Chauncey Wright. 105 



species of theism which represents the Deity as a 

 power outside the universe which coerces it into 

 orderly behaviour. 



Although, like all consistent positivists, Mr. 

 Wright waged unceasing war against Mr. Spen- 

 cer's system of philosophy, there was yet one por- 

 tion of the doctrine of evolution which found in 

 him a most eminent and efficient defender. In 

 spite of his objections to evolution in general, Mr. 

 Wright thoroughly appreciated and warmly es- 

 poused the Darwinian theory of the origin of spe- 

 cies by " descent with modifications." His most 

 important literary work was done in elucidation 

 and defence of this theory. Of all his writings, 

 by far the clearest and most satisfactory to read is 

 the review of Mr. Mivart's " Genesis of Species," 

 which Mr. Darwin thought it worth while to re- 

 print and circulate in England. Its acute and 

 original illustrations of the Darwinian theory give 

 it very great value. The essay on phyllotaxy, 

 explaining the origin and uses of the arrange- 

 ments of leaves in plants, is a contribution of 

 very great importance to the theory of natural 

 selection. So, too, in a different sense, is the pa- 

 per on the evolution of self-consciousness, which 

 is the most elaborate of Mr. Wright's productions, 

 but so full of his worst faults of style that, even 



