CHAPTER VII. 



THE METAPHYSICS OF EVOLUTION. 



§ I. The discussion of the metaphysics of Evolut- 

 ion may come with the shock of seeming paradox 

 on those who pride themselves on their complete 

 exemption from metaphysical views and metaphys- 

 ical knowledge. But In reality their surprise is 

 quite uncalled for ; and if they knew what meta- 

 physics were, they would perceive that it was as 

 difficult to avoid talking metaphysics as it is to 

 avoid talking prose. It requires a real poet to 

 avoid prose, and it requires a real metaphysician 

 to avoid metaphysical assumptions. For ordinary 

 men the choice is only between good and bad 

 metaphysics as between good and bad prose. 



For metaphysics is simply the science of the 

 fundamental principles of all knowing and being, 

 and it is impossible to act or think without assum- 

 ing and implying some such principles. It is as 

 impossible to carry on life without metaphysical 

 principles as it is to carry on thought without 

 logical principles. The only real question Is 

 whether our various metaphysical principles are 

 to be consistent with one another and capable of 

 being combined into a connected whole or not ; and 

 it is highly probable that, unless great care Is taken, 

 they will not be so consistent. Hence the object 

 of the systematic study of metaphysics is to render 



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