40 THE PROBLEM OF EVOLUTION 



The theory of Selection, or Darwinism in the 

 narrower sense, is briefly as follows : Just as a 

 man, who breeds domestic animals, chooses from 

 the different varieties definite individuals possessing 

 definite qualities, in order to breed from their 

 intercourse a new race possessing these qualities, 

 so is there a similar process in nature, not motived 

 by any purpose. The hypothesis, on which this 

 theory rests, is that the organic species are subject 

 to change, working in various directions in an un 

 defined and unlimited manner. If under certain 

 conditions some varieties are produced, which 

 accommodate themselves better than others to the 

 circumstances of their life, these will triumph in 

 the struggle for existence, and the others will be 

 eliminated. The victors will eventually transmit 

 their qualities to their descendants, and by this 

 transmission the qualities will become more and 

 more prominent, until a new variety, a new race, 

 a new species, etc., has been developed. This under 

 lying thought of the Darwinian theory is partially 

 correct, and much may be said in its favour: I 

 do not reject it, but its range is not so wide as it is 

 often believed to be. 



In the wider sense, Darwinism is the name given 

 in popular circles to the generalisation of Darwin s 

 theory of selection, and its extension to a Darwinian 

 theory of the universe. This is identical with the 

 monistic theory in the form of Haeckelism ; accord 

 ing to it the whole world has come into existence 



