首页 >出版文学> Evolution and Ethics and Other Essays>第1章
  EVOLUTIONANDETHICS
  SCIENCEANDMORALS
  CAPITAL——THEMOTHEROFLABOUR
  SOCIALDISEASESANDWORSEREMEDIES
  TheStruggleforExistenceinHumanSocietyLetterstotheTimesLegalOpinionsTheArticlesofWaroftheSalvationArmyPREFACE
  THEdiscourseon“EvolutionandEthics。”reprintedinthefirsthalfofthepresentvolume,wasdeliveredbeforetheUniversityofOxford,asthesecondoftheannuallecturesfoundedbyMr。Romanes:whosenameI
  maynotwritewithoutdeploringtheuntimelydeath,intheflowerofhisage,ofafriendendearedtome,astosomanyothers,byhiskindlynature;andjustlyvaluedbyallhiscolleaguesforhispowersofinvestigationandhiszealfortheadvancementofknowledge。Iwellremember,whenMr。Romanes’earlyworkcameintomyhands,asoneofthesecretariesoftheRoyalSociety,howmuchIrejoicedintheaccessiontotheranksofthelittlearmyofworkersinscienceofarecruitsowellqualifiedtotakeahighplaceamongus。
  Itwasatmyfriend’surgentrequestthatIagreedtoundertakethelecture,shouldIbehonouredwithanofficialproposaltogiveit,thoughIconfessnotwithoutmisgivings,ifonlyonaccountoftheseriousfatigueandhoarsenesswhichpublicspeakinghasforsomeyearscausedme;whileIknewthatitwouldbemyfatetofollowthemostaccomplishedandfacileoratorofourtime,whoseindomitableyouthisinnomattermoremanifestthaninhispenetratingandmusicalvoice。Acertainsayingaboutcomparisonsintrudeditselfsomewhatimportunately。
  AndevenifIdisregardedtheweaknessofmybodyinthematterofvoice,andthatofmymindinthematterofvanity,thereremainedathirddifficulty。Forseveralreasons,myattention,duringanumberofyears,hasbeenmuchdirectedtothebearingofmodernscientificthoughtontheproblemsofmoralsandofpolitics,andIdidnotcaretobedivertedfromthattopic。Moreover,Ithoughtitthemostimportantandtheworthiestwhich,atthepresenttime,couldengagetheattentionevenofanancientandrenownedUniversity。
  ButitisaconditionoftheRomanesfoundationthatthelecturershallabstainfromtreatingofeitherReligionorPolitics;anditappearedtomethat,morethanmost,perhaps,Iwasboundtoact,notmerelyuptotheletter,butinthespirit,ofthatprohibition。YetEthicalScienceis,onallsides,soentangledwithReligionandPoliticsthatthelecturerwhoessaystotouchtheformerwithoutcomingintocontactwitheitherofthelatter,needsallthedexterityofanegg-dancer;andmayevendiscoverthathissenseofclearnessandhissenseofproprietycomeintoconflict,bynomeanstotheadvantageoftheformer。
  IhavelittlenotionoftherealmagnitudeofthesedifficultieswhenI
  setaboutmytask;butIamconsoledformypainsandanxietybyobservingthatnoneofthemultitudinouscriticismswithwhichIhavebeenfavouredand,often,instructed,findfaultwithmeonthescoreofhavingstrayedoutofbounds。
  AmongmycriticstherearenotafewtowhomIfeeldeeplyindebtedforthecarefulattentionwhichtheyhavegiventotheexpositionthushampered;andfurtherweakened,Iamafraid,bymyforgetfulnessofamaximtouchinglecturesofapopularcharacter,whichhasdescendedtomefromthatprinceoflecturers,Mr。Faraday。Hewasonceaskedbyabeginner,calledupontoaddressahighlyselectandcultivatedaudience,whathemightsupposehishearerstoknowalready。Whereuponthepastmasteroftheartofexpositionemphaticallyreplied“Nothing!“
  Tomyshameasaretiredveteran,whohasallhislifeprofitedbythisgreatpreceptoflecturingstrategy,Iforgotallaboutitjustwhenitwouldhavebeenmostuseful。Iwasfatuousenoughtoimaginethatanumberofpropositions,whichIthoughtestablished,andwhich,infact,Ihadadvancedwithoutchallengeonformeroccasions,needednorepetition。
  Ihaveendeavouredtorepairmyerrorbyprefacingthelecturewithsomematter——chieflyelementaryorrecapitulatory——towhichIhavegiventhetitleof“Prolegomena“IwishIcouldhavehituponaheadingoflesspedanticaspectwhichwouldhaveservedmypurpose;
  andifitbeurgedthatthenewbuildinglooksoverlargefortheedificetowhichitisadded,Icanonlypleadtheprecedentoftheancientarchitects,whoalwaysmadetheadytumthesmallestpartofthetemple。
  IfIhadattemptedtoreplyinfulltothecriticismstowhichIhavereferred,Iknownotwhatextentofgroundwouldhavebeencoveredbymypronaos。AllIhaveendeavouredtodo,atpresent,istoremovethatwhichseemstohaveprovedastumbling-blocktomany——namely,theapparentparadoxthatethicalnature,whilebornofcosmicnature,isnecessarilyatenmitywithitsparent。UnlesstheargumentssetforthintheProlegomena,inthesimplestlanguageatmycommand,havesomeflawwhichIamunabletodiscern,thisseemingparadoxisatruth,asgreatasitisplain,therecognitionofwhichisfundamentalfortheethicalphilosopher。
  Wecannotdowithoutourinheritancefromtheforefatherswhowerethepuppetsofthecosmicprocess;thesocietywhichrenouncesitmustbedestroyedfromwithout。Stilllesscanwedewithtoomuchofit;thesocietyinwhichitdominatesmustbedestroyedfromwithin。
  Themotiveofthedramaofhumanlifeisthenecessity,laiduponeverymanwhocomesintotheworld,ofdiscoveringthemeanbetweenself-assertionandself-restraintsuitedtohischaracterandhiscircumstances。Andtheeternallytragicaspectofthedramaliesinthis:thattheproblemsetbeforeusisonetheelementsofwhichcanbebutimperfectlyknown,andofwhichevenanapproximatelyrightsolutionrarelypresentsitself,untilthatsterncritic,agedexperience,hasbeenfurnishedwithamplejustificationforventinghissarcastichumourupontheirreparableblunderswehavealreadymade。
  Ihavereprintedthelettersonthe“DarkestEngland“scheme,publishedinthe“Times“ofDecember,1890,andJanuary,1891;andsubsequentlyissued,withadditions,asapamphlet,underthetitleof“SocialDiseasesandWorseRemedies。”because,althoughthecleverattempttorushthecountryonbehalfofthatschemehasbeenbalked,Booth’sstandingarmyremainsafoot,retainingallthecapacitiesformischiefwhichareinherentinitsconstitution。Iamdesirousthatthisfactshouldbekeptsteadilyinview;andthatthemoderationoftheclamourofthedrumsandtrumpetsshouldnotleadustoforgettheexistenceofaforce,which,inbadhands,may,atanytime,beusedforbadpurposes。
  In1892,aCommitteewas“formedforthepurposeofinvestigatingthemannerinwhichthemoneys,subscribedinresponsetotheappealmadeinthebookentitled’InDarkestEnglandandtheWayout,’havebeenexpended。”Themembersofthisbodyweregentlemeninwhosecompetencyandequityeveryonemusthavecompleteconfidence;andinDecember,1892,theypublishedareportinwhichtheydeclarethat,“withtheexceptionofthesumsexpendedonthe’barracks’atHadleigh。”themoneysinquestionhavebeen“devotedonlytotheobjectsandexpendedinthemethodssetoutinthatappeal,andtoandinnoothers。”
  Nevertheless,theirfinalconclusionrunsasfollows:“4Thatwhilsttheinvestedproperty,realandpersonal,resultingfromsuchAppealissovestedandcontrolledbytheTrustoftheDeedofJanuary30th,1891,thatanyapplicationofittopurposesotherthanthosedeclaredinthedeedbyany’General’oftheSalvationArmywouldamounttoabreachoftrust,andwouldsubjecthimtotheproceedingsofacivilandcriminalcharacter,beforementionedintheReport,ADEQUATELEGAL
  SAFEGUARDSDONOTATPRESENTEXISTTOPREVENTTHEMISAPPLICATIONOF
  SUCHPROPERTY。”
  ThepassageIhaveitalicisedformspartofadocumentdatedDecember19th,1892。Itfollows,that,evenaftertheDeedofJanuary30th,1891,wasexecuted,“adequatelegalsafeguards““topreventthemisapplicationoftheproperty“didnotexist。Whatthenwasthestateofthings,uptoaweekearlier,thatisonJanuary22nd,1891,whenmytwelfthandlastletterappearedinthe“Times“?AbetterjustificationforwhatIhavesaidabout-thewantofadequatesecurityfortheproperadministrationofthefundsintrustedtoMr。Boothcouldnotbedesired,unlessitbethatwhichistobefoundinthefollowingpassagesoftheReportpp。36and37:——
