FACTORS IN CONSTRUCTIVE ACTION 31 



VI. Evolution a Triumph of Constructive over 

 Destructive Agencies 



The universal conflict of constructive and destruc- 

 tive agents to which we have referred has held the at- 

 tention of man from the very outset of his conscious 

 life. 



It has been the theme around which he has tried 

 again and yet again to construct a workable scheme of 

 life; ever drawing from the furnace of his experience 

 the bitter ashes of failure together with the golden 

 residues of profitable adventures; ever building them 

 into the foundations of his science, his philosophy, and 

 his religion. 



The more primitive theories of life and cosmogeny 

 were largely the product of introspective analysis. Man 

 freely interpreted the phenomena of nature in terms of 

 himself, thus attributing to familiar objects, to plants 

 and animals, superhuman powers. The heroic ad- 

 ventures, the arbitrary likes and dislikes of these mas- 

 terful sun gods, and thunder gods, and wilful reptile 

 devils provided both an easy explanation of nature's 

 mysteries and an obvious source of profit. Through 

 respectful conduct, through solicitation and bribery, 

 it seemed possible to purchase their good will, or their 

 allegiance, or at least their benevolent neutrality, in the 

 battles of life. Thereby was provided the best way, and 

 indeed to them the only intelligible way, of avoiding 

 that which is evil and obtaining that which is good. 



But while man, from time immemorial, has carried 

 his appeals for help, for right and justice, straight to 

 the supreme court of nature, it was but yesterday that 

 he succeeded in drawing from her, in the doctrine of 



