Final Cause. 157 



We thus confess our ignorance of the natural 

 causes that produce variation. We propose to dis- 

 cuss \\. final cause. This implies that there is in 

 it a purpose. If there is in the variation of objects 

 in nature, a purpose, that purpose must have rela- 

 tion to the objects themselves, or to some other be- 

 ings connected with them or in some way related 

 t: them. In all arrangements merely for the good 

 of the object itself, final cause or purpose may be 

 denied. It may be said that the thing exists be- 

 cause it happens to have a constitution fitting it for 

 the mode of existence in which we find it. We 

 shall therefore routine QUTftelveS, in this discussion, 

 mainly to those contrivances thai seem to have rela- 

 tion to something out of the object in which they 

 are found. Jut our special aim will be to show that 

 all variation from original forms in the animal and 

 vegetable kingdoms, especially in the higher kinds, 

 is not in general for the good of the object in which 

 it occurs, but for the good of other beings in some 

 way related to it. We think it will readily ap] 

 to any careful observer, that much of the variation 

 in both of these kingdoms has special reference to 

 man as an intellectual and moral being. But we 

 shall, for want of time, confine our present exami- 

 nation mainly to plants. It would be most natural, 

 perhaps, to commence with the mineral kingdom, 

 had we time for a full discussion of the subject. 



And we might inquire : For what end is the beauty 

 of the crystal*? Certainly it is not for the crystal 

 itself. We have great beauty in the primary crys- 



