454 lotka: objective standard of value 



of late; but such modes of action, which from the point of view 

 here developed must be considered to have a low or even a nega- 

 tive value, will be admitted to be undesirable also from the point 

 of view of ethics. 



Somewhat similar remarks apply in the case of esthetic values. 

 There can be little doubt that our esthetic instinct fulfills some 

 useful function, though it maj^ not always be very apparent how. 

 In many cases artistic feeling and expression is closely bound up 

 with the manifestation of the mating instinct, and thus with the 

 propagation and increase of the species. In other cases art is 

 associated with the devotional phase of religion, an adjunct, and 

 no doubt an effective auxiliary, to its ethical phase. That art 

 in such connection as this serves a "useful" purpose, i.e., tends to 

 increase r, and has therefore, according to our system, a positive 

 value, needs no further demonstration, after what has been said 

 above with regard to ethical values. 



"But," perhaps some will say, "Art and Ethical Conduct have 

 a value quite apart from any benefits which they bring to the 

 community." With these there can be no arguing — they are 

 merely expressing a personal conviction, voicing their own sub- 

 jective sense of values. That this subjective sense of values is 

 more or less at variance with the "true" or objective values of 

 things is admitted; were this not so, the whole of the present 

 investigation would be unnecessary. And if any person finds it 

 utterly impossible to harmonize on some particular point his sub- 

 jective sense of values with a proposed system of objective values, 

 it is at least equally probable, a 'priori, that his sense of values is at 

 fault, as that the proposed system of objective values is defective. 



Again, some may urge that it is absurd to measure the benefit 

 of any given thing to the species by its influence upon the "mere" 

 number of individuals. To the consideration of those who would 

 condemn this point of view as crassly material, we would respect- 

 fully submit the fact that the number of "souls" is of necessity 

 equal to the number of "bodies" in a community, and that if 

 such a despicable thing as mere bread is necessary to increase and 

 sustain the number of bodies of the community, it is quite equally 

 essential to the increase (if not the sustenance) of the number of 

 souls of that community. 



