DARWINISM AND POLITICS. 



less gifted." 1 This, doubtless, includes the 

 oTd objection which Aristotle brought against 

 Plato's communism, that man needs a stimulus 

 to exertion and industry. But there is no 

 jubi lation, no exaltation of a natural law i nto 

 an ethical ideal. And let us note how Darwin 

 modifies this very statement in the words that 

 follow : 



' Important as the struggle for existence has been and 

 even still is, yet as far as the highest part of man's nature 

 is con cerned there are other agenc ies more important. For 

 the moral qualities are advanced, either direct ly or in- 

 directly^ much more through trie ettects ot habit, the 

 r easoning powers, instructio n, religion, etc., than throu gh 

 n atural selection ; though to th is latter agency may be 

 safely attributed the social instincts which afforded the 

 basis for the development of the moral sense." 



Darwin disclaims the connexion, which had 

 been alleged in Germany, between the doctrine 

 of natural selection and socialism.' 2 He sees 

 clearly enough that his theory gives a primd 

 facie support not to socialism, but to industrial 

 competition. Yet he is amused at the idea of 

 The Origin of Species having turned Sir Joseph 



1 Descent of Man, p. 6 1 8. 



2 Life and Letters, III. 237. 



