102 ETHICAL ASPECTS OF EVOLUTION 



directions increase in size and strength and dominion over 

 external nature, coupled with increased liability to disease and 

 destruction by external enemies ; higher virtues, and lower 

 depths of wickedness ; a vastly increased volume both of 

 problems which have been solved and of problems which 

 await solution ; increased simplicity of knowledge, and 

 increased complexity ; wider generalizations and a more 

 minute specialization ; increased power of individual action, 

 and increased strictness of subordination to the common 

 aims of society. These, and many similar processes, for the 

 list is far from complete, are reflected in the human mind 

 by the inborn admiration for all that is great on which we 

 have just been dwelling. 



Besides the processes of life and expansion, nature also 

 makes us acquainted with destruction and decay, and, as 

 has already been stated, there are good reasons for the 

 belief that these conflicting forces are pretty evenly balanced, 

 the margin in favour of progress being slight and precarious. 

 Tendencies corresponding to the adverse processes of nature 

 are to be found in the human mind, side by side with the 

 tendencies to progress. Of these, some, such as crime, 

 and most of the offences against the conscience, are de 

 structive ; others, like the longing of the Israelites for the 

 fleshpots of Egypt, are merely degenerative. These latter 

 do not immediately threaten existence ; on the whole, 

 perhaps, their tendency is to preserve it, by withdrawing 

 it from the dangers of an advanced position ; but they 

 preserve it in a lower grade of evolution, for with the flesh- 

 pots comes loss of freedom. The attitude of the human 

 mind towards the first of these modes of action is very easy 

 to detect. From the processes which lead to death and 

 destruction it recoils with a fear, or disgust, or horror, which 

 it may be conjectured, bears some rough proportion to the 

 magnitude of the dangers which they threaten. 



The sentiments with which we regard those tendencies 

 which set in the direction of stagnation or retrogression 

 are of a much more varied and complicated character. 

 The love and pursuit of pleasure ; the prudence which has 



