3i6 FOOT-NOTES TO EVOLUTION. 



The point of view of the intellectual movement 

 known as Pessimism may be here briefly discussed. 



"To see all things as they really are," to do away 



with all delusions, is the avowed purpose of pessimism. 



To the extent that it would bring men 



e p 1 osop y fj-Qj^ dreams to realities, from supersti- 

 of pessimism. ... 



tion to science, it has served a high pur- 

 pose. It doubtless represents a great intellectual ad- 

 vance over the crude optimistic theories which it was 

 intended to supersede. In the light of pessimism the 

 present moment is but a shadow passing across the face 

 of eternity. Human power and glory and happiness 

 are but transitory illusions. Pain and sorrow, which lie 

 behind these at all times, are the only realities in life, for 

 whenever the mind comes in contact with reality, pain 

 is the inevitable product. Under the search light of 

 pessimism, taints and defects are visible everywhere in 

 the human body and soul, and in the equally human 

 state. As everything we know is petty and ineffective 

 and bad, it is as bad as it can be, and this world is the 

 worst world possible. To us, impotent to know, impo- 

 tent to do, and impotent to enjoy, the present moment 

 has nothing to offer, and there is no other. If the 

 Creator be all-wise, he can not be all-good, else some 

 kinder fate would be reserved for man. 



From the standpoint of evolution, on the other hand, 



" every meanest day is the conflux of two eternities." 



Every object in Nature, every event 



e p 1 osop y j^ human life, represents the meeting 



of evolution. . , 



points of world forces, that have welled 

 upward since the beginning of time. We are to know 

 things as they really are, for the sake of knowing what 

 they may become, and the forces of which they are the 

 product. While pessimism concerns itself with things, 

 evolution deals with forces, the unchanging realities by 



y 



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