288 THE GENESIS OF SPECIES. [CHAP. 



which makes " evolution " repugnant to Christianity, is 

 j there any thing in the Christian doctrine of " Creation " 

 which is repugnant to the theory of " evolution ? " 



Enough has been said as to the distinction between ab- 

 solute and derivative " creation." It remains to consider 

 the successive " evolution " (Darwinian and other) of " spe- 

 cific forms," in a theological light. 



As to what " evolution " is, we cannot of course hope 

 to explain it completely, but it may be enough to define it 

 as the manifestation to the intellect, by means of sensible 

 impressions, of some ideal entity (power, principle, nature, 

 or activity) which before that manifestation was in a la- 

 tent, unrealized, and merely " potential " state a state 

 that is capable of becoming realized, actual, or manifest, 

 the requisite conditions being supplied. 



" Specific forms," kinds or species, are (as was said in 

 the introductory chapter) " peculiar congeries of characters 

 or attributes, innate powers and qualities, and a certain 

 nature realized in individuals." 



Thus, then, the " evolution of specific forms " means the 

 actual manifestation of special powers, or natures, which 

 before were latent, in such a successive manner that there 

 is in some way a genetic relation between posterior mani- 

 festations and those which preceded them. 



On the special Darwinian hypothesis, the manifestation 

 of these forms is determined simply by the survival of the 

 fittest of many indefinite variations. 



On the hypothesis here advocated the manifestation is 

 controlled and helped by such survival, but depends on 

 some unknown internal law or laws which determine varia- 

 tion at special times and in special directions. 



Prof. Agassiz objects to the evolution theory, on the 

 ground that "species, genera, families, etc., exist as 

 thoughts, individuals as facts, " 4S and he offers the dilemma, 



43 American Journal of Science, July, 1860, p. 143, quoted in Dr. Asa 

 Gray's pamphlet, p 47. 



