such science there has always been； even down to our own day； in all
human communities which have emerged from their primal state of
savagery。
Ever since mankind has existed； teachers have always arisen among
peoples； who have enunciated science in this restricted sense；the
science of what it is most useful for man to know。 This science has
always had for its object the knowledge of what is the true ground
of the well…being of each individual man； and of all men； and why。
Such was the science of Confucius； of Buddha； of Socrates； of
Mahomet； and of others； such is this science as they understood it；
and as all menwith the exception of our little circle of so…called
cultured peopleunderstand it。 This science has not only always
occupied the highest place； but has been the only and sole science；
from which the standing of the rest has been determined。 And this
was the case； not in the least because； as the so…called scientific
people of our day think； cunning priestly teachers of this science
attributed to it such significance； but because in reality； as every
one knows； both by personal experience and by reflection； there can
be no science except the science of that in which the destiny and
welfare of man consist。 For the objects of science are INCALCULABLE
in number；I undermine the word 〃incalculable〃 in the exact sense
in which I understand it；and without the knowledge of that in
which the destiny and welfare of all men consist； there is no
possibility of making a choice amid this interminable multitude of
subjects； and therefore； without this knowledge； all other arts and
branches of learning will become； as they have become among us； an
idle and hurtful diversion。
Mankind has existed and existed； and never has it existed without
the science of that in which the destiny and the welfare of men
consist。 It is true that the science of the welfare of men appears
different on superficial observation； among the Buddhists； the
Brahmins； the Hebrews； the Confucians； the Tauists； but
nevertheless； wherever we hear of men who have emerged from a state
of savagery； we find this science。 And all of a sudden it appears
that the men of our day have decided that this same science； which
has hitherto served as the guiding thread of all human knowledge； is
the very thing which hinders every thing。 Men erect buildings； and
one architect has made one estimate of cost； a second has made
another； and a third yet another。 The estimates differ somewhat；
but they are correct； so that any one can see； that； if the whole is
carried out in accordance with the calculations； the building will
be erected。 Along come people； and assert that the chief point lies
in having no estimates； and that it should be built thusby the
eye。 And this 〃thus；〃 men call the most accurate of scientific
science。 Men repudiate every science； the very substance of
science；the definition of the destiny and the welfare of men；and
this repudiation they designate as science。
Ever since men have existed； great minds have been born into their
midst； which； in the conflict with reason and conscience； have put
to themselves questions as to 〃what constitutes welfare；the
destiny and welfare； not of myself alone； but of every man？〃 What
does that power which has created and which leads me； demand of me
and of every man？ And what is it necessary for me to do； in order
to comply with the requirements imposed upon me by the demands of
individual and universal welfare？ They have asked themselves： 〃I
am a whole； and also a part of something infinite； eternal； what；
then； are my relations to other parts similar to myself； to men and
to the wholeto the world？〃
And from the voices of conscience and of reason； and from a
comparison of what their contemporaries and men who had lived before
them； and who had propounded to themselves the same questions； had
said； these great teachers have deduced their doctrines； which were
simple； clear； intelligible to all men； and always such as were
susceptible of fulfilment。 Such men have existed of the first；
second； third； and lowest ranks。 The world is full of such men。
Every living man propounds the question to himself； how to reconcile
the demands of welfare； and of his personal existence； with
conscience and reason； and from this universal labor； slowly but
uninterruptedly； new forms of life； which are more in accord with
the requirements of reason and of conscience； are worked out。
All at once； a new caste of people makes its appearance； and they
say； 〃All this is nonsense； all this must be abandoned。〃 This is
the deductive method of ratiocination （wherein lies the difference
between the deductive and the inductive method； no one can
understand）； these are the dogmas of the technological and
metaphysical period。 Every thing that these men discover by inward
experience； and which they communicate to one another； concerning
their knowledge of the law of their existence （of their functional
activity； according to their own jargon）； every thing that the
grandest minds of mankind have accomplished in this direction； since
