CHAPTER XX 



SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 



Self-contradictions Comte is arbitrary Biology has been reinforced by evolu- 

 tionary theories, yielding different forms of sociological doctrine 1. 

 Analogy, without struggle ; Stephen 2. Continuity, without struggle ; 

 Spencer, Alexander (partly) 3. Analogy of Darwinism ; Bagehot, Alex- 

 ander, Ritchie (?) 4. Continuity of natural selection ; Sutherland, 

 Drummond (?), Kidd None of these wholly succeed ; old authorities will 

 return ! Or idealism, which is compatible with the old authorities, may 

 give us a more satisfying doctrine of evolution What have we been 

 taught ? (1) A social organism exists Idealism reinforces this lesson (2) 

 Struggle lias been useful ; will it not be ? as discussion ? as competition ? 

 In light of idealism this seems possible Of fact, probable Must not 

 exaggerate its place ; it is subordinate in life of reason [Mallock] 

 Finally, does progressiveness of evolution make it a guide to conduct ? 

 Difficulties in biology ; environment constant ? Some forms have 

 stopped ! Some never started ! Differentiation plainer here than progress 

 Reason makes for progress in history Is it all-sufficient ? (Mill, Buckle) 

 Ancient civilisation failed Morality and Christianity must safeguard 

 modern civilisation. 



AT the close of our wanderings, we propose to hold a 

 stocktaking of the wisdom which we have picked up 

 by the way. In other words, we shall run rapidly 

 over the suggestions that have been brought before us, 

 and try to estimate their value. We must note once 

 again in how many voices and in how contradictory a 

 fashion our teachers speak. Scientific sociology is still 

 a hope rather than a fact ; the " ethics of evolution " 

 may mean any one of half-a-dozen or half -a- hundred 

 things. The wisdom proffered to us is hydra -headed, 

 it is million-tongued. But we must also try to decide, 

 in general terms, what positive contribution to human 



