"THEmoreIthinkofit,"saysMr。Ruskin,"Ifindthisconclusionmoreimpresseduponme——thatthegreatestthingahumansouleverdoesinthisworldistoseesomething,andtellwhatitsawinaplainway。"Inthesepagesanattemptismadetotell"inaplainway"afewofthethingswhichScienceisnowseeingwithregardtotheAscentofMan。Whethertheseseeingsarethereatallisanothermatter。But,evenifvisions,everythinkingmind,throughwhatevermedium,shouldlookatthem。WhatSciencehastosayabouthimselfisoftranscendentinteresttoMan,andthepracticalbearingsofthisthemearecomingtobemorevitalthananyonthefieldofknowledge。Thethreadwhichbindsthefactsis,itistrue,butahypothesisAsthetheory,nevertheless。
withwhichatpresentallscientificworkisbeingdone,itisassumedineverypagethatfollows。
Thoughitsstand-pointisEvolutionanditssubjectMan,thisbookisfarfrombeingdesignedtoprovethatManhasrelations,compromisingorotherwise,withloweranimals。ItsthemeisAscent,notDescent。ItisaHistory,notanArgument。AndEvolution,inthenarrowsenseinwhichitisoftenusedwhenappliedtoMan,playslittlepartinthedramaoutlinedhere。SofarasthegeneralschemeofEvolutionisintroduced——andintheIntroductionandelsewherethisisdoneatlength——theobjectistheimportantoneofpointingouthowitsnaturehasbeenmisconceived,indeedhowitsgreatestfactorhasbeenoverlookedinalmostallcontemporaryscientificthinking。Evolutionwasgiventothemodernworldoutoffocus,wasfirstseenbyitoutoffocus,andhasremainedoutoffocustothepresenthour。Itsgeneralbasishasneverbeenre-examinedsincethetimeofMr。Darwin;andnotonlysuchspeculativesciencesasTeleology,butworkingscienceslikeSociologyhavebeenledastraybyafundamentalomission。AnEvolutionTheorydrawntoscale,andwiththelightsandshadowsproperlyadjusted——adjustedtothewholetruthandrealityofNatureandofMan——isneededatpresentasastandardformodernthought;
andthoughareconstructionofsuchmagnitudeisnotherepresumed,aprimaryobjectofthesepagesistosupplyatleasttheaccentsforsuchascheme。
Beyondanattemptedreadjustmentoftheaccentsthereisnothinghereforthespecialist——except,itmaybe,thereflectionofhisownwork。Nor,apartfromTeleology,isthereanythingforthetheologian。
Thelimitationsofalecture-audiencemadethetreatmentofsuchthemesasmightappealtohimimpossible;whileowingtothebrevityofthecourse,theAscenthadtobestoppedatapointwhereallthehigherinterestbegins。
AllthatthepresentvolumecoversistheAscentofMan,theIndividual,duringtheearlierstagesofhisevolution。Itisastudyinembryos,inrudiments,ininstallations;thesceneistheprimevalforest;thedate,theworld'sdawn。TracinghisriseasfarasFamilyLife,thishistorydoesnotevenfollowhimintotheTribe;andasitisonlythenthatsocialandmorallifebegininearnest,noformaldiscussionofthesehighthemesoccurs。AllthehigherforcesandphenomenawithwhichthesciencesofPsychology,Ethics,andTheologyusuallydealcomeontheworld'sstageatalaterdate,andnooneneedbesurprisedifthesemi-savagewithwhomweleaveoffisfoundwantinginsomanyofthehigherpotentialitiesofahumanbeing。
TheAscentofMankind,asdistinguishedfromtheAscentoftheIndividual,wasoriginallysummarizedinoneortwoclosinglectures,butthisstupendoussubjectwouldrequireavolumeforitself,andthesefragmentshavebeenomittedforthepresent。Doubtlessitmaydisappointsomethatatthecloseofallthebewilderingvicissitudesrecordedhere,Manshouldappear,afterall,sopooracreature。Butthegreatlinesofhisyoutharethelinesofhismaturity,anditisonlybystudyingthese,inthemselvesandinwhattheyconnote,thatthenatureofEvolutionandthequalityofHumanprogresscanbeperceived。
HENRYDRUMMOND。
TheAscentofMan-CONTENTSCONTENTSINTRODUCTIONI。EVOLUTIONINGENERAL
II。THEMISSINGFACTORINCURRENTTHEORIES
III。WHYWASEVOLUTIONTHEMETHODCHOSEN?
IV。EVOLUTIONANDSOCIOLOGYCHAPTERITHEASCENTOFTHEBODYCHAPTERIITHESCAFFOLDINGLEFTINTHEBODYCHAPTERIIITHEARRESTOFTHEBODYCHAPTERIVTHEDAWNOFMINDCHAPTERVTHEEVOLUTIONOFLANGUAGECHAPTERVITHESTRUGGLEFORLIFECHAPTERVIITHESTRUGGLEFORTHELIFEOFOTHERSCHAPTERVIIITHEEVOLUTIONOFAMOTHERCHAPTERIXTHEEVOLUTIONOFAFATHERCHAPTERXINVOLUTION
TheAscentofMan-INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTIONIEVOLUTIONINGENERALTHElastromanceofScience,themostdaringithasevertriedtopen,istheStoryoftheAscentofMan。Withheldfromallthewistfuleyesthathavegonebefore,whosereverentignoranceforbadetheirwisestmindstoasktoseeit,thisfinalvolumeofNaturalHistoryhasbeguntoopenwithourcentury'sclose。
InthemonographsofHisandMinot,theEmbryologyofManhasalreadyreceivedajustexpression;DarwinandHaeckelhavetracedtheoriginoftheAnimal-Body;
theresearchesofRomanesmarkabeginningwiththeEvolutionofMind;
HerbertSpencerhaselaboratedtheoriesofthedevelopmentofMorals;EdwardCairdoftheEvolutionofReligion。Supplementingthecontributionsoftheseauthorities,verifying,criticizing,combating,rebutting,thereworksamultitudeofotherswhohavedevotedtheirlivestothesamerichproblems,andalreadyeverychapterofthebewilderingstoryhasfounditseditors。
Yet,singularthoughtheomissionmayseem,noconnectedoutlineofthisgreatdramahasyetbeengivenus。Theseresearches,preliminaryreconnaissancesthoughtheybe,aresurelyworthyofbeinglookeduponasawhole。Noonecansaythatthismultitudeofobserversisnotinearnest,northeirworkhonest,northeirmethodscompetenttothelastpowersofscience。Whatevertheuncertaintyofthefield,itisduetothesepioneermindstotreattheirlabourwithrespect。Whattheyseeintheunexploredlandinwhichtheytravelbelongstotheworld。Byjustsuchmethods,andbyjustsuchmen,themapoftheworldofthoughtisfilledin——herefromthetracingupofsomegreatriver,therefromabearingtakenroughlyinadarkenedsky,yonderfromasuddenglintofthesunonafar-offmountain-peak,orbyaswiftinductionofanadventurousmindfromamomentaryglimpseofanaturallaw。Soknowledgegrows;andinacenturywhichhasaddedtothesumofhumanlearningmorethanallthecenturiesthatarepast,itisnottobeconceivedthatsomefurtherrevelationshouldnotawaitusonthehighestthemesofall。
ThedayisforeverpastwhenscienceneedapologizefortreatingManasanobjectofnaturalresearch。Hamlet's"beingoflargediscourse,lookingbeforeandafter"iswithalapartofNature,andcanbemadeneitherlargernorsmaller,anticipatelessnorprophesyless,becauseweinvestigate,andperhapsdiscover,thesecretofhispast。
Andshouldthatpastbeprovedtoberelatedinundreamed-ofwaystothatofallotherthingsinNature,"allotherthings"havethattogainbythealliancewhichphilosophyandtheologyforcenturieshavestriventowinforthem。Everystepintheproofoftheonenessinauniversalevolutionaryprocessofthisdivinehumanityofoursisastepintheproofofthedivinityofalllowerthings。Andwhatisofinfinitelygreatermoment,eachfootprintdiscoveredintheAscentofManisaguidetothesteptobetakennext。
Todiscovertherationaleofsocialprogressistheambitionofthisage。
Thereisanextraordinaryhumaninterestabroadaboutthispresentworlditself,ayearningdesire,notfromcuriousbutforpracticalreasons,tofindsomelightuponthecourse;andasthegoalcomesnearertheeagernesspassesintosuspensetoknowtheshortestandthequickestroadtoreachit。HencetheAscentofManisnotonlythenoblestproblemwhichsciencecaneverstudy,butthepracticalbearingsofthisthemearegreatbeyondanyotherontherollofknowledge。
Nowthatthefirstrashrushoftheevolutionaryinvasionispast,andthesinsofitsyouthatonedforbysoberconcession,Evolutionisseentobeneithermorenorlessthanthestoryofcreationastoldbythosewhoknowitbest。"Evolution,"saysMr。Huxley,"ordevelopmentisatpresentemployedinbiologyasageneralnameforthehistoryofthestepsbywhichanylivingbeinghasacquiredthemorphologicalandthephysiologicalcharacterswhichdistinguishit。"[1]ThoughappliedspecificallytoplantsandanimalsthisdefinitionexpressesthechiefsenseinwhichEvolutionistobeusedscientificallyatpresent。
Weshallusetheword,nodoubt,inothersofitsmanysenses;butafterallthebloodspilt,Evolutionissimply"history,"a"historyofsteps,"
