268 The Evolution Hypothesis. 



lower feelings to the higher ; if the lower being for 

 the most part more intense yield him a greater sum of 

 pleasure in this life, it is his duty, as well as privilege, 

 to indulge in them : he is not bound to be truthful or 

 honest ; for though society is much injured by roguery 

 -and deceit, the harm wrought by his conduct would 

 affect him little in comparison with the many advan- 

 tages to be secured by his dishonestly gotten wealth. 



The ethical doctrine of evolution is exposed to the 

 same criticism that lies against every form of Hedon- 

 ism : it cannot give a rational account of the origin of 

 moral obligation, or reasonable assurance of its per- 

 petuity. As in the case of intellection, so in morals, 

 we must recognize the existence of something with 

 faculty of comparing, judging, choosing conscious 

 that there is that in conduct which is right or wrong 



o o 



in many instances seeing dimly, or not at all, the 

 true relations of things ; yet in experience, as in lan- 

 guage, acknowledging all the while the ought and the 

 ought not. 



3. Moral life works out a purpose : through proxi- 

 mate ends it strives towards some chief end. What 

 object can the evolution hypothesis set forth as the 

 supreme aim of human action ? The perfectly evolved 

 life is one perfectly adjusted to environment: this 

 completeness of adaptation is the only ideal state 

 conceivable on the principles of evolution. " The 

 acts adjusted to ends, .... become, as evolution pro- 

 gresses, better adjusted ; until finally they make the 



