The Theory of Evolution 53 



supremacy of moral idealism over the phys- 

 ical, is a master mind of the modern world 

 whose significance will be better appreciated 

 when mankind has broken through the cloud 

 of error into which materialistic science has 

 plunged ethical thought. 



It was Hegel's philosophy of history that 

 founded the interpretation of evolution which 

 later took hold of the German mind. Hegel 

 achieved a distinctly evolutionary point of 

 view in history on the basis of national strug- 

 gles for survival and supremacy. The state 

 was considered an organic growth engaged in 

 an inevitable struggle with other states. So 

 basic was this law of conflict that there could 

 be no binding force in international law, since 

 the first and foremost duty of the state was 

 to succeed in the competition. Practically, 

 Hegel's philosophy was a reflection of the situa- 

 tion in which Germany found herself during 

 the stormy years of Napoleon's career. During 

 that time the need of national unity was 

 strongly felt, and the fact of international 

 struggle was painfully evident. 



The feeling of national organic unity and 

 the emphasis on international competition be- 

 came fixed in German thought by the events 