a"generalname"forthehistoryofthestepsbywhichtheworldhascometobewhatitis。Accordingtothisgeneraldefinition,thestoryofEvolutionisnarrative。Itmaybewronglytold;itmaybecoloured,exaggerated,over-orunder-statedliketherecordofanyothersetoffacts;itmaybetoldwithatheologicalbiasorwithananti-theologicalbias;theoriesoftheprocessmaybeaddedbythisthinkerorbythat;butthesearenotofthesubstanceofthestory。WhetherhistoryistoldbyaGibbonoraGreenthefactsremain,andwhetherEvolutionbetoldbyaHaeckeloraWallaceweacceptthenarrativesofarasitisarenderingofNature,andnomore。Itistrue,beforethisstorycanbefullytold,centuriesstillmustpass。Atpresentthereisnotachapteroftherecordthatiswhollyfinished。Themanuscriptisalreadywornwitherasures,thewritingisoftenblurred,theverylanguageisuncouthandstrange。Yetevennowtheoutlineofacontinuousstoryisbeginningtoappear——astorywhosechiefcredentialliesinthefactthatnoimaginationofmancouldhavedesignedaspectaclesowonderful,orworkedoutaplotatoncesointricateandsotranscendentlysimple。
Thisstorywillbeoutlinedherepartlyforthestoryandpartlyforapurpose。Ahistoriandarenothaveaprejudice,buthecannotescapeapurpose——thepurpose,consciousorunconscious,ofunfoldingthepurposewhichliesbehindthefactswhichhenarrates。
Theinterestofadrama——theauthorshipoftheplayapart——isintheplayers,theircharacter,theirmotives,andthetendencyoftheiraction。Itisimpossibletotreattheseplayersasautomata。Evenifautomata,thoseintheaudiencearenot。Hence,whereinterpretationseemslawful,orcommentwarrantedbythefacts,neitherwillhewithheld。
TogiveanaccountofEvolution,itneedscarcelyberemarked,isnottoaccountforit。NolivingthinkerhasyetfounditpossibletoaccountforEvolution。Mr。HerbertSpencer'sfamousdefinitionofEvolutionas"achangefromanindefiniteincoherenthomogeneitytoadefinitecoherentheterogeneitythroughcontinuousdifferentiationsandintegrations"[2]——theformulaofwhichtheContemporaryReviewerremarkedthat"theuniversemaywellhaveheavedasighofreliefwhen,throughthecerebrationofaneminentthinker,ithadbeendeliveredofthisaccountofitself"——issimplyasummaryofresults,andthrowsnolight,thoughitisoftensupposedtodoso,uponultimatecauses。Whileitistrue,asMr。Wallaceaffirmsinhislatestwork,that"Descentwithmodificationisnowuniversallyacceptedastheorderofnatureintheorganicworld,"thereiseverywhereatthismomentthemostdisturbinguncertaintyastohowtheAscentevenofspecieshasbeenbroughtabout。TheattacksontheDarwiniantheoryfromtheoutsidewereneversokeenasarethecontroversiesnowraginginscientificcircles,overthefundamentalprinciplesofDarwinismitself。
Onatleasttwomainpoints——sexualselectionandtheoriginofthehighermentalcharacteristicsofman——MrAlfredRusselWallace,co-discovererwithDarwinoftheprincipleofNaturalSelectionthoughhebe,directlyopposeshiscolleague。ThepowerfulattackofWeismannontheDarwinianassumptionoftheinheritabilityofacquiredcharactershasopenedoneoftheliveliestcontroversiesofrecentyears,andthewholefieldofscienceishotwithcontroversiesanddiscussions。Inhis`GermPlasm,'
theGermannaturalistbelieveshimselftohavefinallydisposedofbothDarwin's"gemmules"andHerbertSpencer's"primordialunits,"whileEimerbreaksalancewithWeismannindefenceofDarwin,andHerbertSpencerrepliesforhimself,assuringusthat"eithertherehasbeeninheritanceofacquiredcharactersortherehasbeennoevolution。"
ItisthegreatestcomplimenttoDarwinismthatitshouldhavesurvivedtodeservethiseraofcriticism。MeantimeallprudentmencanbutholdtheirjudgmentinsuspensebothastothatspecifictheoryofonedepartmentofEvolutionwhichiscalledDarwinism,andastothefactorsandcausesofEvolutionitself。NooneasksmoreofEvolutionatpresentthanpermissiontouseitasaworkingtheory。
UndoubtedlytherearecasesnowbeforeSciencewhereitismorethantheory——thedemonstrationfromYale,forinstance,oftheEvolutionoftheHorse;andfromSteinheimofthetransmutationofPlanorbis。Inthesecasesthemissinglinkshavecomeinoneafteranother,andinseriessoperfect,thattheevidencefortheirevolutionisirresistible。"OntheevidenceofPalaeontology,"
saysMr。HuxleyintheEncyclopaediaBritannica,"theevolutionofmanyexistingformsofanimallifefromtheirpredecessorsisnolongeranhypothesisbutanhistoricalfact。"AndevenastoMan,mostnaturalistsagreewithMr。Wallacewho"fullyacceptsMr。Darwin'sconclusionastotheessentialidentityofMan'sbodilystructurewiththatofthehighermammaliaandhisdescentfromsomeancestralformcommontomanandtheanthropoidapes,"for"theevidenceofsuchdescentappearsoverwhelmingandconclusive。"[3]ButastothedevelopmentofthewholeManitissufficientforthepresenttorankitasatheory,nomatterhowimpressivetheconvictionbethatitismore。Withoutsomehypothesisnoworkcaneverbedone,and,aseveryoneknows,manyofthegreatestcontributionstohumanknowledgehavebeenmadebytheuseoftheorieseitherseriouslyimperfectordemonstrablyfalse。ThisistheageoftheevolutionofEvolution。AllthoughtsthattheEvolutionistworkswith,alltheoriesandgeneralizations,havebeenthemselvesevolvedandarenowbeingevolved。Evenwerehistheoryperfected,itsfirstlessonwouldbethatitwasitselfbutaphaseoftheEvolutionoffurtheropinion,nomorefixedthanaspecies,nomorefinalthanthetheorywhichitdisplaced。OfallmentheEvolutionist,bytheverynatureofhiscalling,themeretoolsofhiscraft,hisunderstandingofhishourlyshiftingplaceinthisalwaysmovingandevermoremysteriousworld,mustbehumble,tolerant,andundogmatic。
These,nevertheless,arecoldwordswithwhichtospeakofaVision——forEvolutionisafterallaVision——whichisrevolutionizingtheworldofNatureandofthought,and,withinlivingmemory,hasopenedupavenuesintothepastandvistasintothefuturesuchassciencehasneverwitnessedbefore。WhilemanyofthedetailsofthetheoryofEvolutionareinthecrucibleofcriticism,andwhilethefieldofmodernsciencechangeswithsuchrapiditythatinalmosteverydepartmentthetextbooksoftenyearsagoareobsoleteto-day,itisfairtoaddthatnooneofthesechanges,norallofthemtogether,havetouchedthegeneraltheoryitselfexcepttoestablishitsstrength,itsvalue,anditsuniversality。
Evenmoreremarkablethantherapidityofitsconquestistheauthoritywithwhichthedoctrineofdevelopmenthasseemedtospeaktothemostauthoritativemindsofourtime。Ofthosewhoareinthefrontrank,ofthosewhobytheirknowledgehave,bycommonconsent,therighttospeak,therearescarcelyanywhodonotinsomeformemployitinworkingandinthinking。Authoritymaymeanlittle;theworldhasoftenbeenmistaken;
butwhenmindssodifferentasthoseofCharlesDarwinandofT。H。Green,ofHerbertSpencerandofRobertBrowning,buildhalfthelaboursoftheirlifeonthisonelaw,itisimpossible,andespeciallyintheabsenceofanyotherevencompetingprincipleatthepresenthour,totreatitasabaselessdream。Onlythepeculiarnatureofthisgreatgeneralizationcanaccountfortheextraordinaryenthusiasmofthisacceptance。EvolutionhasdoneforTimewhatAstronomyhasdoneforSpace。AssublimetothereasonastheScienceoftheStars,asoverpoweringtotheimagination,ithasthrowntheuniverseintoafreshperspective,andgiventhehumanmindanewdimension。Evolutioninvolvesnotsomuchachangeofopinionasachangeinman'swholeviewoftheworldandoflife。Itisnotthestatementofamathematicalpropositionwhichmenarecalledupontodeclaretrueorfalse。ItisamethodoflookinguponNature。Scienceforcenturiesdevoteditselftothecataloguingoffactsandthediscoveryoflaws。Eachworkertoiledinhisownlittleplace——thegeologistinhisquarry,thebotanistinhisgarden,thebiologistinhislaboratory,theastronomerinhisobservatory,thehistorianinhislibrary,thearchaeologistinhismuseum。Suddenlytheseworkerslookedup;theyspoketooneanother;
theyhadeachdiscoveredalaw;theywhispereditsname。ItwasEvolution。
Henceforththeirworkwasone,sciencewasone,theworldwasone,andmind,whichdiscoveredtheoneness,wasone。
Suchbeingthescopeofthetheory,itisessentialthatforitsinterpretationthisuniversalcharacterberecognized,andnophenomenoninnatureorinhumannaturebeleftoutofthefinalreckoning。Itisequallyclearthatinmakingthatinterpretationwemustbeginwiththefinalproduct,Man。IfEvolutioncanbeprovedtoincludeMan,thewholecourseofEvolutionandthewholeschemeofNaturefromthatmomentassumeanewsignificanceThebeginningmustthenbeinterpretedfromtheend,nottheendfromthebeginning。Anengineeringworkshopisunintelligibleuntilwereachtheroomwherethecompletedenginestands。
