Epilogue: On the proximity of the social metamorphosis

Summary

What suspicions are likely to be aroused in people's minds as they reflect on this outline of past and future revolutions! At first they will be torn between curiosity and distrust, attracted by the idea of penetrating the mysteries of nature but afraid of being taken in by a clever fiction. Reason will tell them to doubt, while passion urges them to believe. Amazed to see a mere mortal unrolling the map of divine decrees before their eyes, providing a survey of eternity past and future, they will succumb to curiosity, they will tremble at the idea that a man has finally been able to

Dérober au destin ses augustes secrets;

and before the announcement of the experiment, even before the publication of my theory, I may well have more disciples to calm down than sceptics to convince.

The idea of the General Destinies I have just sketched in is too superficial not to provoke hundreds of objections, all of which I can foresee because they have frequently been raised in lectures where I have been able to provide much fuller answers than I am able to do in this treatise. So it would be quite pointless for me to try to allay these doubts until after I have explained the mechanism of progressive Series, which will clarify whatever is obscure and settle all conceivable objections.

Until then I shall do no more than remind you that the first two treatises will not be concerned with the theory of Social Movement.