THE SPIRITUAL WORLD. 105. 



it a necessity that those societies should 

 survive in which the promptings of the tribal 

 self have been most felt ; and the mysterious 

 " feelings " on which the Intuitionist falls back 

 are thus accounted for. At the same time it is 

 perfectly easy for the Evolutionist to explain 

 why some virtues have been earlier recognised 

 than others, and why the same acts have in 

 different times and places been regarded as 

 good or bad standing difficulties to the Intui- 

 tionist. When reflection appears, however, a 

 higher form of morality becomes possible ; the 

 useful i.e., what conduces to the welfare of the 

 social organism, is not recognised merely by 

 the failure of those societies in which it is not 

 pursued, but by deliberate reflection on the 

 part of the more thoughtful members of the 

 society. The utilitarian reformer reflects for 

 his society, and anticipates and obviates the 

 cruel process of natural selection by the more 

 peaceful methods of legislative change. The 

 theory of natural selection thus gives a new 

 meaning to Utilitarianism. The beginnings of 

 morality are explained, and Utilitarianism is 

 thus saved from the reproach of being appli- 

 cable only to highly developed races. And, 