Everythingculminatesinthatfinalproduct,iscontainedinit,isexplainedbyit。TheEvolutionofManisalsothecomplementandcorrectiveofallotherformsofEvolution。Fromthisheightonlyisthereafullview,atrueperspective,aconsistentworld。ThewholemistakeofnaturalismhasbeentointerpretNaturefromthestandpointoftheatom——tostudythemachinerywhichdrivesthisgreatmovingworldsimplyasmachinery,forgettingthattheshiphasanypassengers,orthepassengersanycaptain,orthecaptainanycourse。Itisasgreatamistake,ontheotherhand,forthetheologiantoseparateofftheshipfromthepassengersasforthenaturalisttoseparateoffthepassengersfromtheship。ItishewhocannotincludeManamongthelinksofEvolutionwhohasgreatlytofearthetheoryofdevelopment。Inhisjealousyforthatreligionwhichseemstohimhigherthanscience,heremovesatoncetherationalbasisfromreligionandthelegitimatecrownfromscience,forgettingthatinsodoingheofferstotheworldanunnaturalreligionandaninhumanscience。ThecureforallthesmallmentaldisorderswhichspringuparoundrestrictedapplicationsofEvolutionistoextenditfearlesslyinalldirectionsasfarasthemindcancarryitandthefactsallow,tilleachman,workingathissubordinatepart,iscompelledtoown,andadjusthimselfto,thewhole。
Ifthetheologicalmindbecalledupontomakethisexpansion,thescientificmanmustbeaskedtoenlargehisviewinanotherdirection。IfheinsistsuponincludingManinhisschemeofEvolution,hemustseetoitthatheincludethewholeMan。ForhimatleastnoformofEvolutionisscientificoristobeconsidered,whichdoesnotincludethewholeMan,andallthatisinMan,andalltheworkandthoughtandlifeandaspirationofMan。Thegreatmoralfacts,themoralforcessofarastheyareprovedtoexist,themoralconsciousnesssofarasitisreal,mustcomewithinitsscope。HumanHistorymustbeasmuchapartofitasNaturalHistory。Thesocialandreligiousforcesmustnomorebeleftoutsidethantheforcesofgravitationoroflife。
ThereasonwhythenaturalistdoesnotusuallyincludetheseamongthefactorsinEvolutionisnotoversight,butundersight。Sometimes,nodoubt,hemaytakeattheirwordthosewhoassurehimthatEvolutionhasnothingtodowiththosehigherthings,butthemainreasonissimplythathisworkdoesnotlieonthelevelswherethoseforcescomeintoplay。Thespecialistisnottobeblamedforthis;limitationishisstrength。Butwhenthespecialistproceedstoreconstructtheuniversefromhislittlecornerofit,andespeciallyfromhislevelofit,henotonlyinjuresscienceandphilosophy,butmayfatallymisleadhisneighbours。ThemanwhoisbusywiththestarswillnevercomeacrossNaturalSelection,yetsurelymustheallowforNaturalSelectioninhisconstructionoftheworldasawhole。Hewhoworksamongstar-fishwillencounterlittleofMentalEvolution,yetwillhenotdenythatitexists。Thestarshavevoices,butthereareothervoices;thestar-fisheshaveactivities,butthereareotheractivities。Man,body,soul,spirit,arenotonlytobeconsidered,butarefirsttobeconsideredinanytheoryoftheworld。Youcannotdescribethelifeofkings,orarrangetheirkingdoms,fromthecellarbeneaththepalace。"Art,"asBrowningremindsus,"Mustfumbleforthewhole,oncefixingonapart,Howeverpoor,surpassthefragment,andaspireToreconstructtherebytheultimateentire。"IITHEMISSINGFACTORINCURRENTTHEORIESButitisnotsomuchinignoringManthatevolutionaryphilosophyhasgoneastray;for,ofthaterrorithasseriouslybeguntorepent。Whatwehavenowtochargeagainstit,whatisamainobjectofthesepagestopointout,isthatithasmisreadNatureherself。In"fixingonapart"wherebyto"reconstructtheultimate,"ithasfixeduponapartwhichisnotthemostvitalpart,andthereconstructions,therefore,havecometobewhollyoutoffocus。Fixuponthewrong"part,"andtheinstabilityofthefabricbuiltuponitisaforegoneconclusion。Now,althoughreconstructionsofthecosmosinthelightofEvolutionarethechieffeatureofthescienceofourtime,inalmostnocasedoesevenahintofthetruescientificstandpointappeartobeperceived。Andalthoughitanticipatesmuchthatweshouldprefertoleaveuntoucheduntilitappearsinitsnaturalsetting,thegravityoftheissuesmakesitessentialtosummarizethewholesituationnow。
Therootoftheerrorlies,indirectlyratherthandirectly,withMr。Darwin。In1859,throughthepublicationoftheOriginofSpecies,heofferedtotheworldwhatpurportedtobethefinalcluetothecourseoflivingNature。ThatcluewastheprincipleoftheStruggleforLife。Aftertheyearsofstormandstresswhichfollowtheintrusionintotheworldofallgreatthoughts,thisprinciplewasuniversallyacceptedasthekeytoallthescienceswhichdealwithlife。
SoceaselesswasMr。Darwin'semphasisuponthisfactor,andsomasterfulhisinfluence,that,afterthefirstsharpconflict,eventhecontroversydieddown。WithscarceachallengetheStruggleforLifebecameacceptedbythescientificworldasthegoverningfactorindevelopment,andthedramaofEvolutionwasmadetohingeentirelyuponitsaction。Itbecamethe"part"fromwhichsciencehenceforthwenton"toreconstructthewhole,"
andbiology,sociology,andteleology,werebuiltanewonthisfoundation。
ThattheStruggleforLifehasbeenaprominentactorinthedramaiscertain。Furtherresearchhasonlydeepenedtheimpressionofthemagnitudeanduniversalityofthisgreatandfar-reachinglaw。ButthatitisthesoleoreventhemainagentintheprocessofEvolutionmustbedenied。Creationisadrama,andnodramawaseverputuponthestagewithonlyoneactor。TheStruggleforLifeisthe"Villain"ofthepiece,nomore;and,likethe"Villain"intheplay,itschieffunctionistore-actupontheotherplayersforhigherends。Thereis,inpointoffact,asecondfactorwhichonemightventuretocalltheStrugglefortheLifeofOthers,whichplaysanequallyprominentpart。
Evenintheearlystagesofdevelopment,itscontributionisasreal,whileintheworld'slaterprogress——underthenameofAltruism——itassumesasovereigntybeforewhichtheearlierStrugglesinksintoinsignificance。
ThatthissecondformofStruggleshouldallbuthaveescapedthenoticeofEvolutionistsisthemoreunaccountablesinceitarises,likethefirst,outofthosefundamentalfunctionsoflivingorganismswhichitisthemainbusinessofbiologicalsciencetoinvestigate。Thefunctionsdischargedbyalllivingthings,plantandanimal,aretwo[4]innumber。ThefirstisNutrition,thesecondisReproduction。ThefirstisthebasisoftheStruggleforLife;thesecond,oftheStrugglefortheLifeofOthers。Thesetwofunctionsruntheirparallelcourse——orspiralcourse,fortheycontinuouslyintertwine——fromtheverydawnoflife。Theyareinvolvedinthefundamentalnatureofprotoplasmitself。Theyaffecttheentireroundoflife;theydeterminethewholemorphologyoflivingthings;inasensetheyarelife。Yet,inconstructingthefabricofEvolution,oneofthesehasbeentaken,theotherleft。
Partlybecauseofthelimitationsofitspurelyphysicalname,andpartlybecauseithasneverbeenworkedoutasanevolutionaryforce,thefunctionofReproductionwillrequiretobeintroducedtothereaderinsomedetail。Buttorealizeitsimportanceoreventounderstandit,itwillbenecessarytorecalltoourmindsthesupremeplacewhichfunctiongenerallyholdsintheeconomyoflife。
LifetoananimalortoaManisnotarandomseriesofefforts。Itscourseissetasrigidlyasthecoursesofthestars。
Allitsmovementsandchanges,itsapparentdeflectionsandperturbationsareguidedbyunalterablepurposes;itsenergiesandcapricesdefinitelycontrolled。Whatcontrolsitareitsfunctions。Theseandtheseonlydeterminelife;livingouttheseislife。Tracebackanyone,orall,ofthecountlessactivitiesofananimal'slife,anditwillbefoundthattheyareatbottomconnectedwithoneorotherofthetwogreatfunctionswhichmanifestthemselvesinprotoplasm。Takeanyorganofthebody——handorfoot,eyeorear,heartorlung——oranytissueofthebody——muscleornerve,boneorcartilage——anditwillbefoundtobeconnectedeitherwithNutritionorwithReproduction。
Justaseverythingaboutanengine,everybolt,bar,valve,crank,lever,wheel,hassomethingtodowiththeworkofthatengine,everythingaboutananimal'sbodyhassomethingtodowiththeworkprescribedbythosetwofunctions。Ananimal,oraMan,isaconsistentwhole,arationalproduction。
Nowtherationaleoflivingstandsrevealedtousinprotoplasm。Protoplasmsetslifeitstask。Livingcanonlybedonealongitslines。Therestartthechannelsinwhichalllifemustrun,andthoughthechannelsbifurcateendlesslyastimegoeson,andthoughmorelifeandfullerisevercoursingthroughthem,itcanneveroverflowthebanksappointedfromthebeginning。
