vi Preface. 



and of philosophy, would not be unwelcomed by biological 

 students, and by that large and increasing class of readers 

 who, though not professed students, follow with eager 

 interest the development of the doctrine of Evolution. 



Incidentally, but only incidentally, matters concerning 

 man, as compared with the dumb animals, have been 

 introduced. It is contended that in man alone, and in no 

 dumb animal, is the rational faculty, as defined in these 

 pages, developed ; and it is contended that among human- 

 folk that process of natural selection, which is so potent a 

 factor in the lower reaches of organic life, sinks into com- 

 parative insignificance. Man is a creature of ideas and 

 ideals. For him the moral factor becomes one of the very 

 highest importance. He conceives an ideal self which he 

 strives to realize ; he conceives an ideal humanity towards 

 which he would raise his fellow-man. He becomes a 

 conscious participator in the evolution of man, in the 

 progress of humanity. 



But while we must not be blind to the effects of new 

 and higher factors of progress thus introduced as we rise 

 in the scale of phenomena, we must at the same time 

 remember that biological laws still hold true, though moral 

 considerations and the law of duty may profoundly modify 

 them. The eagle soars aloft apparently in defiance of 

 gravitation; but the law of gravitation still holds good; 

 and no treatment of the mechanism of flight which neglected 

 it would be satisfactory. Moral restraint, a higher standard 

 of comfort, and a perception of the folly and misery of early 

 and improvident marriage may tend to check the rate of 

 growth of population : but the " law of increase " still holds 

 good, as a law of the factors of phenomena ; and Malthus 

 did good service to the cause of science when he insisted 

 on its importance. We may guide or lighten the incidence 

 of natural selection through competition ; we may in our 

 pity provide an asylum for the unfortunates who are suffer- 