  “Itispossiblethata’General’maybeforgetfulofhisduty,andsellpropertyandappropriatetheproceedstohisownuse,ortomeetingthegeneralliabilitiesoftheSalvationArmy。Asmattersnowstand,he,andhealone,wouldhavecontroloversuchasale。AgainstsuchpossibilitiesitappearstotheCommitteetobereasonablethatsomecheckshouldbeimposed。”
  OncemoreletitberememberedthatthisopiniongivenunderthehandofSirHenryJames,wasexpressedbytheCommittee,withtheTrustDeedof1891,whichhasbeensosedulouslyflauntedbeforethepublic,infullview。
  TheCommitteemadeasuggestionfortheimprovementofthisveryunsatisfactorystateofthings;buttheexactvaluesetuponitbythesuggestorsshouldbecarefullyconsideredp。37。
  “TheCommitteearefullyawarethatiftheviewsthusexpressedarecarriedout,thesafeguardsandcheckscreatedwillnotbesufficientforallpurposesabsolutelytopreventpossibledealingwiththepropertyandmoneysinconsistentwiththepurposestowhichtheyareintendedtobedevoted。”
  Infact,theyarecontenttoexpresstheverymodesthopethat“ifthesuggestionmadebeactedupon,somehindrancewilltherebybeplacedinthewayofanyoneactingdishonestlyinrespectofthedisposalofthepropertyandmoneysreferredto。”
  Idonotknow,and,underthecircumstances,IcannotsayImuchcare,whetherthesuggestionsoftheCommitteehave,orhavenot,beenactedupon。Whetherornot,thefactremainsthatanunscrupulous“General“
  willhaveaprettyfreehand,notwithstanding“some“hindrance。
  Thus,thejudgmentofthehighlyauthoritative,andcertainlynothostile,Committeeof1892,upontheissueswithwhichtheyconcernedthemselvesishardlysuchastoinspireenthusiasticconfidence。Anditisfurthertobeborneinmindthattheycarefullyexcludedfromtheirduties“anyexaminationoftheprinciples,government,teaching,ormethodsoftheSalvationArmyasareligiousorganization,orofitsaffairs“exceptsofarastheyrelatedtotheadministrationofthemoneyscollectedbythe“DarkestEngland“appeal。
  Consequently,themostimportantquestionsdiscussedinmyletterswerenotinanywaytouchedbytheCommittee。Eveniftheirreporthadbeenfarmorefavourabletothe“DarkestEngland“schemethanitis;ifithadreallyassuredthecontributorsthatthefundsraisedwerefullysecuredagainstmalversation;theobjections,onsocialandpoliticalgrounds,toMr。Booth’sdespoticorganization,withitsthousandsofdocilesatellitespledgedtoblindobedience,setforthintheletters,wouldbeinnodegreeweakened。The“sixpennyworthofgood“
  wouldstillbeout-weighedbythe“shillingsworthofharm“;ifindeedtherelativeworth,orunworth,ofthelattershouldnotberatedinpoundsratherthaninshillings。
  WhatwouldonenotgivefortheopinionofthefinancialmembersoftheCommitteeaboutthefamousBank;andthatofthelegalexpertsabouttheproposed“tribunesofthepeople“?
  HODESLEA,EASTBOURNE,July,1894。
  CONTENTS
  I
  PAGE
  EVOLUTIONANDETHICS。PROLEGOMENA[1894]……1
  II
  EVOLUTIONANDETHICS[1893]……46
  III
  SCIENCEANDMORALS[1886]……117
  IV
  CAPITAL——THEMOTHEROFLABOUR[1890]……147
  V
  SOCIALDISEASESANDWORSEREMEDIES[1891]……188
  Preface……188
  TheStruggleforExistenceinHumanSociety。195
  LetterstotheTimes……237
  LegalOpinions……312
  TheArticlesofWaroftheSalvationArmy……321
  [1]
  I。
  EVOLUTIONANDETHICS。
  PROLEGOMENA。
  [1894。]
  I。
  ITmaybesafelyassumedthat,twothousandyearsago,beforeCaesarsetfootinsouthernBritain,thewholecountry-sidevisiblefromthewindowsoftheroominwhichIwrite,wasinwhatiscalled“thestateofnature。”Except,itmaybe,byraisingafewsepulchralmounds,suchasthosewhichstill,hereandthere,breaktheflowingcontoursofthedowns,man’shandshadmadenomarkuponit;andthethinveilofvegetationwhichoverspreadthebroad-backedheightsandtheshelvingsidesofthecoombswasunaffectedbyhisindustry。Thenativegrassesandweeds,thescatteredpatchesofgorse,contendedwithoneanotherforthepossessionofthescantysurfacesoil;theyfoughtagainstthedroughtsofsummer,thefrostsofwinter,andthefuriousgaleswhichswept,withunbrokenforce,nowfromthe[2]
  Atlantic,andnowfromtheNorthSea,atalltimesoftheyear;theyfilledup,astheybestmight,thegapsmadeintheirranksbyallsortsofundergroundandovergroundanimalravagers。Oneyearwithanother,anaveragepopulation,thefloatingbalanceoftheunceasingstruggleforexistenceamongtheindigenousplants,maintaineditself。
  Itisaslittletobedoubted,thatanessentiallysimilarstateofnatureprevailed,inthisregion,formanythousandyearsbeforethecomingofCaesar;andthereisnoassignablereasonfordenyingthatitmightcontinuetoexistthroughanequallyprolongedfuturity,exceptfortheinterventionofman。
  Reckonedbyourcustomarystandardsofduration,thenativevegetation,likethe“everlastinghills“whichitclothes,seemsatypeofpermanence。ThelittleAmarellaGentians,whichaboundinsomeplacesto-day,arethedescendantsofthosethatweretroddenunderfoot,bytheprehistoricsavageswhohavelefttheirflinttools,about,hereandthere;andtheyfollowedancestorswhich,intheclimateoftheglacialepoch,probablyflourishedbetterthantheydonow。Comparedwiththelongpastofthishumbleplant,allthehistoryofcivilizedmenisbutanepisode。
  Yetnothingismorecertainthanthat,measuredbytheliberalscaleoftime-keepingoftheuniverse,thispresentstateofnature,howeveritmayseemtohavegoneandtogoonforever,is[3]butafleetingphaseofherinfinitevariety;merelythelastoftheseriesofchangeswhichtheearth’ssurfacehasundergoneinthecourseofthemillionsofyearsofitsexistence。Turnbackasquarefootofthethinturf,andthesolidfoundationoftheland,exposedincliffsofchalkfivehundredfeethighontheadjacentshore,yieldsfullassuranceofatimewhentheseacoveredthesiteofthe“everlastinghills“;andwhenthevegetationofwhatlandlaynearest,wasasdifferentfromthepresentFloraoftheSussexdowns,asthatofCentralAfricanowis。*Nolesscertainisitthat,betweenthetimeduringwhichthechalkwasformedandthatatwhichtheoriginalturfcameintoexistence,thousandsofcenturieselapsed,inthecourseofwhich,thestateofnatureoftheagesduringwhichthechalkwasdeposited,passedintothatwhichnowis,bychangessoslowthat,inthecomingandgoingofthegenerationsofmen,hadsuchwitnessedthem,thecontemporary,conditionswouldhaveseemedtobeunchangingandunchangeable。
  *See“OnapieceofChalk“intheprecedingvolumeoftheseEssaysvol。viii。p。1。
  Butitisalsocertainthat,beforethedepositionofthechalk,avastlylongerperiodhadelapsed;throughoutwhichitiseasytofollowthetracesofthesameprocessofceaselessmodificationandoftheinternecinestruggleforexistenceoflivingthings;andthatevenwhenwecangetnofurther[4]back,itisnotbecausethereisanyreasontothinkwehavereachedthebeginning,butbecausethetrailofthemostancientliferemainshidden,orhasbecomeobliterated。
  Thusthatstateofnatureoftheworldofplantswhichwebeganbyconsidering,isfarfrompossessingtheattributeofpermanence。Ratheritsveryessenceisimpermanence。Itmayhavelastedtwentyorthirtythousandyears,itmaylastfortwentyorthirtythousandyearsmore,withoutobviouschange;but,assurelyasithasfolloweduponaverydifferentstate,soitwillbefollowedbyanequallydifferentcondition。Thatwhichenduresisnotoneoranotherassociationoflivingforms,buttheprocessofwhichthecosmosistheproduct,andofwhichtheseareamongthetransitoryexpressions。Andinthelivingworld,oneofthemostcharacteristicfeaturesofthiscosmicprocessisthestruggleforexistence,thecompetitionofeachwithall,theresultofwhichistheselection,thatistosay,thesurvivalofthoseformswhich,onthewhole,arebestadapted,totheconditionswhichatanyperiodobtain;andwhichare,therefore,inthatrespect,andonlyinthatrespect,thefittest。*Theacmereachedbythecosmic[5]processinthevegetationofthedownsisseenintheturf,withitsweedsandgorse。Undertheconditions,theyhavecomeoutofthestrugglevictorious;and,bysurviving,haveprovedthattheyarethefittesttosurvive。