Butthisisnotall。Theactivitiesevenofthehigherlife,thoughnotqualitativelylimitedbythelower,aredeterminedbythesesamelines。Werethesefactsonlyrelevantinthedomainofphysiology,theywouldbeofsmallaccountinastudyoftheAscentofMan。ButthemoreprofoundlytheEvolutionofManisinvestigatedthemoreclearlyisitseenthatthewholecourseofhisdevelopmenthasbeenconductedonthisfundamentalbasis。Life,alllife,higherorlower,isanorganicunity。Naturemayvaryhereffects,mayintroducequalitativechangessostupendousastomaketheiraffinitieswithlowerthingsunthinkable,butshehasneverre-laidthefoundationsoftheworld。EvolutionbeganwithprotoplasmandendedwithMan,andallthewaybetween,thedevelopmenthasbeenasymmetrywhosesecretliesinthetwoorthreegreatcrystallizingforcesrevealedtousthroughthisfirstbasis。
Havingrealizedthesignificanceofthephysiologicalfunctions,letusnowaddressourselvestotheirmeaningandconnotations。
Thefirst,thefunctionofNutrition,onwhichtheStruggleforLifedepends,requiresnoexplanation。Mr。Darwinwascarefultogivetohisfavouritephrase,theStruggleforLife,awidermeaningthanthatwhichassociatesitmerelywithNutrition;butthisqualificationseemslargelytohavebeenlostsightof——tosomeextentevenbyhimself——andtheprincipleasitstandsto-dayinscientificandphilosophicaldiscussionispracticallysynonymouswiththeStruggleforFood。AstimegoesonthisStruggle——atfirstaconflictwithNatureandtheelements,sustainedbyhunger,andintensifiedbycompetition——assumesmanydisguises,andisultimatelyknowninthemodernworldunderthenamesofWarandIndustry。Intheselaterphasestheearlyfunctionofprotoplasmisobscured,butonthelastanalysis,WarandIndustry——pursuitsinwhichhalftheworldisnowengaged——areseentobesimplyitsnaturaldevelopments。
Theimplicationsofthesecondfunction,Reproduction,liefurtherfromthesurface。TosaythatReproductionissynonymouswiththeStrugglefortheLifeofOthersconveysatfirstlittlemeaning,forthephysiologicalaspectsofthefunctionpersistinthemind,andmakeevenaglimpseofitstruecharacterdifficult。Intwoorthreechaptersinthetext,theimplicationsofthisfunctionwillbeexplainedatlength,andthereaderwhoissufficientlyinterestedintheimmediateproblem,orwhoseesthatthereisheresomethingtobeinvestigated,maydowelltoturntotheseatonce。SufficeitforthemomenttosaythatthephysiologicalaspectsoftheStrugglefortheLifeofOthersaresoovershadowedeventowardsthecloseoftheAnimalKingdombythepsychicalandethicalthatitisscarcelynecessarytoemphasizetheformeratall。One'sfirstandnaturalassociationwiththeStrugglefortheLifeofOthersiswithsomethingdoneforposterity——intheplanttheStruggletoproduceseeds,intheanimaltobegetyoung。Butthisisapreliminarywhich,comparedwithwhatdirectlyandindirectlyrisesoutofit,maybealmostpassedover。Thesignificantnoteisethical,thedevelopmentofOther-ism,asAltruism——itsimmediateandinevitableoutcome。Watchanyhigheranimalatthatmostcriticalofallhours——foritself,andforitsspecies——thehourwhenitgivesbirthtoanothercreaturelikeitself。Passoverthepurelyphysiologicalprocessesofbirth;observethebehaviouroftheanimal-motherinpresenceofthenewandhelplesslifewhichpalpitatesbeforeher。Thereitlies,tremblinginthebalancebetweenlifeanddeath。Hungertorturesit;coldthreatensit;dangerbesetsit;itsblindexistencehangsbyathread。
ThereistheopportunityofEvolution。Thereisanopeningappointedinthephysicalorderfortheintroductionofamoralorder。IfthereismoreinNaturethantheselfishStruggleforLifethesecretcannowbetold。
Hitherto,theworldbelongedtotheFood-seeker,theSelf-seeker,theStrugglerforLife,theFather。NowisthehouroftheMother。And,animalthoughshebe,sherisestohertask。Andthathour,assheministerstoheryoung,becomestotheworldthehourofitsholiestbirth。
Sympathy,tenderness,unselfishness,andthelonglistofvirtueswhichmakeupAltruism,arethedirectoutcomeandessentialaccompanimentofthereproductiveprocess。Withoutsomerudimentarymaternalsolicitudefortheegginthehumblestformsoflife,orfortheyoungamonghigherforms,thelivingworldwouldnotonlysuffer,butwouldcease。Foratimeinthelifehistoryofeveryhigheranimalthedirect,personal,gratuitous,unrewardedhelpofanothercreatureisaconditionofexistence。EveninthelowliestworldofplantsthelaboursofMaternitybegin,andtheanimalkingdomcloseswiththecreationofaclassinwhichthisfunctionisperfectedtoitslastconceivableexpression。ThevicariousprincipleisshotthroughandthroughthewholevastwebofNature;andifoneactorhasplayedamightierpartthananotherinthedramaofthepast,ithasbeenself-sacrifice。WhatmorehascomeintohumanityalongthelineoftheStrugglefortheLifeofOtherswillbeshownlater。Butitisquitecertainthat,ofallthethingsthatministertothewelfareandgoodofMan,ofallthatmaketheworldvariedandfruitful,ofallthatmakesocietysolidandinteresting,ofallthatmakelifebeautifulandgladandworthy,byfarthelargerparthasreachedusthroughtheactivitiesoftheStrugglefortheLifeofOthers。
Howgravetheomissionofthissupremefactorfromourreckoning,howserioustheeffectuponourwholeviewofnature,mustnowappear。TimewaswhenthescienceofGeologywasinterpretedexclusivelyintermsoftheactionofasingleforce——fire。Thenfollowedthetheoriesofanopposingschoolwhosawalltheearth'sformationstobetheresultofwater。AnyBiology,anySociologyanyEvolution,whichisbasedonasinglefactor,isasuntrueastheoldGeology。ItisonlywhenboththeStruggleforLifeandtheStrugglefortheLifeofOthersarekeptinview,thatanyscientifictheoryofEvolutionispossible。Combinethem,contrastthem,assigneachitsplace,allowfortheirinter-actions,andtheschemeofNaturemaybeworkedoutintermsofthemtothelastdetail。Allalongtheline,throughthewholecourseofthedevelopment,thesetwofunctionsactandreactupononeanother;andcontinuallyastheyco-operatetoproduceasingleresult,theirspecificdifferencesareneverlost。
Thefirst,theStruggleforLife,is,throughout,theSelf-regardingfunction;thesecond,theOther-regardingfunction。
Thefirst,inlowerNature,obeyingthelawofself-preservation,devotesitsenergiestofeeditself;theother,obeyingthelawofspecies-preservation,tofeeditsyoung。Whilethefirstdevelopstheactivevirtuesofstrengthandcourage,theotherlaysthebasisforthepassivevirtues,sympathy,andlove。Inthelaterworldoneseeksitsendinpersonalaggrandizement,theotherinministration。Onebegetscompetition,self-assertion,war;
theotherunselfishness,self-effacement,peace。OneisIndividualism,theother,Altruism。
TosaythatnoethicalcontentcanbeputintothedischargeofeitherfunctionintheearlierreachesofNaturegoeswithoutsaying。Butthemomentwereachacertainheightinthedevelopment,ethicalimplicationsbegintoarise。These,inthecaseofthefirst,havebeenreadintoNature,loweraswellashigher,withanexaggeratedandmercilessmalevolence。Theothersidehasreceivedalmostnoexpression。
ThefinalresultisapictureofNaturewhollypaintedinshadow——apicturesodarkastobeachallengetoitsMaker,anunansweredproblemtophilosophy,anabidingoffencetothemoralnatureofMan。Theworldhasbeenhelduptousasonegreatbattlefieldheapedwiththeslain,anInfernoofinfinitesuffering,aslaughter-houseresoundingwiththecriesofaceaselessagony。
Beforethisversionofthetragedy,authenticatedbythehighestnamesontherollofscience,humanitywasdumb,moralitymystified,naturaltheologystultified。Atruerreadingmaynotwhollyrelievethefirst,enlightenthesecond,orre-instatethethird。Butitatleastre-openstheinquiry;andwhenallitsbearingscometobeperceived,thelightthrownuponthefieldofNaturebythesecondfactormaybemoreimpressivetoreasonthantheapparentshadowofthefirsttosense。
Torelievethestrainofthepositionforceduponethicsbytheone-sidedtreatmentoftheprocessofEvolution,heroicattemptshavebeenmade。Somehaveattemptedtomitigatetheamountofsufferingitinvolves,andassureusthat,afterall,theStruggle,exceptasametaphor,scarcelyexists。"Thereis,"protestsMr。AlfredRusselWallace,"goodreasontobelieve……thatthesupposed`torments`and`miseries`ofanimalshavelittlerealexistence,butarethereflectionoftheimaginedsensationsofcultivatedmenandwomeninsimilarcircumstances;
