CHAPTER XIII 



DARWINISM IN ETHICS PROFESSOR ALEXANDER 



Fusion of idealism and naturalism Moral judgments are facts, but the assertion 

 of free-will is absurd Criticism ; capricious ; ignores the content of moral 

 judgments and the germ of a system in them Punishment grouped with 

 dynamics ? Statics are truly, though imperfectly, moral Goodness is a 

 twofold ' ' equilibrium " This doctrine is enforced against other definitions 

 In the Dynamics equilibrium is revealed as endlessly changing, and is 

 called "compromise" Ideals compete like organisms for survival 

 Criticism ; not (a) true Darwinian struggle, nor (6) true extinction The new 

 ideals are not wholly new Ideals are complementary So far as he 

 Darwinises he is false to morality. 



PROF. ALEXANDER'S Moral Order and Progress is a very 

 full, interesting, and original discussion. Its character, 

 as the sub-title indicates, is "an analysis of Ethical 

 Conceptions." The general position of the author is that 

 of one struck with the convergence of idealistic and 

 naturalistic ethics in the light of evolutionism ; but, 

 while coming himself from the camp of the idealists, Mr. 

 Alexander is strongly inclined to seek a place in the left 

 wing of the partially amalgamated forces. All that is 

 true or solid in idealist ethics is provided for, he thinks, 

 in the biological scheme. As for intuitionalism, it may 

 go packing ; there is no portion for it in the promised 

 land of truth ; it is mere mischievous illusion. We have 

 been told by some of Lord Beaconsfield's admirers that 

 there was a great unity throughout his career, in spite 

 of all apparent change he always disliked the middle 

 classes. Against them he appealed variously to the 



