10 DARWINISM AND PHILOSOPHY . 



; /species carried with it the idea of purpose.)) In 

 all living forms, a specific type is present directing 

 the earlier stages of growth to the realization of 

 its own perfection. Since this purposive regula 

 tive principle is not visible to the senses, it follows 

 that it must be an ideal or rational force. Since, 

 however, the perfect form is gradually approxi 

 mated through the sensible changes, it also follows 

 that in and through a sensible realm a rational 

 ideal force is working out its own ultimate mani 

 festation. These inferences were extended to 

 nature: (a) She does nothing in vain; but all for 

 an ulte^ior_purpose. (b) Within natural sensible 

 events there is therefore contained a spiritual 

 causal Jorce, which as spiritual escapes perception, 

 but is apprehended by an enlightened reason. 

 (c) The manifestation of this principle brings 

 about a subordination of matter and sense to its 

 own realization, and this ultimate fulfilment is the 

 goal of nature and of man. The design argu 

 ment thus operated in two directions. Puxpose-N 

 fulness accounted for the intelligibility of nature 1 

 and the possibility of science, while the absolute/ 

 or cosmic character of this purposefulness gave 

 sanction and worth to the moral and religious en- \. 

 deavors of man. Science was underpinned and 

 morals authorized by one and the same principle, 

 and their mutual agreement was eternally guaran- 



leed.j 