  *Thateverytheoryofevolutionmustbeconsistentnotmerelywithprogressivedevelopment,butwithindefinitepersistenceinthesameconditionandwithretrogressivemodification,isapointwhichIhaveinsisteduponrepeatedlyfromtheyear1862
  tillnow。SeeCollectedEssays,vol。ii。pp。461-89;vol。iii。
  p。33;vol。viii。p。304。Intheaddresson“GeologicalContemporaneityandPersistentTypes“1862,thepaleontologicalproofsofthispropositionwere,Ibelieve,firstsetforth。
  Thatthestateofnature,atanytime,isatemporaryphaseofaprocessofincessantchange,whichhasbeengoingonforinnumerableages,appearstometobeapropositionaswellestablishedasanyinmodernhistory。
  Paleontologyassuresus,inaddition,thattheancientphilosopherswho,withlessreason,heldthesamedoctrine,erredinsupposingthatthephasesformedacycle,exactlyrepeatingthepast,exactlyforeshadowingthefuture,intheirrotations。Onthecontrary,itfurnishesuswithconclusivereasonsforthinkingthat,ifeverylinkintheancestryofthesehumbleindigenousplantshadbeenpreservedandwereaccessibletous,thewholewouldpresentaconvergingseriesofformsofgraduallydiminishingcomplexity,until,atsomeperiodinthehistoryoftheearth,farmoreremotethananyofwhichorganicremainshaveyetbeendiscovered,theywouldmergeinthoselowgroupsamongwhichtheBoundariesbetweenanimalandvegetablelifebecomeeffaced。*
  *“OntheBorderTerritorybetweentheAnimalandtheVegetableKingdoms。”Essays,vol。viii。p。162
  [6]Theword“evolution。”nowgenerallyappliedtothecosmicprocess,hashadasingularhistory,andisusedinvarioussenses。*Takeninitspopularsignificationitmeansprogressivedevelopment,thatis,gradualchangefromaconditionofrelativeuniformitytooneofrelativecomplexity;butitsconnotationhasbeenwidenedtoincludethephenomenaofretrogressivemetamorphosis,thatis,ofprogressfromaconditionofrelativecomplexitytooneofrelativeuniformity。
  Asanaturalprocess,ofthesamecharacterasthedevelopmentofatreefromitsseed,orofafowlfromitsegg,evolutionexcludescreationandallotherkindsofsupernaturalintervention。Astheexpressionofafixedorder,everystageofwhichistheeffectofcausesoperatingaccordingtodefiniterules,theconceptionofevolutionnolessexcludesthatofchance。Itisverydesirabletorememberthatevolutionisnotanexplanationofthecosmicprocess,butmerelyageneralizedstatementofthemethodandresultsofthatprocess。And,further,that,ifthereisproofthatthecosmicprocesswassetgoingbyanyagent,thenthatagentwillbe,thecreatorofitandofallitsproducts,althoughsupernaturalinterventionmayremainstrictlyexcludedfromitsfurthercourse。
  Sofarasthatlimitedrevelationofthenatureofthings,whichwecallscientificknowledge,has[7]yetgone,ittends,withconstantlyincreasingemphasis,tothebeliefthat,notmerelytheworldofplants,butthatofanimals;notmerelylivingthings,butthewholefabricoftheearth;notmerelyourplanet,butthewholesolarsystem;notmerelyourstaranditssatellites,butthemillionsofsimilarbodieswhichbearwitnesstotheorderwhichpervadesboundlessspace,andhasenduredthroughboundlesstime;areallworkingouttheirpredestinedcoursesofevolution。
  *See“EvolutioninBiology。”Essays,vol。ii。p。187
  WithnoneofthesehaveIanythingtodo,atpresent,exceptwiththatexhibitedbytheformsoflifewhichtenanttheearth。Allplantsandanimalsexhibitthetendencytovary,thecausesofwhichhaveyettobeascertained;itisthetendencyoftheconditionsoflife,atanygiventime,whilefavouringtheexistenceofthevariationsbestadaptedtothem,toopposethatoftherestandthustoexerciseselection;andalllivingthingstendtomultiplywithoutlimit,whilethemeansofsupportarelimited;theobviouscauseofwhichistheproductionofoffspringmorenumerousthantheirprogenitors,butwithequalexpectationoflifeintheactuarialsense。Withoutthefirsttendencytherecouldbenoevolution。Withoutthesecond,therewouldbenogoodreasonwhyonevariationshoulddisappearandanothertakeitsplace;thatistosaytherewouldbenoselection。Withoutthe[8]
  third,thestruggleforexistence,theagentoftheselectiveprocessinthestateofnature,wouldvanish。*
  *CollectedEssays,vol。ii。passim。
  Grantingtheexistenceofthesetendencies,alltheknownfactsofthehistoryofplantsandofanimalsmaybebroughtintorationalcorrelation。AndthisismorethancanbesaidforanyotherhypothesisthatIknowof。Suchhypotheses,forexample,asthatoftheexistenceofaprimitive,orderlesschaos;ofapassiveandsluggisheternalmattermoulded,withbutpartialsuccess,byarchetypalideas;ofabrand-newworld-stuffsuddenlycreatedandswiftlyshapedbyasupernaturalpower;receivenoencouragement,butthecontrary,fromourpresentknowledge。Thatourearthmayoncehaveformedpartofanebulouscosmicmagmaiscertainlypossible,indeedseemshighlyprobable;butthereisnoreasontodoubtthatorderreignedthere,ascompletelyasamidstwhatweregardasthemostfinishedworksofnatureorofman。**Thefaithwhichisbornofknowledge,findsitsobjectinaneternalorder,bringingforthceaselesschange,throughendlesstime,inendlessspace;themanifestationsofthecosmicenergyalternatingbetweenphasesofpotentialityandphasesofexplication。Itmaybethat,asKantsuggests,***everycosmic[9]magmapredestinedtoevolveintoanewworld,hasbeenthenolesspredestinedendofavanishedpredecessor。
  **Ibid。,vol。iv。p。138;vol。v。pp。71-73。
  ***Ibid。,vol。viii。p。321。
  II。
  Threeorfouryearshaveelapsedsincethestateofnature,towhichI
  havereferred,wasbroughttoanend,sofarasasmallpatchofthesoilisconcerned,bytheinterventionofman。Thepatchwascutofffromtherestbyawall;withintheareathusprotected,thenativevegetationwas,asfaraspossible,extirpated;whileacolonyofstrangeplantswasimportedandsetdowninitsplace。Inshort,itwasmadeintoagarden。Atthepresenttime,thisartificiallytreatedareapresentsanaspectextraordinarilydifferentfromthatofsomuchofthelandasremainsinthestateofnature,outsidethewall。
  Trees,shrubs,andherbs,manyofthemappertainingtothestateofnatureofremotepartsoftheglobe,aboundandflourish。Moreover,considerablequantitiesofvegetables,fruits,andflowersareproduced,ofkindswhichneithernowexist,norhaveeverexisted,exceptunderconditionssuchasobtaininthegarden;andwhich,therefore,areasmuchworksoftheartofmanastheframesandglasshousesinwhichsomeofthemareraised。Thatthe“stateofArt。”
  thuscreatedinthestateofnaturebyman,issustainedbyanddependentonhim,wouldatoncebecome[10]apparent,ifthewatchfulsupervisionofthegardenerwerewithdrawn,andtheantagonisticinfluencesofthegeneralcosmicprocesswerenolongersedulouslywardedoff,orcounteracted。Thewallsandgateswoulddecay;
  quadrupedalandbipedalintruderswoulddevourandtreaddowntheusefulandbeautifulplants;birds,insects,blight,andmildewwouldworktheirwill;theseedsofthenativeplants,carriedbywindsorotheragencies,wouldimmigrate,andinvirtueoftheirlong-earnedspecialadaptationtothelocalconditions,thesedespisednativeweedswouldsoonchoketheirchoiceexoticrivals。Acenturyortwohence,littlebeyondthefoundationsofthewallandofthehousesandframeswouldbeleft,inevidenceofthevictoryofthecosmicpowersatworkinthestateofnature,overthetemporaryobstaclestotheirsupremacy,setupbytheartofthehorticulturist。
