they exercise sorcery。 And it is the same in our world。 And all
this comes about on the basis of that false conception of the
division of labor； which is defined not by reason and conscience；
but by observation； which men of science avow with such unanimity。
Division of labor has； in reality； always existed； and still exists；
but it is right only when man decides with his reason and his
conscience that it should be so； and not when he merely investigates
it。 And reason and conscience decide the question for all men very
simply； unanimously； and in a manner not to be doubted。 They always
decide it thus： that division of labor is right only when a special
branch of man's activity is so needful to men； that they； entreating
him to serve them； voluntarily propose to support him in requital
for that which he shall do for them。 But； when a man can live from
infancy to the age of thirty years on the necks of others； promising
to do； when he shall have been taught； something extremely useful；
for which no one asks him； and when； from the age of thirty until
his death； he can live in the same manner； still merely on the
promise to do something； for which there has been no request； this
will not be division of labor （and； as a matter of fact； there is no
such thing in our society）； but it will be what it already is；
merely the appropriation； by force； of the toil of others； that same
appropriation by force of the toil of others which the philosophers
formerly designated by various names；for instance； as
indispensable forms of life；but which scientific science now calls
the organic division of labor。
The whole significance of scientific science lies in this alone。 It
has now become a distributer of diplomas for idleness； for it alone；
in its sanctuaries； selects and determines what is parasitical； and
what is organic activity； in the social organism。 Just as though
every man could not find this out for himself much more accurately
and more speedily； by taking counsel of his reason and his
conscience。 It seems to men of scientific science； that there can
be no doubt of this； and that their activity is also indubitably
organic； they； the scientific and artistic workers； are the brain
cells； and the most precious cells in the whole organism。
Ever since menreasoning beingshave existed； they have
distinguished good from evil； and have profited by the fact that men
have made this distinction before them； they have warred against
evil； and have sought the good； and have slowly but uninterruptedly
advanced in that path。 And divers delusions have always stood
before men； hemming in this path； and having for their object to
demonstrate to them； that it was not necessary to do this； and that
it was not necessary to live as they were living。 With fearful
conflict and difficulty； men have freed themselves from many
delusions。 And behold； a new and a still more evil delusion has
sprung up in the path of mankind；the scientific delusion。
This new delusion is precisely the same in nature as the old ones；
its gist lies in secretly leading astray the activity of our reason
and conscience； and of those who have lived before us； by something
external。 In scientific science； this external thing is
investigation。
The cunning of this science consists in this；that； after pointing
out to men the coarsest false interpretations of the activity of the
reason and conscience of man； it destroys in them faith in their own
reason and conscience； and assures them that every thing which their
reason and conscience say to them； that all that these have said to
the loftiest representatives of man heretofore； ever since the world
has existed；that all this is conventional and subjective。 〃All
this must be abandoned；〃 they say； 〃it is impossible to understand
the truth by the reason； for we may be mistaken。 But there exists
another unerring and almost mechanical path： it is necessary to
investigate facts。〃
But facts must be investigated on the foundation of scientific
science； i。e。； of the two hypotheses of positivism and evolution；
which are not borne out by any thing； and which give themselves out
as undoubted truths。 And the reigning science announces； with
delusive solemnity； that the solution of all problems of life is
possible only through the study of facts； of nature； and； in
particular； of organisms。 The credulous mass of young people；
overwhelmed by the novelty of this authority； which has not yet been
overthrown or even touched by criticism； flings itself into the
study of natural sciences； into that sole path； which； according to
the assertion of the reigning science； can lead to the elucidation
of the problems of life。
But the farther the disciples proceed in this study； the farther and
farther does not only the possibility； but even the very idea； of
the solution of the problems of life withdraw from them； and the
more and more do they become accustomed； not so much to investigate；
as to believe in the assertions of other investigators （to believe
in cells； in protoplasm； in the fourth condition of bodies； and so
