the critics； and criticism on the critics of the critics。 And we
have collected picture…galleries； and have studied different schools
of art in detail； and we have so many symphonies and orchestras and
operas； that it is becoming difficult even for us to listen to them。
But what have we added to the popular bylini ＇the epic songs＇；
legends； tales； songs？ What music； what pictures； have we given to
the people？
On the Nikolskaya books are manufactured for the people； and
harmonicas in Tula； and in neither have we taken any part。 The
falsity of the whole direction of our arts and sciences is more
striking and more apparent in precisely those very branches； which；
it would seem； should； from their very nature； be of use to the
people； and which； in consequence of their false attitude； seem
rather injurious than useful。 The technologist； the physician； the
teacher； the artist； the author； should； in virtue of their very
callings； it would seem； serve the people。 And； what then？ Under
the present regime； they can do nothing but harm to the people。
The technologist or the mechanic has to work with capital。 Without
capital he is good for nothing。 All his acquirements are such that
for their display he requires capital； and the exploitation of the
laboring…man on the largest scale； andnot to mention that he is
trained to live； at the lowest； on from fifteen hundred to two
thousand a year； and that； therefore； he cannot go to the country；
where no one can give him such wages；he is； by virtue of his very
occupation； unfitted for serving the people。 He knows how to
calculate the highest mathematical arch of a bridge； how to
calculate the force and transfer of the motive power； and so on； but
he is confounded by the simplest questions of a peasant： how to
improve a plough or a cart； or how to make irrigating canals。 All
this in the conditions of life in which the laboring man finds
himself。 Of this； he neither knows nor understands any thing；
less； indeed； than the very stupidest peasant。 Give him workshops；
all sorts of workmen at his desire； an order for a machine from
abroad； and he will get along。 But how to devise means of
lightening toil； under the conditions of labor of millions of men；
this is what he does not and can not know； and because of his
knowledge； his habits； and his demands on life； he is unfitted for
this business。
In a still worse predicament is the physician。 His fancied science
is all so arranged； that he only knows how to heal those persons who
do nothing。 He requires an incalculable quantity of expensive
preparations； instruments； drugs； and hygienic apparatus。
He has studied with celebrities in the capitals； who only retain
patients who can be cured in the hospital； or who； in the course of
their cure； can purchase the appliances requisite for healing； and
even go at once from the North to the South； to some baths or other。
Science is of such a nature； that every rural physic…man laments
because there are no means of curing working…men； because he is so
poor that he has not the means to place the sick man in the proper
hygienic conditions； and at the same time this physician complains
that there are no hospitals； and that he cannot get through with his
work； that he needs assistants； more doctors and practitioners。
What is the inference？ This： that the people's principal lack；
from which diseases arise； and spread abroad； and refuse to be
healed； is the lack of means of subsistence。 And here Science；
under the banner of the division of labor； summons her warriors to
the aid of the people。 Science is entirely arranged for the wealthy
classes； and it has adopted for its task the healing of the people
who can obtain every thing for themselves； and it attempts to heal
those who possess no superfluity； by the same means。
But there are no means； and therefore it is necessary to take them
from the people who are ailing； and pest…stricken； and who cannot
recover for lack of means。 And now the defenders of medicine for
the people say that this matter has been； as yet； but little
developed。 Evidently it has been but little developed； because if
（which God forbid！） it had been developed； and that through
oppressing the people；instead of two doctors； midwives； and
practitioners in a district； twenty would have settled down； since
they desire this； and half the people would have died through the
difficulty of supporting this medical staff； and soon there would be
no one to heal。
Scientific co…operation with the people； of which the defenders of
science talk； must be something quite different。 And this co…
operation which should exist has not yet begun。 It will begin when
the man of science； technologist or physician； will not consider it
legal to take from peopleI will not say a hundred thousand； but
even a modest ten thousand； or five hundred rubles for assisting
them； but when he will live among the toiling people； under the same
conditions； and exactly as they do； then he will be able to apply
his knowledge to the questions of mechanics； technics； hygiene； and
