198 COMTE TO BENJAMIN KIDD PART in 



lower down, some new mysterious force has now been 

 disengaged, which [more than?] replaces it. A has 

 become C ; or else 



(2) If, where the best evolutionary results are 

 gained, natural selection cannot do much, we may 

 hesitate to believe that it produces much effect at 

 any part of the process. There must be other forces ; 

 telic variation and use -inheritance are candidates. Not 

 A anywhere ; C everywhere. 1 



To repeat our conclusions then ; natural selection (A) 

 is certainly not the only principle of evolution in nature. 

 It is very doubtful whether there is any part of the 

 field where it stands alone (whether Natural Selection 

 A exists), though it seems metaphysically possible ; 

 i.e. the supposition seems to be sense and not nonsense. 

 On the other hand, it is certain that the law of natural 

 selection (B and especially C) is at work, with large 

 effects, in every part of what is strictly called Nature. 



In the next place, we have to approach the central 

 part of our subject, by asking how far natural selection 

 is applicable to human evolution ? Here as elsewhere 

 the burning question is whether Natural Selection A can 

 be applied to human affairs. But we must keep all 

 three forms in view A, B, and C. 



1 An odd suggestion offers itself. Can we combine Mr. Sutherland 

 and Professor Lloyd Morgan ? Can we hold that the higher animals are 

 able to advance with less help from natural selection, because they have 

 more help from their intelligence ? One must note a distinction ; physi- 

 cal evolution by means of intelligence is not identical with the evolution of 

 RATIONAL intelligence, which Drummond, etc., believe "arrests" the body. 

 Higher brute races are certainly intelligent, and (I suppose) are certainly 

 evolving physically. Dr. Mellone (Studies, etc.) puts a different construc- 

 tion on the whole question. He inclines to assume a psychical factor in 

 all evolution, even of plants, on Wundt's view, that plants are descended 

 from animated ancestors ! This is very un-Darwinian. 