  Itwillbeadmittedthatthegardenisasmuchaworkofart,*orartifice,asanythingthatcanbementioned。Theenergylocalisedincertainhumanbodies,directedbysimilarlylocalisedintellects,hasproducedacollocationofothermaterialbodieswhichcouldnotbebroughtaboutinthestateofnature。Thesamepropositionistrueofallthe*Thesenseoftheterm“Art“isbecomingnarrowed;“workofArt“tomostpeoplemeansapicture,astatue,orapieceofbijouterie;bywayofcompensation“artist“hasincludedinitswideembracecooksandballetgirls,nolessthanpaintersandsculptors,[11]worksofman’shands,fromaflintimplementtoacathedralorachronometer;anditisbecauseitistrue,thatwecallthesethingsartificial,termthemworksofart,orartifice,bywayofdistinguishingthemfromtheproductsofthecosmicprocess,workingoutsideman,whichwecallnatural,orworksofnature。Thedistinctionthusdrawnbetweentheworksofnatureandthoseofman,isuniversallyrecognized;anditis,asIconceive,bothusefulandjustifiable。
  III。
  Nodoubt,itmaybeproperlyurgedthattheoperationofhumanenergyandintelligence,whichhasbroughtintoexistenceandmaintainsthegarden,bywhatIhavecalled“thehorticulturalprocess。”is,strictlyspeaking,partandparcelofthecosmicprocess。AndnoonecouldmorereadilyagreetothatpropositionthanI。Infact,IdonotknowthatanyonehastakenmorepainsthanIhave,duringthelastthirtyyears,toinsistuponthedoctrine,somuchreviledintheearlypartofthatperiod,thatman,physical,intellectual,andmoral,isasmuchapartofnature,aspurelyaproductofthecosmicprocess,asthehumblestweed。*
  *See“Man’sPlaceinNature。”CollectedEssays,vol。vii。,and“OntheStruggleforExistenceinHumanSociety“1888,below。
  Butif,followingupthisadmission,itisurged[12]that,suchbeingthecase,thecosmicprocesscannotbeinantagonismwiththathorticulturalprocesswhichispartofitself——Icanonlyreply,thatiftheconclusionthatthetwoare,antagonisticislogicallyabsurd,Iamsorryforlogic,because,aswehaveseen,thefactisso。Thegardenisinthesamepositionaseveryotherworkofman’sart;itisaresultofthecosmicprocessworkingthroughandbyhumanenergyandintelligence;and,asisthecasewitheveryotherartificialthingsetupinthestateofnature,theinfluencesofthelatter,areconstantlytendingtobreakitdownanddestroyit。Nodoubt,theForthbridgeandanironcladintheoffing,are,inultimateresort,productsofthecosmicprocess;asmuchsoastheriverwhichflowsundertheone,ortheseawateronwhichtheotherfloats。
  Nevertheless,everybreezestrainsthebridgealittle,everytidedoessomethingtoweakenitsfoundations;everychangeoftemperaturealterstheadjustmentofitsparts,producesfrictionandconsequentwearandtear。Fromtimetotime,thebridgemustberepaired,justastheironcladmustgointodock;simplybecausenatureisalwaystendingtoreclaimthatwhichherchild,man,hasborrowedfromherandhasarrangedincombinationswhicharenotthosefavouredbythegeneralcosmicprocess。
  Thus,itisnotonlytruethatthecosmicenergy,workingthroughmanuponaportionof[13]theplantworld,opposesthesameenergyasitworksthroughthestateofnature,butasimilarantagonismiseverywheremanifestbetweentheartificialandthenatural。Eveninthestateofnatureitself,whatisthestruggleforexistencebuttheantagonismoftheresultsofthecosmicprocessintheregionoflife,onetoanother?*
  *Ortoputthecasestillmoresimply。Whenamanlaysholdofthetwoendsofapieceofstringandpullsthem,withintenttobreakit,therightarmiscertainlyexertedinantagonismtotheleftarm;yetbotharmsderivetheirenergyfromthesameoriginalsource。
  IV。
  Notonlyisthestateofnaturehostiletothestateofartofthegarden;buttheprincipleofthehorticulturalprocess,bywhichthelatteriscreatedandmaintained,isantithetictothatofthecosmicprocess。Thecharacteristicfeatureofthelatteristheintenseandunceasingcompetitionofthestruggleforexistence。Thecharacteristicoftheformeristheeliminationofthatstruggle,bytheremovaloftheconditionswhichgiverisetoit。Thetendencyofthecosmicprocessistobringabouttheadjustmentoftheformsofplantlifetothecurrentconditions;thetendencyofthehorticulturalprocessistheadjustmentoftheconditionstotheneedsoftheformsofplantlifewhichthegardenerdesirestoraise。
  Thecosmicprocessusesunrestrictedmultiplication[14]asthemeanswherebyhundredscompetefortheplaceandnourishmentadequateforone;itemploysfrostanddroughttocutofftheweakandunfortunate;
  tosurvive,thereisneednotonlyofstrength,butofflexibilityandofgoodfortune。
  Thegardener,ontheotherhand,restrictsmultiplication;providesthateachplantshallhavesufficientspaceandnourishment;protectsfromfrostanddrought;and,ineveryotherway,attemptstomodifytheconditions,insuchamannerastobringaboutthesurvivalofthoseformswhichmostnearlyapproachthestandardoftheusefulorthebeautiful,whichhehasinhismind。
  Ifthefruitsandthetubers,thefoliageandtheflowersthusobtained,reach,orsufficientlyapproach,thatideal,thereisnoreasonwhythestatusquoattainedshouldnotbeindefinitelyprolonged。Solongasthestateofnatureremainsapproximatelythesame,solongwilltheenergyandintelligencewhichcreatedthegardensufficetomaintainit。However,thelimitswithinwhichthismasteryofmanovernaturecanbemaintainedarenarrow。Iftheconditionsofthecretaceousepochreturned,Ifearthemostskilfulofgardenerswouldhavetogiveupthecultivationofapplesandgooseberries;while,ifthoseoftheglacialperiodonceagainobtained,openasparagusbedswouldbesuperfluous,andthetrainingoffruit[15]treesagainstthemostfavourableofmouthwalls,awasteoftimeandtrouble。
  Butitisextremelyimportanttonotethat,thestateofnatureremainingthesame,iftheproducedoesnotsatisfythegardener,itmaybemadetoapproachhisidealmoreclosely。Althoughthestruggleforexistencemaybeatend,thepossibilityofprogressremains。Indiscussionsonthesetopics,itisoftenstrangelyforgottenthattheessentialconditionsofthemodification,orevolution,oflivingthingsarevariationandhereditarytransmission。Selectionisthemeansbywhichcertainvariationsarefavouredandtheirprogenypreserved。Butthestruggleforexistenceisonlyoneofthemeansbywhichselectionmaybeeffected。Theendlessvarietiesofcultivatedflowers,fruits,roots,tubers,andbulbsarenotproductsofselectionbymeansofthestruggleforexistence,butofdirectselection,inviewofanidealofutilityorbeauty。Amidstamultitudeofplants,occupyingthesamestationandsubjectedtothesameconditions,inthegarden,varietiesarise。Thevarietiestendinginagivendirectionarepreserved,andtherestaredestroyed。Andthesameprocesstakesplaceamongthevarietiesuntil,forexample,thewildkalebecomesacabbage,orthewildViolatricolor,aprizepansy。
  [16]
  V。
  Theprocessofcolonisationpresentsanalogiestotheformationofagardenwhicharehighlyinstructive。SupposeashiploadofEnglishcolonistssenttoformasettlement,insuchacountryasTasmaniawasinthemiddleofthelastcentury。Onlanding,theyfindthemselvesinthemidstofastateofnature,widelydifferentfromthatleftbehindthemineverythingbutthemostgeneralphysicalconditions。Thecommonplants,thecommonbirdsandquadrupeds,areastotallydistinctasthemenfromanythingtobeseenonthesideoftheglobefromwhichtheycome。Thecolonistsproceedtoputanendtothisstateofthingsoveraslargeanareaastheydesiretooccupy。Theyclearawaythenativevegetation,extirpateordriveouttheanimalpopulation,sofarasmaybenecessary,andtakemeasurestodefendthemselvesfromthere-immigrationofeither。Intheirplace,theyintroduceEnglishgrainandfruittrees;Englishdogs,sheep,cattle,horses;andEnglishmen;infact,theysetupanewFloraandFaunaandanewvarietyofmankind,withintheoldstateofnature。Theirfarmsandpasturesrepresentagardenonagreatscale,andthemselvesthegardenerswhohavetokeepitup,inwatchfulantagonismtotheoldregime。Consideredasawhole,thecolonyisacompositeunitintroducedintotheoldstateofnature;and,[17]thenceforward,acompetitorinthestruggleforexistence,toconquerorbevanquished。