andthattheamountofactualsufferingcausedbytheStruggleforExistenceamonganimalsisaltogetherinsignificant。"[5]Mr。Huxley,ontheotherhand,willmakenocompromise。TheStruggleforLifetohimisaportentousfact,unmitigatedandunexplained。Nometaphorsarestrongenoughtodescribetheimplacabilityofitssway。"Themoralindifferenceofnature"and"theunfathomableinjusticeofthenatureofthings"everywherestarehimintheface。"Forhissuccessfulprogress,asfarasthesavagestate,Manhasbeenlargelyindebtedtothosequalitieswhichheshareswiththeapeandthetiger。"[6]Thatstagereached,"forthousandsandthousandsofyears,beforetheoriginoftheoldestknowncivilizations,menweresavagesofaverylowtype。
Theystrovewiththeirenemiesandtheircompetitors;theypreyeduponthingsweakerorlesscunningthanthemselves;theywereborn,multipliedwithoutstint,anddied,forthousandsofgenerations,alongsidethemammoth,theurus,thelion,andthehyaena,whoseliveswerespentinthesameway;andtheywerenomoretobepraisedorblamed,onmoralgrounds,thantheirlesserectandmorehairycompatriots……Lifewasacontinualfreefight,andbeyondthelimitedandtemporaryrelationsofthefamily,theHobbesianwarofeachagainstallwasthenormalstateofexistence。Thehumanspecies,likeothers,plashedandflounderedamidthegeneralstreamofevolution,keepingitsheadabovewaterasitbestmight,andthinkingneitherofwhencenorwhither。"[7]
HowthendoesMr。Huxleyact——foritisinstructivetofollowouttheconsequencesofanerror——inthefaceofthistremendousproblem?Hegivesitup。Thereisnosolution。Natureiswithoutexcuse。
Afterframinganindictmentagainstitintheseverestlanguageathiscommand,heturnshisbackuponNature——sub-humanNature,thatis——andleavesteleologytosettlethescoreasbestitcan。"Thehistoryofcivilization,"
hetellsus,"istherecordoftheattemptsofthehumanracetoescapefromthisposition。"Butwhitherdoeshebetakehimself?IshenotpartofNature,andthereforeasharerinitsguilt?Bynomeans。Forbyanastonishingtourdeforce——thelast,ashisformerassociatesintheevolutionaryrankshavenotfailedtoremindhim,whichmighthavebeenexpectedofhim——heejectshimselffromtheworld-order,andwasheshishandsofitinthenameofEthicalMan。AftersharingthefortunesofEvolutionallhislife,bearingitsburdensandsolvingitsdoubts,heabandonsitwithoutapang,andsetsupanimperiuminimperio,where,asamoralbeing,the`cosmic'Struggletroubleshimnomore。"CosmicNature,"hesays,inapartingshotathisformercitadel,"isnoschoolofvirtue,butthehead-quartersoftheenemyofethicalnature。"[8]SofarfromtheAscentofManrunningalongtheancientline,"Socialprogressmeansacheckingofthecosmicprocessateverystepandthesubstitutionforitofanother,whichmaybecalledtheethicalprocess;theendofwhichisnotthesurvivalofthosewhomayhappentobethefittest,inrespectofthewholeoftheconditionswhichexist,butofthosewhoareethicallythebest。"[9]
Theexpedient,tohim,wasanecessity。ViewingNatureasMr。Huxleyviewedittherewasnootherrefuge。The"cosmicprocess"
meanttohimtheStruggleforLife,andtoescapefromtheStruggleforLifehewascompelledtoturnawayfromtheworld-order,whichhaditsbeingbecauseofit。Asithappens,Mr。Huxleyhashitupontherightsolution,onlythemethodbywhichhereachesitiswhollywrong。Andthemischievousresultofitisobvious——itleavesalllowerNatureinthelurch。WithacuriousdisregardoftheprincipleofContinuity,towhichallhispreviousworkhaddonesuchhomage,hesplitsuptheworld-orderintotwoseparatehalves。Theearlierdominatedbythe`cosmic`principle——theStruggleforLife;theotherbythe`ethical`principle——virtually,theStrugglefortheLifeofOthers。TheStruggleforLifeisthusmadetostopatthe`ethical`process;theStrugglefortheLifeofOtherstobegin。Neitherisjustifiedbyfact。TheStrugglefortheLifeofOthers,aswehaveseen,startsitsupwardcoursefromthesameprotoplasmastheStruggleforLife;
andtheStruggleforLiferunsonintothe`ethical'sphereasmuchastheStrugglefortheLifeofOthers。OnehasonlytoseewhereMr。Huxleygetshis`ethical`worldtoperceivetheextentoftheanomaly。Forwheredoeshegetit,andwhatmannerofworldisit?"Thehistoryofcivilizationdetailsthestepsbywhichmenhavesucceededinbuildingupanartificialworldwithinthecosmos。"[10]Anartificialworldwithinthecosmos?
Thissuggestedbreachbetweentheearlierandthelaterprocess,ifindeedwearetotakeitseriously,isscientificallyindefensible,andthemoreunfortunatesincethesameresult,orabetter,canbeobtainedwithoutit。Therealbreachisnotbetweentheearlierandthelaterprocess,butbetweentworival,ortwoco-operatingprocesses,whichhaveexistedfromthefirst,whichhaveworkedtogetherallalongtheline,andwhichtookon`ethical`charactersatthesamemomentintime。TheStrugglefortheLifeofOthersissunkasdeepinthe"cosmicprocess"astheStruggleforLife;theStruggleforLifehasashareinthe"ethicalprocess"asmuchastheStrugglefortheLifeofOthers。Botharecosmicprocesses;bothareethicalprocesses;botharebothcosmicalandethicalprocesses。Nothingbutconfusioncanarisefromacross-classificationwhichdoesjusticetoneitherhalfofNature。
TheconsternationcausedbyMr。Huxley'schangeoffront,orsupposedchangeoffront,ismatterofrecenthistory。Mr。
LeslieStephenandMr。HerbertSpencerhastenedtoprotest;theolderschoolofmoralistshaileditalmostasaconversion。Buttheonefacteverywhereapparentthroughoutthediscussionisthatneithersideapprehendedeithertheultimatenatureorthetruesolutionoftheproblem。Theseatofthedisorderisthesameinbothattackersandattacked——theone-sidedviewofNature。UniversallyNature,asfarastheplant,animal,andsavagelevels,istakentobesynonymouswiththeStruggleforLife。Darwinismheldthemonopolyofthatlowerregion,andDarwinismrevengeditselfinamannerwhichhasatleastshowntheinadequacyofthemostwidelyacceptedpremiseofrecentscience。
ThatMr。HuxleyhasmisgivingsonthematterhimselfisapparentfromhisNotes。"Ofcourse,"heremarks,inreferencetothetechnicalpoint,"strictlyspeaking,sociallifeandtheethicalprocess,invirtueofwhichitadvancestowardsperfection,arepartandparcelofthegeneralprocessofEvolution。"[11]Andhegetsamomentaryglimpseofthe"ethicalprocess"inthecosmos,which,ifhehadfolloweditout,musthavemodifiedhiswholeposition。
"Evenintheserudimentaryformsofsociety,loveandfearcomeintoplay,andenforceagreaterorlessrenunciationofself-will。Tothisextentthegeneralcosmicprocessbeginstobecheckedbyarudimentaryethicalprocess,whichis,strictlyspeaking,partoftheformer,justasthe`governor'
inasteam-engineispartofthemechanismoftheengine。"[12]
Herethewholepositionisvirtuallyconceded;
andonlythepre-conceptionsofDarwinismandthelackofacompleteinvestigationintothenatureandextentofthe"rudimentaryethicalprocess"canhaveprevailedinthefaceofsuchanadmission。Followoutthemetaphorofthe`governor,'and,withoneimportantmodification,thetruesituationalmoststandsdisclosed。Forwhatappearstobethe`governor'intherudimentaryethicalprocessbecomesthe`steam-engine'inthelaterprocess。Themerefactthatitexistsinthe"generalcosmicprocess"altersthequalityofthatprocess;andthefactthat,aswehopetoshow,itbecomestheprimemoverinthelaterprocess,entirelychangesoursubsequentconceptionofit。Thebeginningofaprocessistobereadfromtheendandnotfromthebeginning。Andifevenarudimentofamoralorderbefoundinthebeginningsofthisprocessitrelatesitselfandthatprocesstoafinalendandafinalunity。
Philosophyreadsendintotheearlierprocessbyanecessityofreason。ButhowmuchstrongeritspositionifitcouldaddtothatabasisinthefactsofNature?"Iasktheevolutionist,"pertinentlyinquiresMr。Huxley'scritic,"whohasnootherbasisthantheStruggleforexistence,howheaccountsfortheintrusionofthesemoralideasandstandardswhichpresumetointerferewiththecosmicprocessandsitinjudgmentuponitsresults。"[13]Mayweaskthephilosopherhowheaccountsforthem?Aslittlecanheaccountforthemashewhohas"nootherbasisthantheStruggleforexistence。"Truly,thewritercontinues,thequestion"cannotbeansweredsolongasweregardmoralitymerelyasanincidentalresult,aby-product,asitwere,ofthecosmicalsystem。"Butwhatifmoralitybethemainproductofthecosmicalsystem——ofeventhecosmicalsystem?Whatifitcanbeshownthatitistheessentialandnottheincidentalresultofit,andthatsofarfrombeingaby-product,itisimmoralitythatistheby-product?
