Evolution : The Quest of Truth 1 45 



because it is ideal illustration of the fact that 

 the naturalist seeks first for truth, whatever 

 effect the truth may have on his theories. 



The hypothesis of organic evolution merely 

 supposes that one form of life may give rise to 

 another form, and that the animals and plants 

 now inhabiting the earth are ascended from 

 earlier kinds. In the main, the hypothesis 

 explains the facts as we see them ; and there 

 is no other hypothesis, founded on observation 

 and scientific interpretation, that does account 

 for them. Whether the present form of the 

 hypothesis will stand the final judgment of 

 mankind is of little consequence : it is the 

 most reasonable hypothesis yet propounded ; 

 and, what is more to our purpose, it opens 

 the whole subject to investigation. Just how 

 and why this evolution has come about are 

 questions of dispute, but this dispute will in 

 time bring us to a solution. 



It is probable that no one agency is respon- 

 sible for the entire evolution ; and it is possible 

 that all explanations, resting on scientific evi- 

 dence, are responsible in some degree. Every 



