A GERMAN VIEW OF THE "DATA OF ETHICS." 201 



-worship of material wealth, to the thirst for riches and power at the 

 expense of others. AVhatever furthers development and brings its 

 goal nearer, is useful ; and the goal of development lies in a fair and 

 distant future, whose outline the philosopher thinks he sees. The 

 highest aim, to which all others are subsidiary, to which the strivings 

 of the best are directed, is a moral order of life corresponding to the 

 noblest longings of reason, of the most highly developed man in the 

 most highly developed society. Such a system appeals to that en- 

 nobled and enlightened utilitarianism which constitutes the longing 

 after ideal possessions the condition of the highest welfare of man. 



The rigorism of other moral systems has no place in the ethics of 

 evolution. Its moral law is not like that of Kant, sublimely above all 

 connection with natural impulses and inclinations, nor does it consti- 

 tute moral life a continuous battle against desires which aim at the 

 furthering of individual happiness. " Great mischief has been done 

 by the repellent aspect habitually given to moral rule by its exposi- 

 tors, and immense benefits are to be anticipated from presenting moral 

 rule under that attractive aspect which it has when undistorted by 

 superstition and asceticism. If a father, sternly enforcing numerous 

 commands, some needful and some needless, adds to his severe con- 

 trol a behavior wholly unsympathetic ; if his children have to take 

 their pleasure by stealth, or, when timidly looking up from their play, 

 ever meet a cold glance, or more frequently a frown his government 

 will inevitably be disliked, if not hated ; and the aim will be to evade 

 it as much as possible. Contrariwise, a father who, equally firm in 

 maintaining restraints needful for the well-being of his children or 

 the well-being of other persons, not only avoids needless restraints, 

 but, giving his sanction to all legitimate gratifications and providing 

 the means for them, looks on at their gambols with an approving 

 smile, can scarcely fail to gain an influence which, no less efficient for 

 the time being, will also be permanently efficient. The controls of 

 two such fathers symbolize the controls of morality as it is and moral- 

 ity as it should be." 



This comparison, however, does not hold good of all forms of rig- 

 orism. Kant's moral law knows neither inclination nor disinclina- 

 tion. It neither attracts by rewards nor terrifies by punishments. It 

 is neither the father who adds unsympathetic bearing to stern super- 

 vision, nor the father who helps the enjoyment of his children and 

 watches their games. It is sublime above all traffic with the inclina- 

 tions. And it may still be asked whether Kant was " so far from the 

 track of truth " when he sought the ethical criterion in the law-abiding, 

 duty-abiding sentiment, and maintained the supremacy of that senti- 

 ment with that enthusiasm which inspired his famous apostrophe to 

 duty : " Duty, thou sublime, thou lofty name ; which embracest with- 

 in thee naught beloved bringing flattery ; commanding submission, 

 though threatening nothing to move the will, but only setting up a 



