1915] S' J- Meltzer 281 



is subject to evolutionary influences; it has undergone and is contin- 

 ually undergoing development. Morality manifests a continuous 

 growth. The development of savage races into cultured, ethical 

 nations is a matter of historical record. In fact, the progressive 

 widening which conceptions like justice or duty are continually 

 undergoing within the confines of a nation is practically a matter of 

 direct Observation during an individual's lifetime. 



I shall dwell here especially on two elements which are operative 

 in this process. The foremost factor in the evolutionary progress 

 of intranational morals is to be f ound undoubtedly in the intellectual 

 activities peculiar to man. The growth and development of the 

 sciences, of arts, music, poetry, literature and religion, from their 

 rudimentary phases into their present high states, elevated the spe- 

 cific human character and favored the widening and deepening of 

 morality of any individual nation or rather the morality of the 

 individuals of which these nations are composed. The human in- 

 tellect may or may not be the primary cause of morality; but the 

 unfolding of human intelligence and the growth of intellectual activ- 

 ities specifically human, are undoubtedly important elements in the 

 growth and development of specific human morality. This con- 

 nection between intelligence and morality is practically a matter of 

 direct Observation. 



On this basis the further assumption is justified, that even the 

 conscious primitive morality of primitive man did not make its ap- 

 pearance abruptly. It developed very slowly, parallel, to a certain 

 degree, with the development of man in the animal stage into man 

 with rudimentary intelligence. 



I presume, then, that conscious morality did not begin abruptly, 

 but developed very slowly, parallel with and assisted by the develop- 

 ment and growth of human intelligence. However, important as 

 the human intelligence may be, evidently it is not the only Controlling 

 factor of morality. We see animals acting towards their fellow- 

 creatures in a manner which, if seen in human beings, we would 

 consider as highly ethical. We all know how animals care for 

 their offspring. We see dogs licking the wounds of their fellow- 

 dogs — an act resembling a samaritan service. We see altruistic 

 activities in the communities of the bees and the ants. We desig- 



