II. 



DESIGN VERSUS NECESSITY. DISCUSSION BETWEEN TWO 

 READERS OF DARWESf's TREATISE ON THE ORIGIN OF 

 SPECIES, UPON ITS NATURAL THEOLOGY. 



(AMERICAN JOUBNAL OF SCIENCE AND AKTS, September, I860.) 



D. T. Is Darwin's theory atheistic or pantheistic ? 

 or, does it tend to atheism or pantheism ? Before at- 

 tempting any solution of this question, permit me to 

 say a few words tending to obtain a definite concep- 

 tion of necessity and design^ as the sources from which 

 events may originate, each independent of the other ; 

 and we shall, perhaps, best attain a clear understand- 

 ing of each, by the illustration of an example in which 

 simple human designers act upon the physical powers 

 of common matter. 



Suppose, then, a square billiard-table to be placed 

 with its corners directed to the four cardinal points. 

 Suppose a player, standing at the north corner, to 

 strike a red ball directly to the south, his design being 

 to lodge the ball in the south pocket ; which design, if 

 not interfered with, must, of course be accomplished. 

 Then suppose another player, standing at the east 

 corner, to direct a white ball to the west corner. This 

 design also, if not interfered with, must be accom- 

 plished. Next suppose both players to strike their 



