What is Property?

— 5 —

is a SEEKER OF TRUTH original: "CHERCHEUR DE VÉRITÉ" (1); my mission is written in these words of the law: Speak without hate and without fear; say what you know. The work of our species is to build the temple of science, and this science embraces both man and nature. Now, truth reveals itself to all: today to Newton and to Pascal, tomorrow to the shepherd in the valley, to the journeyman in the workshop. Each brings his stone to the edifice, and, his task done, he disappears. Eternity precedes us, eternity follows us: between two infinities, what is the place of a mortal, that the century should concern itself with him?

Therefore, reader, leave aside my title and my character, and concern yourself only with my reasons. It is based on universal consent that I claim to correct universal error; it is to the faith of the human race that I appeal against the opinion of the human race. Have the courage to follow me, and, if your will is frank, if your conscience is free, if your mind knows how to unite two propositions to extract a third, my ideas will infallibly become yours. By starting by throwing my final word at you, I wanted to warn you, not to defy you: for, I have the certainty that, if you read me, I will force your assent. The things of which I have to speak to you are so simple, so palpable, that you will be astonished not to have perceived them, and you will say to yourself: "I had not reflected on that." Others will offer you the spectacle of genius forcing the secrets of nature and spreading sublime oracles; you will find here only a series of experiments on the just what is fair/equitable and on right law/justice, a sort of verification of the weights and measures of your conscience. The operations will take place before your eyes, and it is you yourself who will evaluate the result.

For the rest, I do not make a system: I ask for the end of privilege, the abolition of slavery, the equality of rights, the reign of law. Justice, nothing but justice; such is the summary of my discourse; I leave to others the care of disciplining the world.

(1) In Greek skeptikos, examiner, philosopher who makes it his profession to seek the true.