forth）； the more and more does the form veil the contents from them；
the more and more do they lose the consciousness of good and evil；
and the capacity of understanding those expressions and definitions
of good and evil which have been elaborated through the whole
foregoing life of mankind； and the more and more do they appropriate
to themselves the special scientific jargon of conventional
expressions； which possesses no universally human significance； and
the deeper and deeper do they plunge into the debris of utterly
unilluminated investigations； the more and more do they lose the
power； not only of independent thought； but even of understanding
the fresh human thought of others； which lies beyond the bounds of
their Talmud。 But the principal thing is； that they pass their best
years in getting disused to life； they grow accustomed to consider
their position as justifiable； and they convert themselves
physically into utterly useless parasites； and mentally they
dislocate their brains and become mental eunuchs。 And in precisely
the same manner； according to the measure of their folly； do they
acquire self…conceit； which deprives them forever of all possibility
of return to a simple life of toil； to a simple； clear； and
universally human train of reasoning。
Division of labor always has existed in human communities； and will
probably always exist； but the question for us lies not in the fact
that it has existed； and that it will exist； but in this；how are
we to govern ourselves so that this division shall be right？ But if
we take investigation as our rule of action； we by this very act
repudiate all rule； then in that case we shall regard as right every
division of labor which we shall descry among men； and which appears
to us to be rightto which conclusion the prevailing scientific
science also leads。
Division of labor！
Some are busied in mental or moral； others in muscular or physical；
labor。 With what confidence people enunciate this！ They wish to
think so； and it seems to them that； in point of fact； a perfectly
regular exchange of services does take place。
But we； in our blindness； have so completely lost sight of the
responsibility which we have assumed； that we have even forgotten in
whose name our labor is prosecuted； and the very people whom we have
undertaken to serve have become the objects of our scientific and
artistic activity。 We study and depict them for our amusement and
diversion。 We have totally forgotten that what we need to do is not
to study and depict them； but to serve them。 To such a degree have
we lost sight of this duty which we have taken upon us； that we have
not even noticed that what we have undertaken to perform in the
realm of science and art has been accomplished not by us； but by
others； and that our place has turned out to be occupied。
It proves that while we have been disputing； one about the
spontaneous origin of organisms； another as to what else there is in
protoplasm； and so on； the common people have been in need of
spiritual food； and the unsuccessful and rejected of art and
science； in obedience to the mandate of adventurers who have in view
the sole aim of profit； have begun to furnish the people with this
spiritual food； and still so furnish them。 For the last forty years
in Europe； and for the last ten years with us here in Russia；
millions of books and pictures and song…books have been distributed；
and stalls have been opened； and the people gaze and sing and
receive spiritual nourishment； but not from us who have undertaken
to provide it； while we； justifying our idleness by that spiritual
food which we are supposed to furnish； sit by and wink at it。
But it is impossible for us to wink at it； for our last
justification is slipping from beneath our feet。 We have become
specialized。 We have our particular functional activity。 We are
the brains of the people。 They support us； and we have undertaken
to teach them。 It is only under this pretence that we have excused
ourselves from work。 But what have we taught them； and what are we
now teaching them？ They have waited for yearsfor tens； for
hundreds of years。 And we keep on diverting our minds with chatter；
and we instruct each other； and we console ourselves； and we have
utterly forgotten them。 We have so entirely forgotten them； that
others have undertaken to instruct them； and we have not even
perceived it。 We have spoken of the division of labor with such
lack of seriousness； that it is obvious that what we have said about
the benefits which we have conferred on the people was simply a
shameless evasion。
CHAPTER IV。
Science and art have arrogated to themselves the right of idleness；
and of the enjoyment of the labor of others； and have betrayed their
calling。 And their errors have arisen merely because their
servants； having set forth a falsely conceived principle of the
division of labor； have recognized their own right to make use of
the labor of others； and have lost the significance of their
vocation； having taken for their aim； not the