  Undertheconditionssupposed,thereisnodoubtoftheresult,iftheworkofthecolonistsbecarriedoutenergeticallyandwithintelligentcombinationofalltheirforces。Ontheotherhand,iftheyareslothful,stupid,andcareless;oriftheywastetheirenergiesincontestswithoneanother,thechancesarethattheoldstateofnaturewillhavethebestofit。Thenativesavagewilldestroytheimmigrantcivilizedman;oftheEnglishanimalsandplantssomewillbeextirpatedbytheirindigenousrivals,otherswillpassintotheferalstateandthemselvesbecomecomponentsofthestateofnature。Inafewdecades,allothertracesofthesettlementwillhavevanished。
  VI。
  Letusnowimaginethatsomeadministrativeauthority,asfarsuperiorinpowerandintelligencetomen,asmenaretotheircattle,issetoverthecolony,chargedtodealwithitshumanelementsinsuchamannerastoassurethevictoryofthesettlementovertheantagonisticinfluencesofthestateofnatureinwhichitissetdown。Hewouldproceedinthesamefashionasthatinwhichthegardenerdealtwithhisgarden。Inthefirstplace,hewould,asfaraspossible,puta[18]stoptotheinfluenceofexternalcompetitionbythoroughlyextirpatingandexcludingthenativerivals,whethermen,beasts,orplants。Andouradministratorwouldselecthishumanagents,withaviewtohisidealofasuccessfulcolony,justasthegardenerselectshisplantswithaviewtohisidealofusefulorbeautifulproducts。
  Inthesecondplace,inorderthatnostruggleforthemeansofexistencebetweenthesehumanagentsshouldweakentheefficiencyofthecorporatewholeinthebattlewiththestateofnature,hewouldmakearrangementsbywhicheachwouldbeprovidedwiththosemeans;
  andwouldberelievedfromthefearofbeingdeprivedofthembyhisstrongerormorecunningfellows。Laws,sanctionedbythecombinedforceofthecolony,wouldrestraintheself-assertionofeachmanwithinthelimitsrequiredforthemaintenanceofpeace。Inotherwords,thecosmicstruggleforexistence,asbetweenmanandman,wouldberigorouslysuppressed;andselection,byitsmeans,wouldbeascompletelyexcludedasitisfromthegarden。
  Atthesametime,theobstaclestothefulldevelopmentofthecapacitiesofthecolonistsbyotherconditionsofthestateofnaturethanthosealreadymentioned,wouldberemovedbythecreationofartificialconditionsofexistenceofamorefavourablecharacter:
  Protectionagainstextremesofheatandcoldwould[19]beaffordedbyhousesandclothing;drainageandirrigationworkswouldantagonisetheeffectsofexcessiverainandexcessivedrought;roads,bridges,canals,carriages,andshipswouldovercomethenaturalobstaclestolocomotionandtransport;mechanicalengineswouldsupplementthenaturalstrengthofmenandoftheirdraughtanimals;hygienicprecautionswouldcheck,orremove,thenaturalcausesofdisease。
  Witheverystepofthisprogressincivilization,thecolonistswouldbecomemoreandmoreindependentofthestateofnature;moreandmore,theirliveswouldbeconditionedbyastateofart。Inordertoattainhisends,theadministratorwouldhavetoavailhimselfofthecourage,industry,andco-operativeintelligenceofthesettlers;anditisplainthattheinterestofthecommunitywouldbebestservedbyincreasingtheproportionofpersonswhopossesssuchqualities,anddiminishingthatofpersonsdevoidofthem。Inotherwords,byselectiondirectedtowardsanideal。
  Thustheadministratormightlooktotheestablishmentofanearthlyparadise,atruegardenofEden,inwhichallthingsshouldworktogethertowardsthewell-beingofthegardeners:withinwhichthecosmicprocess,thecoarsestruggleforexistenceofthestateofnature,shouldbeabolished;inwhichthatstateshouldbereplacedbyastateofart;[20]whereeveryplantandeveryloweranimalshouldbeadaptedtohumanwants,andwouldperishifhumansupervisionandprotectionwerewithdrawn;wherementhemselvesshouldhavebeenselected,withaviewtotheirefficiencyasorgansfortheperformanceofthefunctionsofaperfectedsociety。Andthisidealpolitywouldhavebeenbroughtabout,notbygraduallyadjustingthementotheconditionsaroundthem,butbycreatingartificialconditionsforthem;notbyallowingthefreeplayofthestruggleforexistence,butbyexcludingthatstruggle;andbysubstitutingselectiondirectedtowardstheadministrator’sidealfortheselectionitexercises。
  VII。
  ButtheEdenwouldhaveitsserpent,andaverysubtlebeasttoo。Manshareswiththerestofthelivingworldthemightyinstinctofreproductionanditsconsequence,thetendencytomultiplywithgreatrapidity。Thebetterthemeasuresoftheadministratorachievedtheirobject,themorecompletelythedestructiveagenciesofthestateofnatureweredefeated,thelesswouldthatmultiplicationbechecked。
  Ontheotherhand,withinthecolony,theenforcementofpeace,whichdepriveseverymanofthepowertotakeawaythemeansofexistencefromanother,simplybecauseheisthestronger,[21]wouldhaveputanendtothestruggleforexistencebetweenthecolonists,andthecompetitionforthecommoditiesofexistence,whichwouldaloneremain,isnocheckuponpopulation。
  Thus,assoonasthecolonistsbegantomultiply,theadministratorwouldhavetofacethetendencytothereintroductionofthecosmicstruggleintohisartificialfabric,inconsequenceofthecompetition,notmerelyforthecommodities,butforthemeansofexistence。Whenthecolonyreachedthelimitofpossibleexpansion,thesurpluspopulationmustbedisposedofsomehow;orthefiercestruggleforexistencemustrecommenceanddestroythatpeace,whichisthefundamentalconditionofthemaintenanceofthestateofartagainstthestateofnature。
  Supposingtheadministratortobeguidedbypurelyscientificconsiderations,hewould,likethegardener,meetthismostseriousdifficultybysystematicextirpation,orexclusion,ofthesuperfluous。
  Thehopelesslydiseased,theinfirmaged,theweakordeformedinbodyorinmind,theexcessofinfantsborn,wouldbeputaway,asthegardenerpullsupdefectiveandsuperfluousplants,orthebreederdestroysundesirablecattle。Onlythestrongandthehealthy,carefullymatched,withaviewtotheprogenybestadaptedtothepurposesoftheadministrator,wouldbepermittedtoperpetuatetheirkind。
  [22]
  VIII。
  Ofthemorethoroughgoingofthemultitudinousattemptstoapplytheprinciplesofcosmicevolution,orwhataresupposedtobesuch,tosocialandpoliticalproblems,whichhaveappearedoflateyears,aconsiderableproportionappeartometobebaseduponthenotionthathumansocietyiscompetenttofurnish,fromitsownresources,anadministratorofthekindIhaveimagined。Thepigeons,inshort,aretobetheirownSirJohnSebright。*Adespoticgovernment,whetherindividualorcollective,istobeendowedwiththepreternaturalintelligence,andwithwhat,Iamafraid,manywillconsiderthepreternaturalruthlessness,requiredforthepurposeofcarryingouttheprincipleofimprovementbyselection,withthesomewhatdrasticthoroughnessuponwhichthesuccessofthemethoddepends。Experiencecertainlydoesnotjustifyusinlimitingtheruthlessnessofindividual“savioursofsociety“;and,onthewell-knowngroundsoftheaphorismwhichdeniesbothbodyandsoultocorporations,itseemsprobableindeedthebeliefisnotwithoutsupportinhistorythatacollectivedespotism,amobgottobelieveinitsowndivinerightbydemagogicmissionaries,wouldbecapableofmorethorough[23]workinthisdirectionthananysingletyrant,puffedupwiththesameillusion,haseverachieved。Butintelligenceisanotheraffair。Thefactthat“savioursofsociety“taketothattradeisevidenceenoughthattheyhavenonetospare。Andsuchastheypossessisgenerallysoldtothecapitalistsofphysicalforceonwhoseresourcestheydepend。However,Idoubtwhethereventhekeenestjudgeofcharacter,ifhehadbeforehimahundredboysandgirlsunderfourteen,couldpickout,withtheleastchanceofsuccess,thosewhoshouldbekept,ascertaintobeserviceablemembersofthepolity,andthosewhoshouldbechloroformed,asequallysuretobestupid,idle,orvicious。The“points“ofagoodorofabadcitizenarereallyfarhardertodiscernthanthoseofapuppyorashort-horncalf;manydonotshowthemselvesbeforethepracticaldifficultiesoflifestimulatemanhoodtofullexertion。Andbythattimethemischiefisdone。Theevilstock,ifitbeone,hashadtimetomultiply,andselectionisnullified。
