Introduction. ix 



important to point out the fallacies in the 

 conclusions of others, as to state a new truth ; 

 for in science, as in arithmetic, a mistake in one 

 figure will often affect the whole sum. There 

 is little doubt that Evolution is still far from 

 presenting the aspect which it will ultimately 

 assume in the science of the future. 



The religious aspects of Evolution, though 

 frequently discussed, are still far from having 

 received a satisfactory solution. One reason 

 may be that pure science resembles pure 

 mathematics in only being able to deal with 

 subjects which fall directly within its grasp. 

 Pure science will not conduct us far if the 

 theological aspect of a theory has to be con- 

 sidered ; for religious questions depend upon 

 the constitution of the human mind, and we 

 cannot call in science to enable us to analyse 

 our own minds by their own powers from any 

 really independent or scientifically unexcep- 

 tionable standpoint. Nevertheless, a man is not 

 justified in rejecting Eeligion, because (even 

 after eliminating absurd or contradictory 

 dogmas, with nothing to support them but 

 authority) it presents him with insoluble 

 enigmas if argued out by strict logic. . A 

 physiologist might as well refuse food as long 

 as any problem connected with the process of 



