better development of the intelligence of each individual 

 to enable him or her to control both the environment, and 

 him or her self, in an ever more effective way. This is the 

 conclusion which any completely reasoning mind should 

 reach after examining the full evidence of present-day 

 knowledge. I have shown that we are not, and because of 

 the nature of our minds never can be, convinced of the 

 validity of any concept unless it is objectively proved 

 correct to each of us. All that is so proved valid con- 

 stitutes science, and therefore we can accept only scientific 

 knowledge in our efforts to attain truth in life. I conclude 

 that science is the most recent phase in human evolution 

 — and that there is no possibility of any reconciliation be- 

 tween science and any other system of thought existing 

 in the world today. I consider that it is possible for most 

 individuals to accept a philosophy of life based on reason 

 alone, and that such a philosophy is perfectly self -consistent, 

 intellectually satisfying, and has the greatest power, to 

 ensure the success of an individual, of any philosophy 

 ever known to Man. This philosophy, which may be 

 called individualism, simply asserts that for each one of 

 us the development of our own abilities is the primary con- 

 cern of life; that for the progress of Mankind the most 

 important necessity is the recognition of the supreme 

 significance of the individual; and that, when the long-term 

 advance of the human species is considered, the conscious 

 evolution of Man towards greatly increased mental capa- 

 bilities is the only thing of importance. We are today able 

 to see the path into the future of our species as a whole, and 

 can choose to follow the scientific method of acquiring 

 knowledge, and changing our environment to suit our needs. 

 Let us hope that enough intelligent men and women will 

 see the way to approach surely towards real truth in science, 



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