THE ECOLOGY OF MAN—SEARS 389 
means to advance it. We should not be deceived by the fact that des- 
potism can foster science to its own ends. Neither should we assume 
that our own use of science is beyond scrutiny. 
Indeed, I suggested in the beginning that we are employing science 
in a somewhat peculiar way, for short- rather than long-term objec- 
tives. ‘This is curious, for capitalism itself is based on the idea of 
benefits postponed and Christian ethics upon ultimate rather than 
immediate reward. 
Since science is only possible because of confidence that the universe 
is an expression of consistent processes or laws, we need not be sur- 
prised that a culture which has enjoyed some of the fruits of science 
should regard science itself with a great deal of confidence, or faith, if 
you will. More than this, the faith in miracles dies hard. Having 
discarded the idea of miracles outside of nature, we yet may choose 
to expect them within nature. 
For nature itself we retain the ancient Western idea that it exists 
solely for man’s edification and use—a conviction that leads directly to 
abuse. We have been accused of being materialistic. This is true 
only in a sense, for our besetting sin is lack of respect for the materials 
and the energy that sustain us. Still influenced by the old idea that 
prosperity is the reward of virtue, we feel that prosperity is itself 
a virtue. Poverty becomes a crime and by transfer those occupations 
whose price is poverty fall into disrepute. But since some worthy in- 
dividuals are clearly not responsible for their poverty we tend to 
make the existence of poverty a crime of the culture. This leads us 
to issue a blanket pardon to all who lack thrift and to encourage in 
society a rate of fabrication and a kind of product that may distribute 
benefits but which intensifies the pressure on our environment at the 
expense of the future. 
Our ideal then becomes a society where each has everything he 
could possibly use. Fords expand into Lincolns, Chevrolets into 
Cadillacs, and Lincolns and Cadillacs into God-knows-whats. We 
maintain the system less by reserving our present income than by 
mortgaging our future earnings, much of which comes from making 
other things that people may not need, but may either desire or be 
made to. At present, a high percentage of bank loans in the average 
bank are for the time purchase of automobiles and these are not by 
any means lifetime investments, as we know. Clearly the effect of 
this trend is to distract our attention from thinking of how the en- 
vironment will stand up under pressure through the long future. 
Imagine if you will a species—any species—that suddenly increases 
manyfold its range and speed of travel, the demands it makes upon 
environment for material and energy, and that has found a way to 
prolong life and lower the death rate while continuing to reproduce in 
excess of that death rate. Imagine, too, that the resource base of this 
