science and art, and who were, and will remain, the benefactors of
mankind."

Generally this is what people say, striving to forget that new
principle of the division of labor, on the basis of which science
and art now occupy their privileged position, and on whose basis we
are now enabled to decide without grounds, but by a given standard:
Is there, or is there not, any foundation for that activity which
calls itself science and art, to so magnify itself?

When the Egyptian or the Grecian priests produced their mysteries,
which were unintelligible to any one, and stated concerning these
mysteries that all science and all art were contained in them, I
could not verify the reality of their science on the basis of the
benefit procured by them to the people, because science, according
to their assertions, was supernatural. But now we all possess a
very simple and clear definition of the activity of art and science,
which excludes every thing supernatural: science and art promise to
carry out the mental activity of mankind, for the welfare of
society, or of all the human race.

The definition of scientific science and art is entirely correct;
but, unfortunately, the activity of the present arts and sciences
does not come under this head. Some of them are directly injurious,
others are useless, others still are worthless,--good only for the
wealthy. They do not fulfil that which, by their own definition,
they have undertaken to accomplish; and hence they have as little
right to regard themselves as men of art and science, as a corrupt
priesthood, which does not fulfil the obligations which it has
assumed, has the right to regard itself as the bearer of divine