  *Notthattheconceptionofsuchasocietyisnecessarilybasedupontheideaofevolution。ThePlatonicstatetestifiestothecontrary。
  IX。
  Ihaveotherreasonsforfearingthatthislogicalidealofevolutionaryregimentation——thispigeon-fanciers’polity——isunattainable。Intheabsenceofanysuchaseverelyscientificadministratoraswehavebeendreamingof,humansociety[24]iskepttogetherbybondsofsuchasingularcharacter,thattheattempttoperfectsocietyafterhisfashionwouldrunseriousriskoflooseningthem。Socialorganizationisnotpeculiartomen。Othersocieties,suchasthoseconstitutedbybeesandants,havealsoarisenoutoftheadvantageofco-operationinthestruggleforexistence;andtheirresemblancesto,andtheirdifferencesfrom,humansocietyarealikeinstructive。Thesocietyformedbythehivebeefulfilstheidealofthecommunisticaphorism“toeachaccordingtohisneeds,fromeachaccordingtohiscapacity。”Withinit,thestruggleforexistenceisstrictlylimited。Queen,drones,andworkershaveeachtheirallottedsufficiencyoffood;eachperformsthefunctionassignedtoitintheeconomyofthehive,andallcontributetothesuccessofthewholecooperativesocietyinitscompetitionwithrivalcollectorsofnectarandpollenandwithotherenemies,inthestateofnaturewithout。Inthesamesenseasthegarden,orthecolony,isaworkofhumanart,thebeepolityisaworkofapiarianart,broughtaboutbythecosmicprocess,workingthroughtheorganizationofthehymenopteroustype。
  Nowthissocietyisthedirectproductofanorganicnecessity,impellingeverymemberofittoacourseofactionwhichtendstothegoodofthewhole。Eachbeehasitsdutyandnone[25]hasanyrights。
  Whetherbeesaresusceptibleoffeelingandcapableofthoughtisaquestionwhichcannotbedogmaticallyanswered。Asapiousopinion,I
  amdisposedtodenythemmorethanthemerestrudimentsofconsciousness。*Butitiscurioustoreflectthatathoughtfuldroneworkersandqueenswouldhavenoleisureforspeculationwithaturnforethicalphilosophy,mustneedsprofesshimselfanintuitivemoralistofthepurestwater。Hewouldpointout,withperfectjustice,thatthedevotionoftheworkerstoalifeofceaselesstoilforameresubsistencewage,cannotbeaccountedforeitherbyenlightenedselfishness,orbyanyothersortofutilitarianmotives;
  sincethesebeesbegintowork,withoutexperienceorreflection,astheyemergefromthecellinwhichtheyarehatched。Plainly,aneternalandimmutableprinciple,innateineachbee,canaloneaccountforthephenomena。Ontheotherhand,thebiologist,whotracesoutalltheextantstagesofgradationbetweensolitaryandhivebees,asclearlyseesinthelatter,simplytheperfectionofanautomaticmechanism,hammeredoutbytheblowsofthestruggleforexistenceupontheprogenyoftheformer,duringlongagesofconstantvariation。
  *CollectedEssays,vol。i。,“AnimalAutomatism“;vol。v。,“Prologue。”pp。45etseq。
  [26]
  X。
  Iseenoreasontodoubtthat,atitsorigin,humansocietywasasmuchaproductoforganicnecessityasthatofthebees。*Thehumanfamily,tobeginwith,resteduponexactlythesameconditionsasthosewhichgaverisetosimilarassociationsamonganimalslowerinthescale。
  Further,itiseasytoseethateveryincreaseinthedurationofthefamilyties,withtheresultingco-operationofalargerandlargernumberofdescendantsforprotectionanddefence,wouldgivethefamiliesinwhichsuchmodificationtookplaceadistinctadvantageovertheothers。And,asinthehive,theprogressivelimitationofthestruggleforexistencebetweenthemembersofthefamilywouldinvolveincreasingefficiencyasregardsoutsidecompetition。
  Butthereisthisvastandfundamentaldifferencebetweenbeesocietyandhumansociety。Intheformer,themembersofthesocietyareeachorganicallypredestinedtotheperformanceofoneparticularclassoffunctionsonly。Iftheywereendowedwithdesires,eachcoulddesiretoperformnonebutthoseofficesforwhichitsorganizationspeciallyfitsit;andwhich,inviewofthegoodofthewhole,itisproperitshoulddo。Solongasanewqueendoesnotmakeherappearance,rivalries,andcompetitionareabsentfromthebeepolity。
  *CollectedEssays,volv。,Prologue,pp。50-54,[27]Amongmankind,onthecontrary,thereisnosuchpredestinationtoasharplydefinedplaceinthesocialorganism。Howevermuchmenmaydifferinthequalityoftheirintellects,theintensityoftheirpassions,andthedelicacyoftheirsensations,itcannotbesaidthatoneisfittedbyhisorganizationtobeanagriculturallabourerandnothingelse,andanothertobealandownerandnothingelse。
  Moreover,withalltheirenormousdifferencesinnaturalendowment,menagreeinonething,andthatistheirinnatedesiretoenjoythepleasuresandtoescapethepainsoflife;and,inshort,todonothingbutthatwhichitpleasesthemtodo,withouttheleastreferencetothewelfareofthesocietyintowhichtheyareborn。Thatistheirinheritancetherealityatthebottomofthedoctrineoforiginalsinfromthelongseriesofancestors,humanandsemi-humanandbrutal,inwhomthestrengthofthisinnatetendencytoself-assertionwastheconditionofvictoryinthestruggleforexistence。Thatisthereasonoftheaviditasvitae*——theinsatiablehungerforenjoyment——ofallmankind,whichisoneoftheessentialconditionsofsuccessinthewarwiththestateofnatureoutside;andyetthesureagentofthedestructionofsocietyifallowedfreeplaywithin。
  *Seebelow。Romanes’Lecture,note7。
  Thecheckuponthisfreeplayofself-assertion,ornaturalliberty,whichisthenecessaryconditionfortheoriginofhumansociety,istheproduct[28]oforganicnecessitiesofadifferentkindfromthoseuponwhichtheconstitutionofthehivedepends。Oneoftheseisthemutualaffectionofparentandoffspring,intensifiedbythelonginfancyofthehumanspecies。Butthemostimportantisthetendency,sostronglydevelopedinman,toreproduceinhimselfactionsandfeelingssimilarto,orcorrelatedwith,thoseofothermen。Manisthemostconsummateofallmimicsintheanimalworld;nonebuthimselfcandrawormodel;nonecomesnearhiminthescope,variety,andexactnessofvocalimitation;noneissuchamasterofgesture;
  whileheseemstobeimpelledthustoimitateforthepurepleasureofit。Andthereisnosuchanotheremotionalchameleon。Byapurelyreflexoperationofthemind,wetakethehueofpassionofthosewhoareaboutus,or,itmaybe,thecomplementarycolour。Itisnotbyanyconscious“puttingone’sselfintheplace“ofajoyfulorasufferingpersonthatthestateofmindwecallsympathyusuallyarises;*indeed,itisoftencontrarytoone’ssenseof[29]right,andinspiteofone’swill,that“fellow-feelingmakesuswondrouskind。”orthereverse。Howevercompletemaybetheindifferencetopublicopinion,inacool,intellectualview,ofthetraditionalsage,ithasnotyetbeenmyfortunetomeetwithanyactualsagewhotookitshostilemanifestationswithentireequanimity。Indeed,Idoubtifthephilosopherlives,oreverhaslivedwhocouldknowhimselftobeheartilydespisedby,astreetboywithoutsomeirritation。And,thoughonecannotjustifyHamanforwishingtohangMordecaionsuchaveryhighgibbet,yet,really,theconsciousnessoftheVizierofAhasuerus,ashewentinandoutofthegate,thatthisobscureJewhadnorespectforhim,musthavebeenveryannoying。**
  *AdamSmithmakesthepithyobservationthatthemanwhosympathiseswithawomaninchildbed,cannotbesaidtoputhimselfinherplace。“TheTheoryoftheMoralSentiments。”
  Partvii。sec。iii。chap。i。Perhapsthereismorehumourthanforceintheexample;and,inspiteofthisandotherobservationsofthesametenor,Ithinkthattheonedefectoftheremarkableworkinwhichitoccursisthatitlaystoomuchstressonconscioussubstitution,toolittleonpurelyreflexsympathy。
  **Estherv。9-13。“……butwhenHamansawMordecaiintheking’sgate,thathestoodnotup,normovedforhim,hewasfullofindignationagainstMordecai……AndHamantoldthemofthegloryofhisriches……andallthethingswhereinthekinghadpromotedhim……Yetallthisavailethmenothing,solongasIseeMordecaitheJewsittingattheking’sgate。”
  Whatashrewdexposureofhumanweaknessitis!