Theseinterrogationsmaybetoostronglyput。
`Accompaniments'ofthecosmicalsystemmightbebetterthan`products';
`revelationsthroughthatprocess'maybenearerthetruththan`results'
ofit。Butwhatitisintendedtoshowisthatthemoralorderisacontinuouslinefromthebeginning,thatithashadthroughout,sotospeak,abasisinthecosmos,thatuponthis,asatrellis-work,ithasclimbedupwardstothetop。Theone——thetrelliswork——istobeconceivedofasanincarnation;
theother——themanifestation——asarevelation;theoneisanEvolutionfrombelow,theotheranInvolutionfromabove。Philosophyhaslongsinceassuredusofthelast,butbecauseitwasneverabletoshowusthecompletenessofthefirst,sciencerefusedtobelieveit。Thedefaulterneverthelesswasnotphilosophybutscience。Itsbusinesswaswiththetrellis-work。
Anditgaveusabrokentrellis-work,aladderwithonlyoneside,andeverystepontheothersiderestingonair。Whensciencetriedtoclimbtheladderitfailed;thestepsrefusedtobearanyweight。Whatdidmenofsciencedo?Theycondemnedtheladderand,balancingthemselvesonthesidethatwassecure,proclaimedtheirAgnosticismtophilosophy。Andwhatdidphilosophydo?Itstoodontheotherhalfoftheladder,thehalfthatwasnotthere,andratedthem。Thattheotherhalfwasnottherewasoflittlemoment。Itwasinthemselves。Itoughttobethere;thereforeitmustbethere。Anditisquitetrue;itisthere。Philosophy,likePoetry,isprophetic:"Thesenseofthewhole,"itsays,"comesfirst。"[14]
Butsciencecouldnotacceptthealternative。
Ithadlooked,anditwasnotthere;fromitsstandpointtheonlyrefugewasAgnosticism——therewerenofacts。Tillthefactsarrived,therefore,philosophywaspowerlesstorelieveherally。SciencelookedtoNaturetoputinherownends,andnottophilosophytoputtheminforher。Philosophymightinterpretthemaftertheywerethere,butitmusthavesomethingtostartfrom;andallthatsciencehadsuppliedherwithmeantimewasthefactoftheStruggleforLife。WorkingfromthestandpointofthelargerNature,HumanNatureitself,philosophycouldputinotherends;butthereappearednosolidbackingfortheseinfacts,andsciencerefusedtobesatisfied。Thepositionwasafairone。Thedangerofphilosophyputtingintheendsisthatshecannotconvinceeveryonethattheyaretherightones。
Andwhatisthevalidanswer?Ofcourse,thatNaturehasputinherownendsifwewouldtakethetroubletolookforthem。Shedoesnotrequirethemtobesecretlymanufacturedupstairsandcreditedtoheraccount。Bythatprocessmistakesmightariseinthereckoning。
Thephilosophersupstairsmightdifferaboutthefigures,oratleastinequatingthem。Thephilosopherrequiresfact,phenomenon,naturallaw,ateveryturntokeephimright;andwithoutatleastsomeglimpseofthese,hemaytravelfarafield。SolongasSchopenhauerseesonethinginthecourseofNatureandRousseauanother,itwillalwaysbewelltohaveNatureherselftoactasreferee。TheendasreadinNature,andtheendasre-readin,andinterpretedby,thehigherNatureofManmaybeverydifferentthings;butnothingcanbedonetilltheEnd-in-the-phenomenonclearsthewayfortheEnd-in-itself——tillscienceovertakesphilosophywithfacts。
Whenthatisdone,everythingcanbedone。Withthefindingoftheotherhalfoftheladder,evenAgnosticismmayretire。Sciencecannotpermanentlypronounceitself"notknowing,"tillithasexhaustedthepossibilitiesofknowing。AndinthiscasetheAgnosticismispremature,forsciencehasonlytolookagain,anditwilldiscoverthatthemissingfactsarethere。
Seldomhastherebeenaninstanceonsolargeascaleofabiologicalerrorcorruptingawholephilosophy。Bacon'saphorismwasnevermoretrue:"ThisIdareaffirminknowledgeofNature,thatalittlenaturalphilosophy,andthefirstentranceintoit,dothdisposetheopiniontoatheism,butontheotherside,muchnaturalphilosophy,andwadingdeepintoit,willbringaboutmen'smindstoreligion。"[15]Hitherto,theEvolutionisthashadpracticallynootherbasisthantheStruggleforLife。Supposeevenweleavethatuntouched,theadditionofanOther-regardingbasismakesaninfinitedifference。Forwhenitisthenaskedonwhichofthemtheprocessturns,andtheanswerisgiven`Onboth,'
weperceivethatitisneitherbytheonealone,norbytheotheralone,thattheprocessistobeinterpreted,butbyahigherunitywhichresolvesandembracesall。Andasbothareequallynecessarytotheantinomy,eventhatofthetwowhichseemsirreconcilablewithhigherendsisseentobenecessary。Viewedsimpliciter,theStruggleforLifeappearsirreconcilablewithethicalends,aprodigiousanomalyinamoralworld;
butviewedincontinuousreactionwiththeStrugglefortheLifeofOthers,itdisclosesitselfasaninstrumentofperfectionthemostsubtleandfar-reachingthatreasoncoulddevise。
Thepresenceofthesecondfactortherefore,whileitleavesthefirstuntouched,cannotleaveitsimplicationsuntouched。
Itcompletelyalterstheseimplications。IthasneverbeendeniedthattheStruggleforLifeisanefficientinstrumentofprogress;thesoledifficultyhasalwaysbeentojustifythenatureoftheinstrument。Butifevenitbeshownthatthisisonlyhalftheinstrument,teleologygainssomething。IfthefullerviewtakesnothingawayfromtheprocessofEvolution,itimportssomethingintoitwhichchangesthewholeaspectofthecase。
Forevenfromthefirstthatfactoristhere。TheStrugglefortheLifeofOthers,aswehaveseen,isnointerpolationattheendoftheprocess,butradical,engrainedintheworld-orderasprofoundlyastheStruggleforLife。Bywhatright,then,hasNaturebeeninterpretedonlybytheStruggleforLife?WithfargreaterjusticemightscienceinterpretitinthelightoftheStrugglefortheLifeofOthers。For,inthefirstplace,unlesstherehadbeenthissecondfactor,theworldcouldnothaveexisted。WithouttheStrugglefortheLifeofOthers,obviouslytherewouldhavebeennoOthers。Inthesecondplace,unlesstherehadbeenaStrugglefortheLifeofOthers,theStruggleforLifecouldnothavebeenkeptup。AswillbeshownlatertheStruggleforLifealmostwhollysupportsitselfontheproductsoftheStrugglefortheLifeofOthers。Inthethirdplace,withouttheStrugglefortheLifeofOthers,theStruggleforLifeasregardsitsenergieswouldhavedieddown,andfailedofitswholeachievement。
ItistheceaselesspressureproducedbytheexuberantfertilityofReproductionthatcreatesanyvaluableStruggleforLifeatall。Themoment"Others"
multiply,theindividualstrugglebecomeskeenuptothedisciplinarypoint。
Itwasthis,indeed——throughthereadingofMalthusonOver-population——thatsuggestedtoMr。DarwinthevalueoftheStruggleforLife。ThelawofOver-populationfromthattimeforwardbecamethefoundation-stoneofhistheory;andrecentbiologicalresearchhasmadethebasismoresolidthanever。TheStrugglefortheLifeofOthersontheplantandanimalplane,inthemereworkofmultiplyinglives,isafinalconditionofprogress。
Withoutcompetitiontherecanbenofight,andwithoutfighttherecanbenovictory。Inotherwords,withouttheStrugglefortheLifeofOtherstherecanbenoStruggleforLife,andthereforenoEvolution。Finally,andallthereasonsalreadygivenarefrivolousbesideit,hadtherebeennoAltruism——Altruisminthedefinitesenseofunselfishness,sympathy,andself-sacrificeforOthers,thewholehigherworldoflifehadperishedassoonasitwascreated。Forhours,ordays,orweeksintheearlyinfancyofallhigheranimals,maternalcareandsympathyareaconditionofexistence。
Altruismhadtoentertheworld,andanyspecieswhichneglecteditwasextinguishedinageneration。
NodoubtacasecouldbemadeoutlikewisefortheimperativevalueoftheStruggleforLife。Thepositionhasjustbeengranted。Sofarfromdisputingit,weassumeittobeequallyessentialtoNatureandtoajudgmentupontheprocessofEvolution。ButwhatisdisputedisthattheStruggleforLifeiseitherthekeytoNature,orthatitismoreimportantinitselfthantheStrugglefortheLifeofOthers。
Itispitifulworkpittingtherighthandagainsttheleft,theheartagainstthehead;butifitbeinsistedthatthereisneitherrighthandnorheart,theproclamationisnecessarynotonlythattheyexist,butthatabsolutelytheyareasimportantandrelativelytoethicalManofinfinitelygreatermomentthananythingthatfunctionseitherintheanimalorsocialorganism。
Butwhy,ifallthisbetrueoftheStrugglefortheLifeofOthers,hasaclaimsoimperiousnotbeenrecognizedbyscience?Thataphenomenonofthisdistinctionshouldhaveattractedsolittleattentionsuggestsasuspicion。Doesitreallyexist?
