MATERIALISTIC EVOLUTION 25 



life as a mere figment of the imagination was con- 

 stantly increasing. The fabulous lines of descent 

 by which man was traced back to the primitive 

 cell, and the Haeckelian succession of primates, 

 were recognized by evolutionists themselves to be 

 far more mythical than the lists of Homeric 

 heroes. There was at least an historic foundation 

 for the great Greek epics. 



The fallacy of materialistic evolution was made 

 possible by the confusion of philosophy with 

 [science. Materialism and evolution were be- 

 lived to Be inseparable. Yet nothing can be more 

 plain than the fact that materialism is purely 

 philosophical, while evolution is as purely a 

 theory, rightly or wrongly based on evidence, and 

 limited by this. It is not against any sane theory 

 of transformism that these chapters are directed, 

 but against the materialism that many sought to 

 confound with evolution. 



Defending the probability of evolution in re- 

 gard to certain investigations made by him, the 

 Jesuit evolutionist Wasmann says: "The principle 

 of the theory of evolution is the only one which 

 supplies me with a natural explanation of these 

 phenomena, and therefore I accept it." But how 

 far was he to accept it? Down to the evolution 

 of man from the primal cell? In answering this 

 question he thus briefly formulated the rule by 

 which every true scientist must be guided if he 

 would remain within the limits of reason: "Just 



