PROUDHON. "The law regulating only human relations, _it is the same for all_; so that, to establish exceptions, it will be necessary to prove that the individuals excepted are of superior order, or inferior to the human species."--_Creation of Order in Humanity._ AUTHOR. Now you admit that woman is neither superior nor inferior to the human species, but is identical in species with man; the law is therefore the same for her as for man. PROUDHON. I draw the contrary conclusion, _because man is the stronger_. AUTHOR. A contradiction, Master. PROUDHON. "Neither figure, nor birth, nor _the faculties_, nor fortune, nor rank, nor profession, nor talent, _nor anything which distinguishes individuals apart_, establishes between them a difference of species: all being men, and the law only regulating human relations, it is the same for all."--_Id._ AUTHOR. Now, woman is in essence identical with man; she differs from him only in manners and qualities which, according to you, by no means make her differ in essence; once more, therefore, the law is the same for her as for man. PROUDHON. It is logical; but I conclude the contrary, _because man is the stronger_. AUTHOR. A contradiction, Master. PROUDHON. "Social equilibrium is the equalization of the strong and the weak. So long as the strong and the weak are not equal, they are _strangers_, they cannot form an alliance, they are _enemies_."--1st _Memoir on Property_. AUTHOR. Now, according to you, man is the strong and woman the weak of an identical species; social equilibrium ought therefore to _equalize_ them, that they may be neither strangers nor enemies. PROUDHON. It is logical; but I claim that they should be _made unequal_ in society and in marriage. Man should have the prepotence, _because he is the stronger_. AUTHOR. A contradiction, Master. PROUDHON. "From the identity of reason in all men, and the sentiment of respect which leads them to maintain their mutual dignity at any cost, follows equality before justice."--(_Justice_, _Vol._ III, etc.) All are born free: between individual liberties there is no other judge than equilibrium, _which is equality_; the identity of essence does not permit the creation of a hierarchy.--_Vol._ II, the whole of the 8th _Study_. AUTHOR. Now, woman is in essence identical with man. She is born free; between her and man there is, therefore, no other judge than equality; it is not permissible, therefore, to establish a hierarchy between them. PROUDHON. It is logical. But I conclude, on the contrary, that it is necessary to create a hierarchy between the sexes, and to give the prepotence to man, _because he is the stronger_. AUTHOR. A contradiction, Master.