THE GROWTH OF GROUPS 173 



is a property of all matter. In neither case does it seem 

 necessary to ask why. All we can do is to know such 

 processes more and more intimately. It cannot be said 

 that he who has no craving for explanation is abnormal. 

 It cannot be said with certainty that such persons are 

 in the minority, although they appear to be because of the 

 influence of authoritative teaching. 



The student of zoology is first told that an explanation 

 of adaptation is necessary, that all healthy minds require 

 one. Believing this, he becomes willing to accept the 

 Darwinian explanation, because it is the best available. 

 The question as to whether any such explanation is a 

 natural necessity, is never put before him for consideration. 



It is, of course, deeply felt by mankind in general, 

 that there must be a cause for the phenomena of life. 

 But no such cause is known until it can be clearly pictured 

 in the mind ; so clearly, that two or more persons working 

 independently of one another would be able to illustrate 

 it with some semblance. In other words, the agent must 

 be more than verbal. In verbal form it may be a source 

 of satisfaction to some persons, but the cause remains 

 unknown to others. It seems that the power, influence, 

 or process called Natural Selection is a verbal agent. 

 Let us put it to the test. 



The theory of Natural Selection offers three distinct 

 propositions as follows : 



1. Evolution proceeds gradually, by steps so small as 

 to be imperceptible. 



2. It is accompanied by the elimination of those 

 organisms called the less fit. 



3. Selection works upon organisms varying " in all 

 directions," and so makes cosmic that which is chaotic. 



