登陆注册
26104900000009

第9章

WHY LEARNED ECONOMISTS ASSERT WHAT IS FALSEHOWEVER obviously unjust may he the assertion of the men of science that the welfare of humanity must consist in the very thing that is profoundly repulsive to human feelings-in monotonous, enforced factory labor-the men of science were inevitably led to the necessity of ****** this obviously unjust assertion, just as the theologians of old were inevitably led to make the equally evident unjust assertion that slaves and their masters were creatures differing in kind, and that the inequality of their position in this world would be compensated in the next.

The cause of this evidently unjust assertion is that those who have formulated, and who are formulating, the laws of science belong to the well-to-do classes, and are so accustomed to the conditions, advantageous for themselves, among which they live, that they do not admit the thought that society could exist under other conditions.

The condition of life to which people of the well-to-do classes are accustomed is that of an abundant production of various articles necessary for their comfort and pleasure, and these things are obtained only thanks to the existence of factories and works organised as at present.

And, therefore, discussing the improvement of the workers' position, the men of science belonging to the well-to-do classes always have in view only such improvements as will not do away with the system of factory-production and those conveniences of which they avail themselves.

Even the most advanced economists-the Sociaists, who demand the complete control of the means of production for the workers-expect production of the same or almost of the same articles as are produced now to continue in the present or in similar factories with the present division of labor.

The difference, as they imagine it, will only be that in the future not they alone, but all men, will make use of such conveniences as they alone now enjoy.They dimly picture to themselves that, with the communalisation of the means of production, they, too-men of science, and in general the ruling classes-will do some work, but chiefly as managers, designers, scientists or artists.To the questions, Who will have to wear a muzzle and make white lead? Who will be stokers, miners, and cesspool-cleaners? they are either silent, or foretell that all these things will be so improved that even work at cesspools and underground will afford pleasant occupation.That is bow they represent to themselves future economic conditions, both in Utopias such as that of Bellamy and in scientific works.

According to their theories, the workers will all join unions and associations, and cultivate solidarity among themselves by unions, strikes, and participation in Parliament till they obtain possession of all the means of production, as well as the land, and then they will be so well fed, so well dressed, and enjoy such amusements on holidays that they will prefer life in town, amid brick buildings and smoking chimneys, to free village life amid plants and domestic animals; and monotonous, bell-regulated machine work to the varied, healthy, and free agricultural labor.

Though this anticipation is as improbable as the anticipation of the theologians about a heaven to be enjoyed hereafter by workmen in compensation for their hard labor here, yet learned and educated people of our society believe this strange teaching, just as formerly wise and learned people believed in a heaven for workmen in the next world.

And learned men and their disciples, people of the well-to-do classes, believe this because they must believe it.This dilemma stands before them: either they must see that all that they make use of in their lives, from railways to lucifer matches and cigarets, represents labor which costs the lives of their brother men, and that they, not sharing in that toil, but ****** use of it, are very dishonorable men; or they must believe that all that takes place takes place for the general advantage in accord with unalterable laws of economic science.Therein lies the inner psychological cause, compelling men of science, men wise and educated, but not enlightened, to affirm positively and tenaciously such an obvious untruth as that the laborers, for their own well-being, should leave their happy and healthy life in touch with nature, and go to ruin their bodies and souls in factories and workshops.The Slavery of Our Times -- Ch 6 -- Leo TolstoyFrom The Slavery of Our Times by Leo Tolstoy

同类推荐
  • 棋诀

    棋诀

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 燕魏杂记

    燕魏杂记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 大巍禅师竹室集

    大巍禅师竹室集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 三十年临证经验集

    三十年临证经验集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 火[合牛]供养仪轨

    火[合牛]供养仪轨

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 太上洞玄灵宝净供妙经

    太上洞玄灵宝净供妙经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 英雄无敌之征战天下

    英雄无敌之征战天下

    亚特兰蒂斯大陆,一块神奇的大陆,生活着众多的种族,各族之间分分合合,纷争不断,战火在这块大陆的各处燃烧。莱茵哈特,一名来自泰坦帝国底层的平民,如何在这个动荡的年代战胜一个个强大的对手登上王者之座呢,敬请关注本书。推荐《大宋之杀猪状元》书号1009266《七星决》书号1003621
  • 学园都市之信仰

