From the Unconscious to the Conscious 



brings stagnation and extinction; Evolution leads 

 us on until all possibilities are exhausted/ 



M. Jean Finot has vigorously traversed the concepts 

 of pessimistic evolution. He thinks that evolution, 

 properly understood, leads to optimism; not the sancti- 

 monious optimism of Sir John Lubbock, but a rational 

 optimism, based on the progress of humanity from all 

 points of view. Indeed, if we consider all the aspects 

 of progress social, individual, scientific, legal, medical, 

 hygienic, etc. ... we see clearly a very considerable 

 reduction in the causes of suffering as time goes on. 



Humanity has carried on a more and more successful 

 struggle against harsh nature, against cold, heat, hunger, 

 distance, sickness, and so on. Above all, customs have 

 become more humane. Everything shows this; and 

 concurrently with a diminution of suffering, evolution 

 implies an increase in the power of knowing and in the 

 capacity for feeling. 



Joy the predominance of happiness ought to 

 result mathematically from this double and inverse 

 movement enlargement of the field of consciousness 

 and the faculties of sensation, and consequently of the 

 sources of happiness ; and a correlative reduction in the 

 causes of pain. 



We have then before us two opposite theses, both 

 based on evolution. Which of them is true ? 



An impartial examination of the facts can alone 

 decide. 



If we consider only the actual state of humanity, 

 it is clear that the pessimistic theory is still the only 

 one that can be sustained. There is no need of pro- 

 longed reasoning or pathetic rhetoric in its support. 

 We need not even appeal to the present spectacle of 

 the limitless folly of man, putting the whole power of 

 science into the service of Evil in a world-wide war 

 destructive of all beauty and all joy; nor even the 



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