  Itisneedfulonlytolookaroundus,toseethatthegreatestrestraineroftheanti-socialtendenciesofmenisfear,notofthelaw,butoftheopinionoftheirfellows。Theconventionsofhonourbindmenwhobreaklegal,moral,andreligiousbonds;and,whilepeopleenduretheextremityofphysicalpainratherthanpartwithlife,shamedrivestheweakesttosuicide。
  Everyforwardstepofsocialprogressbrings[30]menintocloserrelationswiththeirfellows,andincreasestheimportanceofthepleasuresandpainsderivedfromsympathy。Wejudgetheactsofothersbyourownsympathies,andwejudgeourownactsbythesympathiesofothers,everydayandalldaylong,fromchildhoodupwards,untilassociations,asindissolubleasthoseoflanguage,areformedbetweencertainactsandthefeelingsofapprobationordisapprobation。Itbecomesimpossibletoimaginesomeactswithoutdisapprobation,orotherswithoutapprobationoftheactor,whetherhebeone’sself,oranyoneelse。Wecometothinkintheacquireddialectofmorals。Anartificialpersonality,the“manwithin。”asAdamSmith*callsconscience,isbuiltupbesidethenaturalpersonality。Heisthewatchmanofsociety,chargedtorestraintheanti-socialtendenciesofthenaturalmanwithinthelimitsrequiredbysocialwelfare。
  *“TheoryoftheMoralSentiments。”Partiii。chap。3。OntheInfluenceandAuthorityofConscience。
  XI。
  Ihavetermedthisevolutionofthefeelingsoutofwhichtheprimitivebondsofhumansocietyaresolargelyforged,intotheorganizedandpersonifiedsympathywecallconscience,theethicalprocess。*Sofarasittendsto*Workedout,initsessentialfeatures,chieflybyHartleyandAdamSmith,longbeforethemoderndoctrineofevolutionwasthoughtof。SeeNotebelow,p。45。
  [31]makeanyhumansocietymoreefficientinthestruggleforexistencewiththestateofnature,orwithothersocieties,itworksinharmoniouscontrastwiththecosmicprocess。Butitisnonethelesstruethat,sincelawandmoralsarerestraintsuponthestruggleforexistencebetweenmeninsociety,theethicalprocessisinoppositiontotheprincipleofthecosmicprocess,andtendstothesuppressionofthequalitiesbestfittedforsuccessinthatstruggle。*
  *Seetheessay“OntheStruggleforExistenceinHumanSociety“
  below;andCollectedEssays,vol。i。p。276,forKant’srecognitionofthesefacts。
  Itisfurthertobeobservedthat,justastheself-assertion,necessarytothemaintenanceofsocietyagainstthestateofnature,willdestroythatsocietyifitisallowedfreeoperationwithin;sotheself-restraint,theessenceoftheethicalprocess,whichisnolessanessentialconditionoftheexistenceofeverypolity,may,byexcess,becomeruinoustoit。
  Moralistsofallagesandofallfaiths,attendingonlytotherelationsofmentowardsoneanotherinanidealsociety,haveagreeduponthe“goldenrule。”“Doasyouwouldbedoneby。”Inotherwords,letsympathybeyourguide;putyourselfintheplaceofthemantowardswhomyouractionisdirected;anddotohimwhatyouwouldliketohavedonetoyourselfunderthecircumstances。Howevermuchonemayadmirethegenerosityofsucharuleof[32]conduct;howeverconfidentonemaybethataveragemenmaybethoroughlydependeduponnottocarryitouttoitsfulllogicalconsequences;itisneverthelessdesirabletorecognisethefactthattheseconsequencesareincompatiblewiththeexistenceofacivilstate,underanycircumstancesofthisworldwhichhaveobtained,or,sofarasonecansee,are,likelytocometopass。
  ForIimaginetherecanbenodoubtthatthegreatdesireofeverywrongdoeristoescapefromthepainfulconsequencesofhisactions。
  IfIputmyselfintheplaceofthemanwhohasrobbedme,IfindthatIampossessedbyanexceedingdesirenottobefinedorimprisoned;
  ifinthatofthemanwhohassmittenmeononecheek,Icontemplatewithsatisfactiontheabsenceofanyworseresultthantheturningoftheothercheekforliketreatment。Strictlyobserved,the“goldenrule“involvesthenegationoflawbytherefusaltoputitinmotionagainstlaw-breakers;and,asregardstheexternalrelationsofapolity,itistherefusaltocontinuethestruggleforexistence。Itcanbeobeyed,evenpartially,onlyundertheprotectionofasocietywhichrepudiatesit。Withoutsuchshelter,thefollowersofthe“goldenrule“mayindulgeinhopesofheaven,buttheymustreckonwiththecertaintythatotherpeoplewillbemastersoftheearth。
  Whatwouldbecomeofthegardenifthe[33]gardenertreatedalltheweedsandslugs,andbirdsandtrespassersashewouldliketobetreated,ifhewereintheirplace?
