The young girl and young man enter into society. The prudent mother knows that it is gently insinuated to her son that she is a _prude_, a _dotard_ who knows nothing of the passions; who does not suspect that _everything in nature is good_, and should be respected; and who has read the history of our species to so little purpose that she has not perceived that humanity has love in all forms: the _polygamic_ and _polyandric_, and even ... the _ambiguous_. She knows also, that he is told that the satisfaction of the animal instinct is necessary to the _health_ of man, and that brothels are places of public utility. She knows, lastly, that young and giddy girls, with lax principles, make dangerous confidences to her daughter. It is time, in opposition to these lax doctrines and pernicious examples, to give to her children the philosophy of Love. According to her method, she suffers is to elucidate itself. My son, says she, what is the end of the attraction of mineral molecules towards each other? SON. The _production_ of a body having a determined form. MOTHER. What is the end of the attraction of the plant for heat, light, air, the elements which it absorbs? SON. The _production_ of its own body, the development of its organs, and of its properties, its preservation. MOTHER. And do you know, my daughter, what is the end of the attraction of the pistil and stamens of the flower. DAUGHTER. The _production_ of a being resembling its parents. MOTHER. Why do we as well as the animals experience an inclination or attraction for certain kinds of food? SON. It is evidently in order to incite to action the organs which procure to the organism the elements adapted to _produce_ blood. MOTHER. Why do both sexes of the same species experience an attraction towards each other? DAUGHTER. For the _production_ of young to perpetuate the species. MOTHER. Why do the females, and often males among animals experience an inclination or attraction to take care of the young? DAUGHTER. In order to preserve them and to educate them as far as is in their power, that they may be able to provide for themselves. MOTHER. Are you quite sure, my children, that the end of these attractions is not the attraction itself, the procurement of a pleasure? SON. The pleasure seems to me only the means of impelling the being to fulfill a necessary or useful function. Thus the end of our scientific, artistic and industrial inclinations or attractions is not the pleasure which we take in their satisfaction, but the _production_ of science, art and industry. DAUGHTER. That is, the increase and progress of our intellect through the knowledge of the laws of Nature, in order to modify this nature with a view to our wants and pleasures. MOTHER. To what inclination or attraction is Society due? SON. To our attraction for our fellow beings. DAUGHTER. This attraction is the father of Justice and of Goodness: it _produces_ them.