126 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



toward this saii>e end, the question naturally arises, why does 

 not the welfare of men advance pari passu with the progress of 

 science and art? As already remarked, no thoughtful person 

 will maintain that it does so advance, some insisting that the 

 two are wholly independent, and others claiming that the moral 

 condition of society is degenerating in spite of the brilliant material 

 civilization of these later times. After conceding all that is possi- 

 ble on the side of a real moral progress in society the case is bad 

 enough, and the blunt comment of crude common sense naturally 

 and properly is, of what use are science and art if they are incom- 

 petent to add anything to the general welfare of mankind? And 

 to this question the response of the highest science is that if they 

 cannot do this they are of no use. The welfare of mankind is the 

 ultimate test of utility, and whatever fails to withstand that test 

 stands condemned. 



But admitting, as has already been done, that all the perceptible 

 moral progress that has taken place has been due to that of intelli- 

 gence in interaction with the practical arts which it necessarily 

 creates, it may still be a question whether this trifling result is really 

 worth the Titanic efforts which this teeming age puts forth. The 

 attempt to answer this question would probably be attended with 

 insuperable difficulties and need not be made. It will be more 

 profitable to consider the far more important one whether, in the 

 nature of things, this admitted slight influence of material upon 

 moral progress could, even theoretically, be so far increased as to 

 render them somewhat proportional in amount. 



Moral progress may be defined as embracing all those changes 

 in man's social condition which actually enhance his general 

 well-being; material progress may be defined as embracing those 

 changes which give him power, if judiciously employed, to improve 

 his condition, without implying such employment. If these defi- 

 nitions are correct, it is evident that all that is needed to make moral 

 progress depend quantitatively upon material progress is to secure 

 the judicious employment of the modifications of crude nature which 

 are produced by human thought and action. Knowledge, ingenuity, 

 skill, and industry need to be applied to moral ends and directed to 

 the attainment of the social well-being. At present science and 

 art are only potential factors in civilization. The need is that they 

 be converted into actual factors. They are well nigh omnipotent 

 in the accomplishment of anything toward which they can be once 



