In this essay, Tolstoy fundamentally questions the true significance of science and art in human life and society. He argues that modern science and art have often served to justify the comfort and dominance of privileged classes rather than promote moral and social progress. Criticizing philosophies such as Hegelianism and Malthusian theory, he exposes how they have framed inequality as a natural and inevitable condition. Tolstoy views society as a living organism in which every individual should support the wellbeing of others. Ultimately, he calls for science and art to be redefined as tools that genuinely serve the moral and material needs of the broader human community.
