42 De Vi Physica 



more astounding, and that is, the simplicity 

 of a world, in which the author of such a 

 theory can be regarded as a scientific genius. 



IV. Finally, Darwin's cause was greatly 

 served by the rancour of the theological 

 opposition. Hence arose the idea, still 

 obtaining in certain circles, that the only 

 objections to his theory were dictated by 

 theological considerations : * science ' being 

 on his side. Yet no theological dogma 

 was ever more absurd than Darwin's 'Na- 

 tural Selection.' Credo, quia absurdum 

 might be written on his tomb. 



And yet, even now, in books, and news- 

 papers, and magazines, and society, people 

 speak of Darwin, as if he had invented geo- 

 logy and created biology ! as if, till he ap- 

 peared, no one had ever heard of evolution ! 

 as if his ' master thought ' and ' creative origi- 

 nality ' had produced all the intellectual stir 

 in the nineteenth century ! Whereas, in 



