30 ETHICAL ASPECTS OF EVOLUTION 



those qualities which tend to destruction, we should be able 

 to predict, with some prospect of success, which of all 

 existing races is next doomed, or at any rate from w^hich 

 stage of development the victim will be drawn. This fore 

 knowledge is altogether denied to us. Even for those races 

 in which it may be conjectured that the process has already 

 commenced, the inference is based on a mere numerical 

 decrease, and not on the observation of any deficiency 

 which in past times, and for other races, has led to the same 

 result. The elephant, when compared with other animals, 

 is not wanting in intellect, or in physical strength, or in the 

 social virtues, or in length of life, or in general complexity 

 of structure. 



Our conclusion, then, is that though there has obviously 

 been a very great increase in the number and complexity 

 of both adaptations and misadaptations, there is no evidence 

 to show that either has gained on the other. Evolution, 

 instead of contradicting, confirms the general accuracy of 

 Hume s judgement, based on the contemplation of a supposed 

 stationary order of nature : 



Every animal has the requisite endowments ; but 

 these endowments are bestowed with so scrupulous an 

 economy, that any considerable diminution must entirely 

 destroy the creature. The human race, whose chief excel 

 lency is reason and sagacity, is of all others the most neces 

 sitous, and the most deficient in bodily advantages ; without 

 clothes, without arms, without food, without lodging, without 

 any convenience of life, except wliat they owe to their own 

 skill and industry. In short, nature seems to have formed 

 an exact calculation of the necessities of her creatures, 

 and, like a rigid master, has afforded them little more powers 

 or endowments, than what are strictly sufficient to supply 

 those necessities. x 



Biology crosses the frontier which divides it from ethics 

 when it identifies increased complexity of structure with 

 improvement ; and, as in these notes biological questions 

 are regarded solely with reference to their ethical implica 

 tions, it is strictly relevant to inquire how far, and in what 

 1 Natural Religion, Part XI. 