    学园都市之信仰

    神是如何炼成的?!让我们先从零级开始……
  • 男神太腹黑:独宠冷面巨星

    男神太腹黑:独宠冷面巨星

    这世上有三种人绝不能惹,心狠手辣的、纠缠不休的、还有想睡你的。很不幸的,顾笙都惹上了。这世上还有三种人求而不得,宠你上天的、疼你入骨的、爱你不渝的。很幸运的,顾笙都得到了。五年前。她说:“年纪轻轻不学好,二少爷,把你的钱包跟银行卡交出来。”他怒:“凭什么?!”她道:“就凭我是你老师。”他笑,“不如老师教教我,人是怎么做出来的?”五年后。他说:“顾老师,乖乖去床上躺着。”她斥道:“凭什么!”他笑:“我以为你懂,什么叫做潜.规则。”她终于怒了:“苏奕,滚开。”他松领带,“老师可真心急,我们一会就去床上慢慢滚。”
  • 论时间和生活的关系

    论时间和生活的关系

    时间似乎在我们每个人的心中,但是我们却有说不清道不明。我们很熟悉时间,但是我们却又说不上我们和时间的关系。让我们一起来探索和思考时间和我们生活的关系吧。各种各样的生活和我们的时间有关系吗?让我们一起来思索吧!!!
  • 遍行山水顾及你

    遍行山水顾及你

    抬眼遥望洁云云形朵朵都是你抬手题诗长短句句意句句都是你江山如画画上映然处处都是你【没有理由让你爱我,但我会一如既往爱你,在你看得到看不到的地方】
  • 魔皇盛宠:死神王妃要逆天

    魔皇盛宠:死神王妃要逆天

    “我不求轰轰烈烈,只求细水长流。你的爱我承受不起。”她仰着脸看着男人。“你不觉得现在说这个有点晚么?”男人邪魅一笑。
  • 校园里的修行者

    校园里的修行者

    一场历时两年的自闭症让当时年仅十五岁的主人公强烈地意识到了学会生存的重要性。他从此便开始一门心思地在课堂内外修炼自己的心志,一心想把自己塑造为一个完美的化身。中考失利后,在金钱的帮助下,他成为了市里的一所私立中学的一名高中生。帅气的面容以及高超的交际能力使得他的校园生活从不缺乏精彩,而他也在这些喜怒哀乐中迎来了自己的十八岁生日。然而,由于受自闭症的影响,厌学并想退学一直都是他心头的一个挥之不去的魔咒。最终,在他自认为自己的心志已经修炼得足够的强大后,一次偶然的事件让他亲手终结了自己的学生时代。
  • 养个男宠来玩玩

    养个男宠来玩玩

    修罗有七,个个美艳动人,身怀绝技!老大,性格像火,被称为火之红雅!老二,表情带有浅浅的忧伤,被人称其为忧之蓝雅!老三,如同独自傲然的光芒,被称为光之橙雅!老四,野蛮怪张,宛如不被修饰的野玫瑰,被称为魅惑紫雅!老五,率直,单纯,人称纯真黄雅!老六,为人为人温柔随和,被称为柔之绿雅!老七,古灵精怪,被称为,精灵青雅!七雅登场,看世界如何风起云涌,风云变色……
  • 十界梦见

    十界梦见

    【梦中所见,皆为真实。】***********************因为一则诡异的预知梦,三名塞特人被各自效忠的领主派遣到距离十界城最远的位面贝托利恩,去追捕盗走支撑魔法都市秘宝的叛徒。三个不同阵营的分歧,让这个大海捞针般的任务更加艰巨,而且,这次近乎单程的旅行并不如他们所想象的那么单纯。***********************声明:本人的文化水平只是小学毕业,写出来的小说撑死也就是“可以看看”的程度,有用词单一、描写过于平淡、错字错词太多诸多弊病。写书的主要目的是个人兴趣,目前已完本4本,不用担心是否会太监。