NATURAL SELECTION AND ENVIRONMENT 175 



We have attempted to show in this lecture that re- 

 versal of this grand sequence has always led to degen- 

 eration, or, in higher forms, far more frequently, to 

 extinction. As we ascend, natural selection works 

 more, rather than less, unsparingly. And as advance 

 depends upon conformity to environment, and as the 

 highest forms must be regarded as therefore most 

 completely conformed, we gain our most adequate 

 knowledge of environment when we study it as work- 

 ing especially for these. For these have been from the 

 very beginning its far-off, chief aim and goal. Viewed 

 from this standpoint, environment proves to be a host 

 of interacting forces uniting in a resultant " power, 

 not ourselves, that makes for righteousness," and un- 

 selfishness. 



Inasmuch as man's rational moral nature, his per- 

 sonality, is the result of the last and longest step tow- 

 ard and in conformity to environment, these powers 

 correspond to that which is at the same time highest, 

 and deepest, and most fundamental in that environ- 

 ment. This power which makes for righteousness is 

 therefore to be regarded as personal and spiritual 

 rather than material. It is God immanent in nature. 

 And it is mainly to this personal and spiritual element 

 in his environment that man is in the future to more 

 completely conform. Conformity to this element in 

 man's environment does not so much result in life as 

 it is life ; failure to conform is death. And the press- 

 ure of environment upon man, compelling him to 

 choose between life through conformity and non-con- 

 formity with death, can be most naturally and ade- 

 quately explained as the expression of his will. We 

 know what he requires of us. 