  XII。
  Undertheprecedingheads,Ihaveendeavouredtorepresentinbroad,butIhopefaithful,outlinestheessentialfeaturesofthestateofnatureandofthatcosmicprocessofwhichitistheoutcome,sofaraswasneedfulformyargument;Ihavecontrastedwiththestateofnaturethestateofart,producedbyhumanintelligenceandenergy,asitisexemplifiedbyagarden;andIhaveshownthatthestateofart,hereandelsewhere,canbemaintainedonlybytheconstantcounteractionofthehostileinfluencesofthestateofnature。
  Further,Ihavepointedoutthatthe“horticulturalprocess。”whichthussetsitselfagainstthe“cosmicprocess“isopposedtothelatterinprinciple,insofarasittendstoarrestthestruggleforexistence,byrestrainingthemultiplicationwhichisoneofthechiefcausesofthatstruggle,andbycreatingartificialconditionsoflife,betteradaptedtothecultivatedplantsthanaretheconditionsofthestateofnature。AndIhavedweltuponthefactthat,thoughtheprogressivemodification,whichistheconsequenceofthestruggleforexistenceinthestateofnature,isatanend,suchmodificationmaystillbeeffected[34]bythatselection,inviewofanidealofusefulness,orofpleasantness,toman,ofwhichthestateofnatureknowsnothing。
  Ihaveproceededtoshowthatacolony,setdowninacountryinthestateofnature,presentscloseanalogieswithagarden;andIhaveindicatedthecourseofactionwhichanadministrator,ableandwillingtocarryouthorticulturalprinciples,wouldadopt,inordertosecurethesuccessofsuchanewlyformedpolity,supposingittobecapableofindefiniteexpansion。Inthecontrarycase,Ihaveshownthatdifficultiesmustarise;thattheunlimitedincreaseofthepopulationoveralimitedareamust,soonerorlater,reintroduceintothecolonythatstruggleforthemeansofexistencebetweenthecolonists,whichitwastheprimaryobjectoftheadministratortoexclude,insomuchasitisfataltothemutualpeacewhichistheprimeconditionoftheunionofmeninsociety。
  Ihavebrieflydescribedthenatureoftheonlyradicalcure,knowntome,forthediseasewhichwouldthusthreatentheexistenceofthecolony;and,howeverregretfully,Ihavebeenobligedtoadmitthatthisrigorouslyscientificmethodofapplyingtheprinciplesofevolutiontohumansocietyhardlycomeswithintheregionofpracticalpolitics;notforwantofwillonthepartofagreatmanypeople;butbecause,foronereason,thereisnohopethatmerehumanbeingswilleverpossessenoughintelligencetoselectthefittest。AndI[35]
  haveadducedothergroundsforarrivingatthesameconclusion。
  Ihavepointedoutthathumansocietytookitsriseintheorganicnecessitiesexpressedbyimitationandbythesympatheticemotions;
  andthat,inthestruggleforexistencewiththestateofnatureandwithothersocieties,aspartofit,thoseinwhichmenwerethusledtocloseco-operationbadagreatadvantage。*But,sinceeachmanretainedmoreorlessofthefacultiescommontoalltherest,andespeciallyafullshareofthedesireforunlimitedself-gratification,thestruggleforexistencewithinsocietycouldonlybegraduallyeliminated。Solongasanyofitremained,societycontinuedtobeanimperfectinstrumentofthestruggleforexistenceand,consequently,wasimprovablebytheselectiveinfluenceofthatstruggle。Otherthingsbeingalike,thetribeofsavagesinwhichorderwasbestmaintained;inwhichtherewasmostsecuritywithinthetribeandthemostloyalmutualsupportoutsideit,wouldbethesurvivors。
  *CollectedEssays,vol。v。,Prologue,p。52。
  Ihavetermedthisgradualstrengtheningofthesocialbond,which,thoughitarrestthestruggleforexistenceinsidesociety,uptoacertainpointimprovesthechancesofsociety,asacorporatewhole,inthecosmicstruggle——theethicalprocess。Ihaveendeavouredtoshowthat,whentheethicalprocesshasadvancedsofarastosecure[36]everymemberofthesocietyinthepossessionofthemeansofexistence,thestruggleforexistence,asbetweenmanandman,withinthatsocietyis,ipsofacto,atanend。And,asitisundeniablethatthemosthighlycivilizedsocietieshavesubstantiallyreachedthisposition,itfollowsthat,sofarastheyareconcerned,thestruggleforexistencecanplaynoimportantpartwithinthem。*Inotherwords,thekindofevolutionwhichisbroughtaboutinthestateofnaturecannottakeplace。
  *Whetherthestruggleforexistencewiththestateofnatureandwithothersocieties,sofarastheystandintherelationofthestateofnaturewithit,exertsaselectiveinfluenceuponmodernsociety,andinwhatdirection,arequestionsnoteasytoanswer。Theproblemoftheeffectofmilitaryandindustrialwarfareuponthosewhowageitisverycomplicated。
  Ihavefurthershowncauseforthebeliefthatdirectselection,afterthefashionofthehorticulturistandthebreeder,neitherhasplayed,norcanplay,anyimportantpartintheevolutionofsociety;apartfromotherreasons,becauseIdonotseehowsuchselectioncouldbepractisedwithoutaseriousweakening,itmaybethedestruction,ofthebondswhichholdsocietytogether。Itstrikesmethatmenwhoareaccustomedtocontemplatetheactiveorpassiveextirpationoftheweak,theunfortunate,andthesuperfluous;whojustifythatconductonthegroundthatithasthesanctionofthecosmicprocess,andistheonlywayofensuringtheprogressoftherace;who,if[37]theyareconsistent,mustrankmedicineamongtheblackartsandcountthephysicianamischievouspreserveroftheunfit;onwhosematrimonialundertakingstheprinciplesofthestudhavethechiefinfluence;
  whosewholelives,therefore,areaneducationinthenobleartofsuppressingnaturalaffectionandsympathy,arenotlikelytohaveanylargestockofthesecommoditiesleft。But,withoutthem,thereisnoconscience,noranyrestraintontheconductofmen,exceptthecalculationofself-interest,thebalancingofcertainpresentgratificationsagainstdoubtfulfuturepains;andexperiencetellsushowmuchthatisworth。Everyday,weseefirmbelieversinthehellofthetheologianscommitactsbywhich,astheybelievewhencool,theyrisketernalpunishment;whiletheyholdbackfromthosewhichamopposedtothesympathiesoftheirassociates。
  XIII。
  Thatprogressivemodificationofcivilizationwhichpassesbythenameofthe“evolutionofsociety。”is,infact,aprocessofanessentiallydifferentcharacter,bothfromthatwhichbringsabouttheevolutionofspecies,inthestateofnature,andfromthatwhichgivesrisetotheevolutionofvarieties,inthestateofart。
  TherecanbenodoubtthatvastchangeshavetakenplaceinEnglishcivilizationsincethereign[38]oftheTudors。ButIamnotawareofaparticleofevidenceinfavouroftheconclusionthatthisevolutionaryprocess,hasbeenaccompaniedbyanymodificationofthephysical,orthemental,charactersofthemenwhohavebeenthesubjectsofit。IhavenotmetwithanygroundsforsuspectingthattheaverageEnglishmenofto-dayaresensiblydifferentfromthosethatShakspereknewanddrew。WelookintohismagicmirroroftheElizabethanage,andbehold,nowisedarkly,thepresentmentofourselves。
  Duringthesethreecenturies,fromthereignofElizabethtothatofVictoria,thestruggleforexistencebetweenmanandmanhasbeensolargelyrestrainedamongthegreatmassofthepopulationexceptforoneortwoshortintervalsofcivilwar,thatitcanhavehadlittle,orno,selectiveoperation。Astoanythingcomparabletodirectselection,ithasbeenpractisedonsosmallascalethatitmayalsobeneglected。Thecriminallaw,insofarasbyputtingtodeathorbysubjectingtolongperiodsofimprisonment,thosewhoinfringeitsprovisions,preventsthepropagationofhereditarycriminaltendencies;andthepoor-law,insofarasitseparatesmarriedcouples,whosedestitutionarisesfromhereditarydefectsofcharacter,aredoubtlessselectiveagentsoperatinginfavourofthenon-criminalandthemoreeffectivemembersofsociety。Buttheproportionofthepopulationwhichtheyinfluence[39]isverysmall;
  and,generally,thehereditarycriminalandthehereditarypauperhavepropagatedtheirkindbeforethelawaffectsthem。Inalargeproportionofcases,crimeandpauperismhavenothingtodowithheredity;butaretheconsequence,partly,ofcircumstancesand,partly,ofthepossessionofqualities,which,underdifferentconditionsoflife,mighthaveexcitedesteemandevenadmiration。Itwasashrewdmanoftheworldwho,indiscussingsewageproblems,remarkedthatdirtisrichesinthewrongplace;andthatsoundaphorismhasmoralapplications。Thebenevolenceandopen-handedgenerositywhichadornarichman,maymakeapauperofapoorone;
  theenergyandcouragetowhichthesuccessfulsoldieroweshisrise,thecoolanddaringsubtletytowhichthegreatfinancieroweshisfortune,mayveryeasily,underunfavourableconditions,leadtheirpossessorstothegallows,ortothehulks。Moreover,itisfairlyprobablethatthechildrenofa“failure“willreceivefromtheirotherparentjustthatlittlemodificationofcharacterwhichmakesallthedifference。Isometimeswonderwhetherpeople,whotalksofreelyaboutextirpatingtheunfit,everdispassionatelyconsidertheirownhistory。Surely,onemustbevery“fit。”indeed,nottoknowofanoccasion,orperhapstwo,inone’slife,whenitwouldhavebeenonlytooeasytoqualifyforaplaceamongthe“unfit。”
  [40]Inmybelieftheinnatequalities,physical,intellectual,andmoral,ofournationhaveremainedsubstantiallythesameforthelastfourorfivecenturies。IfthestruggleforexistencehasaffectedustoanyseriousextentandIdoubtitithasbeen,indirectly,throughourmilitaryandindustrialwarswithothernations。