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and compel me to regard you as an honest reasoner； and a good artillery…man。〃
I should have no excuse for tarrying longer with these phalansterian crotchets； if the obligation which I have imposed upon myself of making a clean sweep； and the necessity of vindicating my dignity as a writer； did not prevent me from passing in silence the reproach uttered against me by a correspondent of 〃La Phalange。〃 〃We have seen but lately；〃 says this journalist；＇1＇ 〃that M。 Proudhon； enthusiast as he has been for the science created by Fourier； is； or will be； an enthusiast for any thing else whatsoever。〃
＇1＇ 〃Impartial；〃 of Besancon。
If ever sectarians had the right to reproach another for changes in his beliefs； this right certainly does not belong to the disciples of Fourier； who are always so eager to administer the phalansterian baptism to the deserters of all parties。 But why regard it as a crime； if they are sincere？ Of what consequence is the constancy or inconstancy of an individual to the truth which is always the same？ It is better to enlighten men's minds than to teach them to be obstinate in their prejudices。 Do we not know that man is frail and fickle； that his heart is full of delusions； and that his lips are a distillery of falsehood？ _Omnis homo meudax_。 Whether we will or no； we all serve for a time as instruments of this truth； whose kingdom comes every day。
God alone is immutable； because he is eternal。
That is the reply which； as a general rule； an honest man is entitled always to make； and which I ought perhaps to be content to offer as an excuse； for I am no better than my fathers。 But； in a century of doubt and apostasy like ours； when it is of importance to set the small and the weak an example of strength and honesty of utterance； I must not suffer my character as a public assailant of property to be dishonored。 I must render an account of my old opinions。
Examining myself； therefore； upon this charge of Fourierism； and endeavoring to refresh my memory； I find that； having been connected with the Fourierists in my studies and my friendships； it is possible that； without knowing it； I have been one of Fourier's partisans。 Jerome Lalande placed Napoleon and Jesus Christ in his catalogue of atheists。 The Fourierists resemble this astronomer： if a man happens to find fault with the existing civilization； and to admit the truth of a few of their criticisms； they straightway enlist him； willy…nilly； in their school。 Nevertheless； I do not deny that I have been a Fourierist； for； since they say it； of course it may be so。 But； sir； that of which my ex…associates are ignorant； and which doubtless will astonish you； is that I have been many other things；in religion； by turns a Protestant； a Papist； an Arian and Semi…Arian； a Manichean； a Gnostic； an Adamite even and a Pre…Adamite； a Sceptic； a Pelagian； a Socinian； an Anti… Trinitarian； and a Neo…Christian；＇1＇ in philosophy and politics； an Idealist； a Pantheist； a Platonist； a Cartesian； an Eclectic （that is； a sort of _juste…milieu_）； a Monarchist； an Aristocrat； a Constitutionalist； a follower of Babeuf； and a Communist。 I have wandered through a whole encyclopaedia of systems。 Do you think it surprising； sir； that； among them all； I was for a short time a Fourierist？
＇1＇ The Arians deny the divinity of Christ。 The Semi…Arians differ from the Arians only by a few subtle distinctions。 M。 Pierre Leroux； who regards Jesus as a man； but claims that the Spirit of God was infused into him； is a true Semi…Arian。
The Manicheans admit two co…existent and eternal principles；God and matter； spirit and flesh； light and darkness； good and evil； but； unlike the Phalansterians； who pretend to reconcile the two； the Manicheans make war upon matter； and labor with all their might for the destruction of the flesh； by condemning marriage and forbidding reproduction；which does not prevent them； however； from indulging in all the carnal pleasures which the intensest lust can conceive of。 In this last particular； the tendency of the Fourieristic morality is quite Manichean。
The Gnostics do not differ from the early Christians。 As their name indicates； they regarded themselves as inspired。 Fourier； who held peculiar ideas concerning the visions of somnambulists； and who believed in the possibility of developing the magnetic power to such an extent as to enable us to commune with invisible beings； might； if he were living； pass also for a Gnostic。
The Adamites attend mass entirely naked； from motives of chastity。 Jean Jacques Rousseau； who took the sleep of the senses for chastity； and who saw in modesty only a refinement of pleasure； inclined towards Adamism。 I know such a sect； whose members usually celebrate their mysteries in the costume of Venus coming from the bath。
The Pre…Adamites believe that men existed before the first man。 I once met a Pre…Adamite。 True； he was deaf and a Fourierist。
The Pelagians deny grace； and attribute all the merit of good works to liberty。 The Fourierists； who teach that man's nature and passions are good； are reversed Pelagians； they give all to grace； and nothing to liberty。
The Socinians； deists in all other respects； admit an original revelation。 Many people are Socinians to…day； who do not suspect it； and who regard their opinions as new。
The Neo…Christians are those simpletons who admire Christianity because it has produced bells and cathedrals。 Base in soul； corrupt in heart； dissolute in mind and senses； the Neo… Christians seek especially after the external form； and admire religion； as they love women； for its physical beauty。 They believe in a coming revelation； as well as a transfiguration of Catholicism。 They will sing masses at the grand spectacle in the phalanstery。
For my part； I am not at all surprised； although at present I have no recollection of it。 One thing is sure；that my superstition and credulity reached their height at the very period of my life which my critics reproachfully assign as the date of my Fourieristic beliefs。 Now I hold quite other views。 My mind no longer admits that which is demonstrated by syllogisms； analogies； or metaphors； which are the methods of the phalanstery； but demands a process of generalization and induction which excludes error。 Of my past OPINIONSS I retain absolutely none。 I have acquired some KNOWLEDGE。 I no longer BELIEVE。 I either KNOW； or am IGNORANT。 In a word； in seeking for the reason of things； I saw that I was a RATIONALIST。
Undoubtedly； it would have been simpler to begin where I have ended。 But then； if such is the law of the human mind； if all society； for six thousand years； has done nothing but fall into error； if all mankind are still buried in the darkness of faith； deceived by their prejudices and passions； guided only by the instinct of their leaders； if my accusers； themselves； are not free from sectarianism （for they call themselves FOURIERISTS）；am I alone inexcusable for having； in my inner self； at the secret tribunal of my conscience； begun anew the journey of our poor humanity？
I would by no means； then； deny my errors； but； sir； that which distinguishes me from those who rush into print is the fact that； though my thoughts have varied much； my writings do not vary。 To…day； even； and on a multitude of questions； I am beset by a thousand extravagant and contradictory opinions； but my opinions I do not print； for the public has nothing to do with them。 Before addressing my fellow…men； I wait until light breaks in upon the chaos of my ideas； in order that what I may say may be； not the whole truth （no man can know that）； but nothing but the truth。
This singular disposition of my mind to first identify itself with a system in order to better understand it； and then to reflect upon it in order to test its legitimacy； is the very thing which disgusted me with Fourier； and ruined in my esteem the societary school。 To be a faithful Fourierist； in fact； one must abandon his reason and accept every thing from a master； doctrine； interpretation； and application。 M。 Considerant； whose excessive intolerance anathematizes all who do not abide by his sovereign decisions； has no other conception