THE INFLUENCE OF THE DARWINIAN THEORY ON 

 ETHICS, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE ETHICAL 

 CONDITIONS OF THE STRUGGLE FOR EXISTENCE. 



By Rev. Ramsden Balmforth. 



I. 



Seldom has a greater change taken place in the world of 

 thought than that carried by the almost universal acceptance of the 

 Darwinian theory of evolution. The change, which might be 

 called revolutionary, has been compared to that caused by the sub- 

 stitution of the Copernican for the Ptolemaic theory in astronomy. 

 In every department of scientific activity the evolution theory may 

 now be said to have become the governing conception of thought. 

 It is true there are important points in the theory on which men 

 of science still differ, but their differences are differences 

 about the method, not about the fact of evolution itself. We think 

 and speak in terms of evolution, and the theory has so far per- 

 meated all our thinking that not only biological science, but 

 ethics, economics, social and political theories and institutions are 

 beginning to feel the influence of the new ideals and methods of 

 thought which the theory has brought with it. An overwhelming 

 accumulation of facts, drawn from nature and history, has broken 

 down old conceptions of things, and has compelled us to adopt 

 new conceptions and adapt our mental and spiritual outlook to the 

 new methods of knowledge. It is the object of this paper to 

 emphasise the influence of this great change of thought in so far 

 as it has affected, or is likely to affect, our ethical relationships 

 and outlook. 



Fifty years ago, when Darwin's " Origin of Species " was 

 first published, a feeling of indignation and despair passed through 

 certain circles of thought. Many minds were filled with indigna- 

 tion at the thought that the ground was completely cut from under 

 many ancient and cherished theories. Others were in despair in 

 that the very foundations of both religion and ethics seemed to 

 be quaking under their feet. Looking back upon the stormy con- 

 troversies which followed the publication of that remarkable book, 

 one may well wonder both at the horror-stricken anathemas of 

 theological extremists and the pessimistic forebodings of more 

 thoughtful and charitable minds. We can see now the clear gain 

 which has come to humanity, and how the whole field of ethical 

 study has been enriched by the vast mass of knowledge which 

 Darwin and his fellow-labourers and successors have brought to 

 our minds. Ethical advance has become clearer and surer. 

 Science, which is organised knowledge, has shown itself once more 

 to be the willing servant and helper of humanity. It has shown, 

 quietly, unobtrusivelv. and even unintentionally, that where any 

 speculative system or theory is founded upon error that system or 

 theory is doomed to decay, and deserves its doom. 



Much, indeed, of what was thought to be indissolubly bound 

 up with the most cherished convictions of men has, during the 

 past fifty years, gone by the board. The ancient story of the 



