Ch. in.] RELIGION. 59 



of a bivalve shell must have been made by an intelligent being, 

 like the hinge of a door by man. There seems to be no more 

 design in the variability of organic beings, and in the action of 

 natural selection, than in the course which the wind blows. 

 But I havo discussed this subject at tho end of my book on 

 the Variation of Domesticated Animals and Plants,* and the 

 argument there given has nover, as far as I can see, been 

 answered. 



" But passing over the endless beautiful adaptations which 

 we everywhere meet with, it may bo asked how can the gene- 

 rally beneficent arrangement of the world be accounted for ? 

 Some writers indeed are so much impressed with the amount 

 of suffering in the world, that they doubt, if we look to all 

 sentient beings, whether there is more of misery or of happi- 

 ness ; whether the world as a whole is a good or a bad one. 

 According to my judgment happiness decidedly prevails, though 

 this would be very difficult to prove. If the truth of this 

 conclusion be granted, it harmonizes well with the effects which 

 we might expect from natural selection. If all the individuals 

 of any species were habitually to suffer to an extreme degree, 

 they would neglect to propagate their kind ; but we have no 

 reason to believe that this has ever, or at least often occurred. 

 Some other considerations, moreover, lead to the belief that all 

 sentient beings have been formed so as to enjoy, as a general 

 rule, happiness. 



" Every one who believes, as I do, that all the corporeal and 

 mental organs (excepting those which are neither advantageous 

 nor disadvantageous to the possessor) of all beings have been 

 developed through natural selection, or the survival of the 

 fittest, together with use or habit, will admit that these organs 

 have been formed so that their possessors may compete success- 

 fully with other beings, and thus increase in number. Now 

 an animal may be led to pursue that course of action which 

 is most beneficial to the species by suffering, such as pain, 

 hunger, thirst, and fear; or by pleasure, as in eating and 



* My father asks -whether we are to believe that the forms are pre- 

 ordained of the broken fragments of rock which are fitted together by 

 man to build his houses. If not, why should we believe that tho 

 variations of domestic animals or plants are preordained for the sake of 

 the breeder? "But if we give up the principle in one case, . . • 

 no shadow of reason can be assigned for the belief that variations 

 alike in nature aud the result of the same general laws, which have been 

 the groundwork through natural selection of the formation of the most 

 perfectly adapted animals in the world, man included, were intentionally 

 and specially 1 guided." — Variation of Animals and Plants, 1st Edit vohii, 

 p. 431.— F. D. 



