xvi ANALYSIS OF CONTENTS. 



to correspond with facts. The course of explanation 

 leads away from reality. § 19. Hence the case for 

 knowledge is hopeless. .^ 20. But yet our assumptions 

 work. This plea only shifts the ground of the argu- 

 ment, and by denying (§21) that knowledge ultimately 

 works in practice, Scepticism passes into Pessimism. 



CiiAriER IV. Pessimism 95 



,§§ 1-2. Pessimism essentially the theory of the inherent 

 perversity of things, rendering all the aims of life illusory. 

 1^ 3. Not based on hedonism ; the belief that life is 

 misery the consequence, not the cause of Pessimism. 



i^ 4-19. The Ideal of Happiness. § 4. As happiness 

 is complete adaptation to environment, it is impossible 

 in a world of change. § 5. So there is no adaptation to 

 the physical environment — all must die. Nor (§ 6) to 

 the social— births, marriages and deaths. Nor (§ 7) is 

 harmony attainable in the soul — inherited discords and 

 incompatible claims. Life for the individual a fruitless 

 struggle, with a certain prospect of defeat. §§ 8-10. The 

 prospects of the race no better, either physically, § 8 ; 

 socially, § 9 ; or psychologically, § 10. Owing to the 

 rapidity of the changes in the conditions of life, our 

 feelings are survivals from obsolete modes of life, and 

 conflict with our reason. Our bodies still less har- 

 monized with our duties. i;§ 11-17. The evidence for 

 Pejorism, the growth of misery. § 12. Evidence that 

 the physical organism does not adapt itself quickly 

 enough to changed conditions. Increased sensitiveness 

 to pain, and diminished power of recuperation. Death 

 itself evolved. ^13. Material progress renders spiritual 

 misery possible, and (§ 14) provokes social discontent. 

 i^ 15. 'I'he social environment has grown too fast, and 

 so (§ 16) has the discord in the soul, most obviously 

 (§ 17) in the case of the sexual feelings, which have re- 

 tained an excessive strength from animal times, although 

 the smaller waste of life renders it needless. They are 

 fostered by society, but their wholesome gratification 

 ])ecomes more and more difficult. Consequent growth 

 of immorality and misery, i:^ 18. The evolutionist argu- 

 ment for Meliorism : adaptation must prevail, for the 

 unadapted die, — § 19, unless the nature of things is 



