ETHICS AND ALTRUISM 279 



It will be observed that the natural code of ethics 

 consists of man's constant readjustment to his environ- 

 ment ; in other words, his reactions to constant impres- 

 sions. These are as numerous and persistent almost, as 

 his heart beats. They must be regulated by the cor- 

 relations made by these impressions in the brain, and 

 constitute tlte aggregate of his life and habits. It is 

 thus apparent that these cannot be reduced to a 

 universal written code. The details must be left to the 

 local laws and customs of each community. 



There is too much difference in the structure and 

 function of human beings to expect that the same cus- 

 toms will obtain in all. 



The principle alone can be stated in a treatise like 

 this. Each response to an impression must be that 

 which will best meet the requirement of the law of 

 evolution, the survival only of that which is fittest 

 under all circumstances for the welfare of the race, 

 even to the sacrifice of the individual. 



Righteousness, including ethics, -will develop incident- 

 ly and equally with the above-mentioned forms of suc- 

 cessive evolution. A man's proper relations become 

 apparent to him by scientific study in psychology and 

 cognate science. It will become equally apparent that 

 the highest ethics will be man's best correspondence 

 with that wide environment, with which the intellect 

 of man is capable of coming into correspondence ; or, in 

 other'words, the natural use of all the functions he now 

 has, and those he is likely to acquire in the future. 



