MAN IN NATURE 221 



come when it would no longer be possible to find 

 a green field, a forest, or a wild animal ; and when 

 the whole earth would be one great factory, in which 

 toiling millions were producing all the materials 

 of food, clothing, and shelter. Such a world may 

 never exist, but its possible existence may be 

 imagined, and its contemplation brings vividly 

 before us the vast powers inherent in man as a 

 subverter of the ordinary course of nature. Yet even 

 this ultimate annulling of wild nature would be 

 brought about, not by anything preternatural in man, 

 but simply by his placing himself in alliance with 

 certain natural powers and agencies, and by their 

 means attaining dominion over the rest. 



Here there rises before us a spectre which science 

 and philosophy appear afraid to face, and which asks 

 the dread question, What is the cause of the apparent 

 abnormality in the relations of man and nature ? In 

 attempting to solve this question we must admit 

 that the position of man even here is not without 

 natural analogies. \J he stronger preys upon the 

 weaker, the lower form gives place to the higher, and 

 in the progress of geological time old species have 

 died out in favour of newer, and old forms of life have, 

 been exterminated by later successors. Man, as the 

 newest and highest of all, has thus the natural right 

 to subdue and rule the world. \ Yet there can be little 

 doubt that he uses this right unwisely and cruelly, 

 and these terms themselves explain why he does so, 



