THE GROWTH OF GROUPS 183 



proving it, but it was no less evident that he, with many 

 others, wished it to be proved. This wish accounts for the 

 vitality of the idea called Natural Selection. Partiality 

 or repugnance to it, are innate. It cannot be judged 

 like other theories. Various writers reiterate, " We must 

 not throw it over, what else have we ? " They say this 

 as though it were an argument, whereas it is merely a 

 statement of a certain fondness. 



The desire for a philosophy, or explanation of life, 

 cannot of course be decried. The intuitive perception of 

 an Unknown Cause, i.e. some influence outside the limit 

 of man's senses is fundamental in the human mind. 

 This perception is common to all. But some persons 

 hold that this influence is utterly incomprehensible. 

 Consequently to them any teaching, that professes to be 

 an explanation of it, is repugnant. 



From this view point, both Anthropomorphism and 

 the theory of Natural Selection are attempts to explain 

 the unknowable. Though worthy of respect as being 

 satisfying to sections of humanity, these theories are not 

 universal truths. They are generally considered to be 

 utterly antagonistic to one another, but from this point 

 of view they are essentially alike. Both theories appear 

 to be derived from the same source. Both take their 

 representation of the unknown from human affairs. 



Anthropomorphism appears to be constructed from 

 two important human attributes ; namely, ingenuity 

 the making of appliances adapted to a purpose foreseen, 

 and autocracy, the one person compelling the many. 



Let us also inquire into the source of the theory of 

 Natural Selection and the reason for its wonderful influence 

 at the present day. Within the last century human 



