288 PROBLEMS OF HUMAN EVOLUTION 



The nobler This truth finds expression in the philosophy of those 

 m Hedonists, who see in pleasure the only possible motive for 

 action, but who would maintain that what we call self-sacrifice, 

 really the identification of the interests of the individual with that 

 of others, is the highest pleasure of all. In spite of this there 

 remains the antagonism between the interest of the community 

 and what to an average person among the mass of people that com- 

 pose it is likely to appear conducive to his or her own welfare. 

 Morality Moral principle tells a man that it is not right to follow his 

 own selfish ends, that he must give up his own pleasure and 

 devote his energies to bringing up his family or to civic duties, 

 that he must not be guilty of theft or of fraud, or of any 

 questionable practices. This is the wise counsel which morality 

 and philosophy can give in plenty. But moral philosophy, the 

 exponent of morality, cannot speak with emphasis. She is 

 beautifully didactic, but a poor preacher : an excellent teacher 

 for those who have already learnt most of their lesson. Religion 

 alone can preach. Religion alone can sway the mass of man- 

 kind. True, the man of high culture may possibly dispense 

 with it. Science itself may be of the nature of religion, if what 

 Professor Seeley says is true that religion in its elementary state 

 " may be described as habitual and permanent admiration." But 

 for the huge majority of mankind something else is wanted to 

 enforce the laws of morality. And this brings us back to Mr 

 Benjamin Kidd. 



Antagon- He emphasises very strongly his view that religion must be 

 j 1 ; 5 "^" a r n e j ultra-rational. Reason, he maintains, is a disintegrating force, 

 reason the destructive operation of which has constantly to be checked 

 by ultra-rational religion. It has been objected that reason does 

 not always work disintegration but sometimes sides with religion 

 and helps to consolidate and cement society. We may grant 

 that this happens not unfrequently, and yet Mr Kidd's conten- 

 tion is true. It is his reason that enables a man to gain wealth 

 by swindling and unsocial conduct of various kinds. It is his 

 reason that enables him to systematise and persist in vicious 

 habits to the injury of the nation to which he belongs, without, 

 in his individual self, paying the penalty. It is his reason that 



