第 7 节
作者:
寻找山吹 更新:2021-02-18 23:57 字数:9322
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 why; apparently; should art not be of service to the people? In
every cottage there are images and pictures; every peasant man and
woman sings; many own harmonicas; and all recite stories and verses;
and many read。 It is as if those two things which are made for each
otherthe lock and the keyhad parted company; they have sprung so
far apart; that not even the possibility of uniting them presents
itself。 Tell the artist that he should paint without a studio;
model; or costumes; and that he should paint five…kopek pictures;
and he will say that that is tantamount to abandoning his art; as he
understands it。 Tell the musician that he should play on the
harmonica; and teach the women to sing songs; say to the poet; to
the author; that he ought to cast aside his poems and romances; and
compose song…books; tales; and stories; comprehensible to the
uneducated people;they will say that you are mad。
The service of the people by science and art will only be performed
when people; dwelling in the midst of the common folk; and; like the
common folk; putting forward no demands; claiming no rights; shall
offer to the common folk their scientific and artistic services; the
acceptance or rejection of which shall depend wholly on the will of
the common folk。
It is said that the activity of science and art has aided in the
forward march of mankind;meaning by this activity; that which is
now called by that name; which is the same as saying that an
unskilled banging of oars on a vessel that is floating with the
tide; which merely hinders the progress of the vessel; is assisting
the movement of the ship。 It only retards it。 The so…called
division of labor; which has become in our day the condition of
activity of men of science and art; was; and has remained; the chief
cause of the tardy forward movement of mankind。
The proofs of this lie in that confession of all men of science;
that the gains of science and art are inaccessible to the laboring
masses; in consequence of the faulty distribution of riches。 The
irregularity of this distribution does not decrease in proportion to
the progress of science and art; but only increases。 Men of art and
science assume an air of deep pity for this unfortunate circumstance
which does not depend upon them。 But this unfortunate circumstance
is produced by themselves; for this irregular distribution of wealth
flows solely from the theory of the division of labor。
Science maintains the division of labor as a unalterable law; it
sees that the distribution of wealth; founded on the division of
labor; is wrong and ruinous; and it affirms that its activity; which
recognizes the division of labor; will lead people to bliss。 The
result is; that some people make use of the labor of others; but
that; if they shall make use of the labor of others for a very long
period of time; and in still larger measure; then this wrongful
distribution of wealth; i。e。; the use of the labor of others; will
come to an end。
Men stand beside a constantly swelli