Isthebiologicalbasissound?Havewenotatleastexaggerateditssignificance?Thebiologistwilljudge。ThoughnodoubtthefunctionofReproductionisintimatelyconnectedinPhysiologywiththefunctionofNutrition,thefactsasstatedherearefactsofNature;
andsomeglimpseoftheinfluenceofthissecondfactorwillbegiveninthesequelfromwhicheventhenon-biologicalreadermaydrawhisownconclusions。
DifficultasitseemstoaccountfortheignoringofanelementalfactinframingthedoctrineofEvolution,therearecircumstanceswhichmaketheomissionlessunintelligible。Foremost,ofcourse,therestandstheoverpoweringinfluenceofMr。Darwin。Inspiteofthefactthathewarnedhisfollowersagainstit,thislargelyprejudgedtheissue。Nextistobeconsideredthenarrowing,onehadalmostsaidtheblighting,effectofspecialism。Necessarytotheprogressofscience,thefirsteraofareignofspecialismisdisastroustophilosophy。Themenwhoinfieldandlaboratoryareworkingoutthefacts,donotspeculateatall。Contentwithslowlybuildingupthesumofactualknowledgeinsomeneglectedandrestrictedprovince,theyaretooabsorbedtonoticeevenwhattheworkersintheotherprovincesareabout。Thusithappensthatwhiletherearemanyscientificmen,therearefewscientificthinkers。Thecomplaintisoftenmadethatsciencespeculatestoomuch。Itisquitetheotherway。
Onehasonlytoreadtheaveragebookofscienceinalmostanydepartmenttowonderatthewealthofknowledge,thebrilliancyofobservation,andthebarrennessofidea。Ontheotherhand,thoughscientificexpertswillnotthinkthemselves,thereisalwaysamultitudeofonlookerswaitingtodoitforthem。Amongthesewhatstrikesoneistheignoranceoffactandtheaudacityoftheidea。Themomentanygreathalf-truthinNatureisunearthed,theseunqualifiedpractitionersleaptoageneralization;
andtheobserversmeantime,onthetrackoftheotherhalf,aretoobusyortoooblivioustorefutetheirheresies。Hence,longafteritsfoundationsareundermined,abrilliantgeneralizationwillretainitsholduponthepopularmind;andbeforethecomplementary,thequalifying,ortheneutralizingfactscanbesupplied,themischiefisdone。
Butwhilethisistrueofmanywhoplaywiththedouble-edgedtoolsofscience,itisnottrueofathirdclass。Whenweturntothepagesofthefewwhosescienceisadequateandwhosesweepisoverthewholevasthorizon,wefind,asweshouldexpect,somerecognitionofthealtruisticfactor。ThoughMr。HerbertSpencer,towhomtheappealinthisconnectionisobvious,makesadifferentuseofthefact,ithasnotescapedhim。NotonlydoestheOther-regardingfunctionreceiverecognition,butheallotsitahighplaceinhissystem。Ofitsethicalbearingsheisequallyclear。"What,"heasks,"istheethicalaspectofthese[altruistic]
principles?Inthefirstplace,animallifeofallbutthelowestkindshasbeenmaintainedbyvirtueofthem。ExcludingtheProtozoa,amongwhichtheiroperationisscarcelydiscernible,weseethatwithoutgratisbenefitstooffspring,andearnedbenefitstoadults,lifecouldnothavecontinued。Inthesecondplace,byvirtueofthemlifehasgraduallyevolvedintohigherforms。Bycareofoffspring,whichhasbecomegreaterwithadvancingorganization,andbysurvivalofthefittestinthecompetitionamongadults,whichhasbecomemorehabitualwithadvancingorganization,superiorityhasbeenperpetuallyfosteredandfurtheradvancescaused。"[16]Fiske,Littre,Romanes,LeConte,L。Buchner,MissBuckley,andPrinceKropotkinhaveexpressedthemselvespartlyinthesamedirection;andGeddesandThomson,insomanywords,recognize"theco-existenceoftwin-streamsofegoismandaltruism,whichoftenmergeforaspacewithoutlosingtheirdistinctness,andaretraceabletoacommonorigininthesimplestformsoflife。"[17]Thelastnamed——doubtlessbecausetheirstudieshavetakenthembothintothefieldsofpurebiologyandofbionomics——moreclearlythananyothermodernwriters,havegraspedthebearingsofthisthemeinalldirections,andtheyfearlesslytaketheirstandpointfromthephysiologyofprotoplasm。
Thus,"inthehungerandreproductiveattractionsofthelowestorganisms,theself-regardingandother-regardingactivitiesofthehigherfindtheirstarting-point。Thoughsomevagueconsciousnessisperhapsco-existentwithlifeitself,wecanonlyspeakwithconfidenceofpsychicalegoismandaltruismafteracentralnervoussystemhasbeendefinitelyestablished。
Atthesametime,theactivitiesofeventhelowestorganismsareoftendistinctlyreferabletoeithercategory……Hardlydistinguishableattheoutset,theprimitivehungerandlovebecomethestarting-pointsofdivergentlinesofegoisticandaltruisticemotionandactivity。"[18]
Thatatamuchearlierstagethanisusuallysupposed,Evolutionvisiblyentersuponthe"rudimentaryethical"
plane,iscertain,andweshallhopetooutlinetheproof。Butevenifthethesisfails,itremainstochallengethegeneralviewthattheStruggleforLifeiseverything,andtheStrugglefortheLifeofOthersnothing。
Seeingnotonlythatthesecondisthemoreimportant,butalsothisfarmoresignificantfact——whichhasnotyetbeenalludedto——thatasEvolutionproceedstheoneStrugglewaxes,andtheotherwanes,woulditnotbewisertostudythedramaneareritsdenouementbeforedecidingwhetheritwasamoral,anon-moral,oranimmoralplay?
LesttheallegedwaningoftheStruggleforLifeconveyawrongimpression,letitbeaddedthatofcoursethewordistobetakenqualitatively。TheStruggleinitselfcannevercease。
Whatceasesisitsso-calledanti-ethicalcharacter。FornothingisinfinerevidenceasweriseinthescaleoflifethanthegradualtemperingoftheStruggleforLife。Itsslowameliorationistheworkofages,maybetheworkofagesstill,butitsanimalqualitiesinthesociallifeofManarebeingsurelyleftbehind;andthoughthemarkofthesavageandthebrutestillmaritshandiwork,theseharsherqualitiesmustpassaway。Inthatnewsocialorderwhichthegatheringmightofthealtruisticspiritiscreatingnowaroundus,inthatreignofLovewhichmustoneday,ifthecourseofEvolutionholdsonitsway,berealized,thebaserelementswillfindthatsolventpreparedforthemfromthebeginninginanticipationofahigherruleonearth。InterpretingthecourseofEvolutionscientifically,whetherfromitsstarting-pointinthefirstprotoplasm,orfromtherallying-pointofitstwogreatforcesinthesocialorganismofto-day,itbecomesmoreandmorecertainthatonlyfromthecommingledachievementofbothcanthenatureoftheprocessbetrulyjudged。Yet,asoneseestheonesunset,andtheotherrisewithasplendourthemoreastonishingandbewilderingasthecenturiesrollon,itisimpossibletowithholdaverdictastowhichmaybemostreasonablylookeduponastheultimaterealityoftheworld。ThepathofprogressandthepathofAltruismareone。EvolutionisnothingbuttheInvolutionofLove,therevelationofInfiniteSpirit,theEternalLifereturningtoItself。EventhegreatshadowofEgoismwhichdarkensthepastisrevealedasshadowonlybecausewearecompelledtoreaditbythehigherlightwhichhascome。Intheveryactofjudgingittobeshadow,weassumeandvindicatethelight。Andineveryvisionofthelight,contrariwise,weresolvetheshadow,andperceivetheendforwhichbothlightanddarkaregiven。
"Icanbelieve,thisdreadmachineryOfsinandsorrow,wouldconfoundmeelse,Devised——allpain,atmostexpenditureOfpainbyWhodevisedpain——toevolve,Bynewmachineryincounterpart,ThemoralqualitiesofMan——howelse?——
Tomakehimloveinturn,andbebeloved,Creativeandself-sacrificingtoo,AndthuseventuallyGodlike。"[19]IIIWHYWASEVOLUTIONTHEMETHODCHOSEN?Oneseldom-raisedyetnotmerelycuriousquestionofEvolutionis,whytheprocessshouldbeanevolutionatall?IfEvolutionissimplyamethodofCreation,whywasthisveryextraordinarymethodchosen?Creationtoutd'uncoupmighthaveproducedthesameresult;aninstantaneousactoranage-longprocesswouldbothhavegivenustheworldasitis?
