors。—Allequalbeforethelawandeachsharinginthesovereignty。
Considerfuturesocietyasitappearsatthismomenttoourlegislatorsintheirstudy,andbearinmindthatitwillsoonappearunderthesameaspecttothelegislatorsoftheAssembly。—Intheireyesthedecisivemomenthascome。Henceforthtwohistoriesaretoexist;[1]one,thatofthepast,theother,thatofthefuture,formerlyahistoryofManstilldeprivedofhisreason,andatpresentthehistoryoftherationalhumanbeing。Theruleofrightisatlasttobegin。Ofallthatthepastgenerationshavefoundedandtransmittednothingislegitimate。OverlayingthenaturalMantheycreatedanartificialMan,eitherecclesiasticorlaic,nobleorcommoner,sovereignorsubject,proprietororproletary,ignorantorcultivated,peasantorcitizen,slaveormaster,allbeingphonyqualitieswhichwearenottoheed,astheiroriginistaintedwithviolenceandrobbery。Stripoffthesesuperfluousgarments;letustakeManinhimself,thesameunderallconditions,inallsituations,inallcountries,inallages,andstrivetoascertainwhatsortofassociationisthebestadaptedtohim。Theproblemthusstated,therestfollows。—Inaccordancewiththecustomsoftheclassicmentality,andwiththepreceptsoftheprevailingideology,apoliticalsystemisnowconstructedafteramathematicalmodel。[2]A
simplestatementisselected,andsetapart,verygeneral,familiar,readilyapparent,andeasilyunderstoodbythemostignorantandinattentiveschoolboy。Rejecteverydifference,whichseparatesonemanfromothermen;retainofhimonlytheportioncommontohimandtoothers。TheremainderconstitutesManingeneral,orinotherwords,"asensitiveandrationalbeingwho,thusendowed,avoidspainandseekspleasure,"andthereforeaspiringtohappiness,namely,astableconditioninwhichoneenjoysgreaterpleasurethanpain,"[3]or,again,"asensitivebeingcapableofformingrationalopinionsandofacquiringmoralideas。"[4]
Anyone(theysay)maybyhimselfexperiencethiselementaryidea,andcanverifyitatthefirstglance。Suchisthesocialunit;letseveralofthesebecombined,athousand,ahundredthousand,amillion,twenty—sixmillions,andyouhavetheFrenchpeople。Menbornattwenty—oneyearsofage,withoutrelations,withoutapast,withouttraditions,withoutacountry,aresupposedtobeassembledforthefirsttimeand,forthefirsttime,totreatwitheachother。Inthisposition,atthemomentofcontractingtogether,allareequal:for,asthedefinitionstates,theextrinsicandspuriousqualitiesthroughwhichalonealldifferhavebeenrejected。Allarefree;for,accordingtothedefinition,theunjustthralldomimposedonallbybruteforceandbyhereditaryprejudicehasbeensuppressed。—Butifallmenareequal,noreasonexistswhy,inthiscontract,anyspecialadvantageshouldbeconcededtoonemorethantoanother。Accordinglyallshallbeequalbeforethelaw;noperson,orfamily,orclass,shallbeallowedanyprivilege;nooneshallclaimarightofwhichanothermightbedeprived;nooneshallbesubjecttoanydutyfromanotherisexempt。—Ontheotherhand,allbeingfree,eachenterswithafreewillalongwiththegroupofwillsconstitutethenewcommunity;itisnecessarythatinthecommonresolutionsheshouldfullyconcur。Onlyontheseconditionsdoeshebindhimself;heisboundtorespectlawsonlybecausehehasassistedinmakingthem,andtoobeymagistratesonlybecausehehasaidedinelectingthem。