the beginning of the world；all this is nonsense； and has no weight
whatever。 According to this new doctrine； it appears that you are
cells： and that you； as a cell； have a very definite functional
activity； which you not only fulfil； but which you infallibly feel
within you； and that you are a thinking； talking； understanding
cell； and that you； for this reason； can ask another similar talking
cell whether it is just the same； and in this way verify your own
experience； that you can take advantage of the fact that speaking
cells； which have lived before you； have written on the same
subject； and that you have millions of cells which confirm your
observations by their agreement with the cells which have written
down their thoughts；all this signifies nothing； all this is an
evil and an erroneous method。
The true scientific method is this： If you wish to know in what the
destiny and the welfare of all mankind and of all the world
consists； you must； first of all； cease to listen to the voices of
your conscience and of your reason； which present themselves in you
and in others like you； you must cease to believe all that the great
teachers of mankind have said with regard to your conscience and
reason； and you must consider all this as nonsense； and begin all
over again。 And； in order to understand every thing from the
beginning； you must look through microscopes at the movements of
amoebae； and cells in worms； or； with still greater composure；
believe in every thing that men with a diploma of infallibility
shall say to you about them。 And as you gaze at the movements of
these cells； or read about what others have seen； you must attribute
to these cells your own human sensations and calculations as to what
they desire； whither they are directing themselves； how they compare
and discuss； and to what they have become accustomed； and from these
observations （in which there is not a word about an error of thought
or of expression） you must deduce a conclusion by analogy as to what
you are； what is your destiny； wherein lies the welfare of yourself
and of other cells like you。 In order to understand yourself； you
must study not only the worms which you see； but microscopic
creatures which you can barely see； and transformations from one set
of creatures into others； which no one has ever beheld； and which
you； most assuredly； will never behold。 And the same with art。
Where there has been true science； art has always been its exponent。
Ever since men have been in existence； they have been in the habit
of deducing； from all pursuits； the expressions of various branches
of learning concerning the destiny and the welfare of man； and the
expression of this knowledge has been art in the strict sense of the
word。
Ever since men have existed； there have been those who were
peculiarly sensitive and responsive to the doctrine regarding the
destiny and welfare of man； who have given expression to their own
and the popular conflict； to the delusions which lead them astray
from their destinies； their sufferings in this conflict； their hopes
in the triumph of good； them despair over the triumph of evil； and
their raptures in the consciousness of the approaching bliss of man；
on viol and tabret； in images and words。 Always； down to the most
recent times； art has served science and life；only then was it
what has been so highly esteemed of men。 But art； in its capacity
of an important human activity； disappeared simultaneously with the
substitution for the genuine science of destiny and welfare； of the
science of any thing you choose to fancy。 Art has existed among all
peoples； and will exist until that which among us is scornfully
called religion has come to be considered the only science。
In our European world； so long as there existed a Church； as the
doctrine of destiny and welfare； and so long as the Church was
regarded as the only true science； art served the Church； and
remained true art： but as soon as art abandoned the Church； and
began to serve science； while science served whatever came to hand；
art lost its significance。 And notwithstanding the rights claimed
on the score of ancient memories； and of the clumsy assertion which
only proves its loss of its calling； that art serves art； it has
become a trade； providing men with something agreeable； and as such；
it inevitably comes into the category of choreographic； culinary；
hair…dressing； and cosmetic arts； whose practitioners designate
themselves as artists； with the same right as the poets； printers；
and musicians of our day。
Glance backward into the past； and you will see that in the course
of thousands of years； out of milliards of people； only half a score
of Confucius'； Buddhas； Solomons； Socrates； Solons； and Homers have
been produced。 Evidently； they are rarely met with among men； in
spite of the fact that these men have not been selected from a
single caste； but from mankind at large。 Evidently； these true
teachers and artists and learned men； the purveyors of spiritual
nourishment； are rare。 And it is no