78 The Universe and Life 



quacy of life" that we wish to promote? What are the 

 things that are of worth; the things that make life 

 full and adequate? 



To this no simple answer can be given. It is only 

 experience, it is only living itself, that discovers what 

 things in life are of value. What life, in direct ex- 

 perience, finds satisfactory, that is satisfactory ; what 

 life finds valuable, that is valuable. The worth while 

 includes all those satisfactions and experiences of life 

 that are discovered to be good, as food is discovered 

 to be good by a hungry creature; and that do not 

 yield later consequences of evil that overbalance the 

 good. We are dealing here with things ultimate that 

 cannot be defined except in terms of experience. On 

 the main outlines of what is of worth there will be 

 general agreement. Health, strength, the satisfaction 

 of the natural appetites and instincts; varied and 

 pleasurable activity, as in business and arts; knowl- 

 edge and understanding of the world of nature and 

 the world of man, as in science, history, literature 

 and philosophy; companionship with our fellows, 

 concordant and pleasurable interchange and inter- 

 communication with them; mental power, initiative, 

 originality, creative ability — all these things are " 

 included in what is found to be of worth. Whatever 

 the living creature finds satisfactory in the long run 

 is included in the realm of values. Sometimes it is true 

 a very "long run" is required ; sometimes the experi- 

 ence of generations is necessary before it can be dis- 

 covered whether certain things are finally worth while. 

 But there is no other test than experience. 



