VALUES AND FINAL CAUSES 105 



When, on the other hand, we turn to the processes of 

 external nature, we find a correspondence which is greater 

 than is usually suspected. Nature and the mind of man 

 agree in this, that neither of them presents any single aim 

 to which all other aims are subordinated, but, instead of 

 that, a number of conflicting aims. Of the active principles, 

 in nature and in the human character alike, both the adverse 

 and the benign have the same or nearly the same rates 

 of increase. Human judgements, as represented in the 

 accepted scales of value, closely correspond with what we 

 might attribute to progressive evolution, if that could be 

 conceived as a person reflecting on his own actions. The 

 predominant features in that progression, and anything which 

 bears a resemblance to them, are the things which arouse 

 our warmest feelings of approval ; all that contradicts that, 

 our most intense repulsion. Between these two extremes 

 lies a wide field, with varying degrees of appreciation and 

 depreciation, which embraces all those ordinary acts which 

 have by themselves no very distinct or important influence 

 in either direction, but which never excite what are agreed 

 to be the most exalted types of ethical emotion, such as awe, 

 veneration, enthusiasm, or worship. 



The following passage, which is quoted by Mr. A. E. 

 Taylor (p. 227 of his Problems of Conduct), sums up with 

 epigrammatic vigour a view which is much in fashion : 



The end of Nature is function, i.e. life. The end of the 

 creature is feeling. From the standpoint of Nature feeling 

 is a means to function ; from the standpoint of the organism, 

 function is a means to feeling. Pleasure and pain come into 

 existence in order that a certain class of beings may live, 

 but these beings, having been given existence, now live in 

 order to enjoy. As Nature cares nothing for their enjoy 

 ments, and is indifferent to their sufferings, so they, in turn, 

 care nothing for her great scheme of evolution, and would 

 not make the smallest personal sacrifice to further it. 5 



It is worth our while to examine each of these statements 

 in the light of the conclusions which have just been recorded. 

 In the first place, life is not the only end of Nature. The 

 destruction of life is equally her end, if by end we mean, 