the healing of the laboring people。 But now science； supporting
itself at the expense of the working…people； has entirely forgotten
the conditions of life among these people； ignores （as it puts it）
these conditions； and takes very grave offence because its fancied
knowledge finds no adherents among the people。
The domain of medicine； like the domain of technical science； still
lies untouched。 All questions as to how the time of labor is best
divided； what is the best method of nourishment； with what； in what
shape； and when it is best to clothe one's self； to shoe one's self；
to counteract dampness and cold； how best to wash one's self； to
feed the children； to swaddle them； and so on； in just those
conditions in which the working…people find themselves；all these
questions have not yet been propounded。
The same is the case with the activity of the teachers of science；
pedagogical teachers。 Exactly in the same manner science has so
arranged this matter； that only wealthy people are able to study
science； and teachers； like technologists and physicians； cling to
money。
And this cannot be otherwise； because a school built on a model plan
（as a general rule； the more scientifically built the school； the
more costly it is）； with pivot chains； and globes； and maps； and
library； and petty text…books for teachers and scholars and
pedagogues； is a sort of thing for which it would be necessary to
double the taxes in every village。 This science demands。 The
people need money for their work； and the more there is needed； the
poorer they are。
Defenders of science say： 〃Pedagogy is even now proving of
advantage to the people； but give it a chance to develop； and then
it will do still better。〃 Yes； if it does develop； and instead of
twenty schools in a district there are a hundred； and all
scientific； and if the people support these schools； they will grow
poorer than ever； and they will more than ever need work for their
children's sake。 〃What is to be done？〃 they say to this。 The
government will build the schools； and will make education
obligatory； as it is in Europe； but again； surely； the money is
taken from the people just the same； and it will be harder to work；
and they will have less leisure for work； and there will be no
education even by compulsion。 Again the sole salvation is this：
that the teacher should live under the conditions of the working…
men； and should teach for that compensation which they give him
freely and voluntarily。
Such is the false course of science； which deprives it of the power
of fulfilling its obligation； which is； to serve the people。
But in nothing is this false course of science so obviously
apparent； as in the vocation of art； which； from its very
significance； ought to be accessible to the people。 Science may
fall back on its stupid excuse； that science acts for science； and
that when it turns out learned men it is laboring for the people；
but art； if it is art； should be accessible to all the people； and
in particular to those in whose name it is executed。 And our
definition of art； in a striking manner； convicts those who busy
themselves with art； of their lack of desire； lack of knowledge； and
lack of power； to be useful to the people。
The painter； for the production of his great works； must have a
studio of at least such dimensions that a whole association of
carpenters （forty in number） or shoemakers； now sickening or
stifling in lairs； would be able to work in it。 But this is not
all； he must have a model； costumes； travels。 Millions are expended
on the encouragement of art； and the products of this art are both
incomprehensible and useless to the people。 Musicians； in order to
express their grand ideas； must assemble two hundred men in white
neckties； or in costumes； and spend hundreds of thousands of rubles
for the equipment of an opera。 And the products of this art cannot
evoke from the peopleeven if the latter could at any time enjoy
itany thing except amazement and ennui。
Writersauthorsit appears； do not require surroundings； studios；
models； orchestras； and actors； but it then appears that the author
needs （not to mention comfort in his quarters） all the dainties of
life for the preparation of his great works； travels； palaces；
cabinets； libraries； the pleasures of art； visits to theatres；
concerts； the baths； and so on。 If he does not earn a fortune for
himself； he is granted a pension； in order that he may compose the
better。 And again； these compositions； so prized by us； remain
useless lumber for the people； and utterly unserviceable to them。
And if still more of these dealers in spiritual nourishment are
developed further； as men of science desire； and a studio is erected
in every village； if an orchestra is set up； and authors are
supported in those conditions which artistic people regard as
indispensable for themselves；I imagine that the working…classes
will sooner take an oath never to look at any pictures； never to
listen to a symphony； never to read poetry or novels； than to feed
all these persons。
And