368 THE HISTORY OF CREATION. 
which, notwithstanding the much vaunted civilization of 
our century, we are still plunged. For, unfortunately, it 
is only too true, as Alfred Wallace remarks with regard 
to this, at the end of his book of travels: “Compared 
with our wondrous progress in physical science and its 
practical applications, our system of government, of admin- 
istering justice, of national education, and our whole social 
and moral organisation remains in a state of barbarism.” 
This social and moral barbarism we shall never overcome 
by the artificial and perverse training, the one-sided and 
defective teaching, the inner untruth and the external tinsel, 
of our present state of civilization. It is above all things 
necessary to make a complete and honest return to Nature 
and to natural relations. This return, however, will only 
become possible when man sees and understands his true 
“place in nature.” He will then, as Fritz Ratzel has 
excellently remarked,” “no longer consider himself an 
exception to natural laws, but begin to seek for what is 
lawful in his own actions and thoughts, and endeavour 
to lead a life according to natural laws.’ He will come 
to arrange his life with his fellow-creatures—that is, the 
family and the state—not according to the laws of distant — 
centuries, but according to the rational principles deduced 
from knowledge of nature. Politics, morals, and the prin- 
ciples of justice, which are still drawn from all possible 
sources, will have to be formed in accordance with natural 
laws only. An existence worthy of man, which has been talked 
of for thousands of years, will at length become a reality. 
The highest function of the human mind is perfect know- 
ledge, fully developed consciousness, and the moral activity 
arising from it. “Know thyself!” was the cry of the philo- 