Theanswerofmodernnaturaltheologyhasbeenthattheevolutionarymethodistheinfinitelynoblerscheme。Aspectacularact,itissaid,savoursofthemagician。Asamereexhibitionofpoweritappealstothelowernature;butaprocessofgrowthsuggeststothereasontheworkofanintelligentMind。Nodoubtthisintellectualgainisreal。Whileacatastropheputstheuniversetoconfusionatthestart,agradualrisemakesthebeginningofNatureharmoniouswithitsend。Howthesurpassinggrandeurofthenewconceptionhasfilledtheimaginationandkindledtoenthusiasmthesoberestscientificminds,fromDarwindownwards,isknowntoeveryone。AsthememorablewordswhichclosetheOriginofSpeciesrecall:"Thereisagrandeurinthisviewoflife,withitsseveralpowers,havingbeenoriginallybreathedbytheCreatorintoafewformsorintoone;andthatwhilstthisplanethasgonecyclingon,accordingtothefixedlawofgravity,fromsosimpleabeginningendlessformsmostbeautifulandmostwonderfulhavebeen,andarebeingevolved。"[20]
Butcananintellectualanswersatisfyusanymorethanthemechanicalanswerwhichitreplaced?AstherewasclearlyamoralpurposeintheendtobeachievedbyEvolution,shouldwenotexpecttofindsomesimilarpurposeinthemeans?Canweperceivenohighdesigninselectingthisparticulardesign,noworthyethicalresultwhichshouldjustifytheconceptionaswellastheexecutionofEvolution?
Wegotoofar,perhaps,inexpectinganswerstoquestionssotranscendent。Butoneatleastsuggestsitself,whosepracticalvalueisapologyenoughforventuringtoadvanceit。Whenevertheschemewasplanned,itmusthavebeenforeseenthatthetimewouldcomewhenthedirectingofpartofthecourseofEvolutionwouldpassintothehandsofMan。Aspectatorofthedramaforages,tooignoranttoseethatitwasadrama,andtooimpotenttodomorethanplayhislittlepart,thediscoverymustsoonerorlaterbreakuponhimthatNaturemeanthimtobecomeapartnerinhertask,andsharetheresponsibilityoftheclosingacts。ItisnotgiventohimasyettobindthesweetinfluencesofPleiades,ortounloosethebandsofOrion。Inpartonlycanhemakethewindsandwavesobeyhim,orcontrolthefallingrain。Butinlargerpartheholdsthedominionoftheworldoflowerlife。Heexterminateswhathepleases;
hecreatesandhedestroys;hechanges;heevolves;hisselectionreplacesnaturalselection;hereplenishestheearthwithplantsandanimalsaccordingtohiswill。Butinafargrandersphere,andinaninfinitelyprofoundersense,hasthesovereigntypassedtohim,For,bythesamedecree,hefindshimselftheguardianandthearbiterofhispersonaldestiny,andthatofhisfellow-men。Themouldingofhislifeandofhischildren'schildreninmeasureliewithhim。Throughinstitutionsofhiscreation,throughParliaments,Churches,Societies,Schools,heshapesthepathofprogressforhiscountryandhistime。Theevilsoftheworldarecombatedbyhisremedies;itspassionsarestayed,itswrongsredressed,itsenergiesforgoodorevildirectedbyhishand。Forunnumberedmillionsheopensorshutsthegatesofhappiness,andpavesthewayformiseryorsocialhealth。
NeverbeforewasitknownandfeltwiththesamesolemncertaintythatMan,withinboundswhichnonecanpass,mustbehisownmakerandthemakeroftheworld。Forthefirsttimeinhistorynotindividualsonlybutmultitudesofthewisestandthenoblestineverylandtakehometothemselves,andunceasinglyconcernthemselveswith,theproblemoftheEvolutionofMankind。
Multitudesmore,philanthropists,statesmen,missionaries,humblemenandpatientwomen,devotethemselvesdailytoitspracticalsolution,andeverywheresome,inaGod-likeculminationofAltruism,givetheirverylivesfortheirfellow-men。WhoistohelpthesePracticalEvolutionists——forthosewhoreadthebookofNaturecancallthembynoothername,andthosewhoknowitsspiritcancallthembynohigher——whoistohelpthemintheirtremendoustask?Thereisthewill——whereisthewisdom?
WherebutinNatureherself。NaturemayhaveentrustedthefurtherbuildingtoMankind,buttheplanhasneverleftherhands。Thelinesofthefuturearetobelearnedfromherpast,andherfellow-helperscanmosteasily,mostloyally,andmostperfectlydotheirpartbystudyingcloselythearchitectureoftheearlierworld,andcontinuingthehalf-finishedstructuresymmetricallytothetop。TheinformationnecessarytocompletetheworkwitharchitecturalconsistencyliesinNature。
Wemightexpectthatitshouldbethere。Whenabusinessistransferred,orapartnerassumed,thebooksareshown,themethodsofthebusinessexplained,itsfuturedevelopmentspointedout。AllthisisnowdonefortheEvolutionofMankind。InEvolutionCreationhasshownherhand。TohavekeptthesecretfromManwouldhaveimperilledthefurtherevolution。
Tohaverevealeditsoonerhadbeenpremature。Lovemustcomebeforeknowledge,forknowledgeistheinstrumentofLove,anduselesstillitarrives。ButnowthatthereisAltruismenoughintheworldtobeginthenewera,theremustbewisdomenoughtodirectit。TomakeNaturespelloutherowncareer,toembodythekeytothedevelopmentintheverydevelopmentitself,sothatthekeymightbehandedoveralongwiththework,wastomakethetransferenceofresponsibilitypossibleandrational。Intheseventeenthcentury,Descartes,whowithLeibnitzalreadyforesawtheadumbrationoftheevolutionaryprocess,almostpointedthisout;forspeaking,inanotherconnection,oftheintellectualvalueofaslowdevelopmentofthingsheobserves,"theirnatureismuchmoreeasytoconceivewhentheyareseenoriginatingbydegreesinthisway,thanwhentheyareconsideredasentirelymade。"[21]
ThepastofNatureisaworking-modelofhowworldscanbemade。Theprobabilitiesarethereisnobetterwayofmakingthem。IfMandoesaswellitwillbeenough。InanycasehecanonlybeginwhereNatureleftoff,andworkwithsuchtoolsasareputintohishands。
Ifthenewpartnerhadbeenintendedmerelytoexperimentwithworld-making,nosuchlegacyofusefullawhadbeenevergivenhim。Andifhehadbeenmeanttobegindenovoonatotallydifferentplan,itisunlikelyeitherthatthatshouldnothavebeenhintedat,orthatinhistouchingandbeautifulendeavourheshouldbeembarrassedandthrownoffthetrackbytheoldplan。Asachildsettocompletesomefineembroideryisshownthestitches,thecolours,andtheoutlinetraceduponthecanvas,sothegreatMotherinsettingtheirdifficulttasktoherlaterchildrenprovidesthemwithonesuperbpartfinishedtoshowthepattern。IVEVOLUTIONANDSOCIOLOGYThemomentitisgraspedthatwemayhaveinNatureakeytothefutureprogressofMankind,thestudyofEvolutionrisestoanimposingrankinhumaninterest。Thereliestheprogrammeoftheworldfromthefirstoftime,theinstrument,thecharter,andstillmoretheprophecyofprogress。Evolutionisthenaturaldirectoryofthesociologist,theguidethroughthatwhichhasworkedinthepasttowhat——subjecttomodifyinginfluenceswhichNaturecanalwaysbetrustedtogivefullnoticeof——maybeexpectedtoworkinthefuture。Here,fortheindividual,isanewandimpressivesummonstopublicaction,avocationchosenofNaturewhichitwillprofithimtoconsider,fortherebyhemaynotonlysavethewholeworld,butfindhisownsoul。"Thestudyofthehistoricaldevelopmentofman,"saysProf。