XX CONTENTS. 



4. The preceding proved of man during historic as well as pre- 



historic time ... ... ... ... ... 68 



5. The initiative and influence of great individuals a force travers- 



ing the law of natural selection ... ... ... 72 



6. In what direction the further development of humanity tends 71 



7. Concession to the pessimist. Happiness, though possible, 



mostly missed. Causes of this ... ... ... 77 



CHAPTER III. 



ON HUMAN NATURE AND ITS CAPACITIES FOB VIRTUE. 



1. Defects in our past ethical systems ... ... ... 83 



2. Chief cause of the failure of the masters of morals want of 



scientific knowledge. Man, as shown by psychology, physio- 

 logy, and natural history ... ... ... ... 86 



3. Man fundamentally an animal, self-conserving and moved by 



sense : far-reaching ethical consequences of these facts, and 

 particularly of the former. The struggle for existence 

 within the human species ... ... ... ... 91 



4. Man also a social animal : ethical consequences of this fact. 



Love for others the happiest feat of evolution. Influence 



of religious founders in its development ... ... 95 



5. Origin of the feeling in the primitive man. How far it admits 



of natural explanation ... ... ... ... 98 



6. The " love of humanity," and " the greatest happiness of the 



greatest number." How far the former is a possible feel- 

 ing, or the latter a practicable or proper aim. Testimony of 

 psychology, experience, and the great writers on the former 

 point ... ... ... ... ... ... 102 



7. The " love of humanity" and the "struggle for existence" as 



exemplified in nations, classes, individuals ... ... 109 



8. The love of our species real and possible in the sense of a love 



of certain individuals as representatives of the whole and 

 redeemers of its unlovable units ... ... ... Ill 



9. Defect in the ethical system of Kant ... ... ... 114 



CHAPTER IV. 



ON FREE-WILL, AND MAN'S AUTOMATISM. 



1 . Ethical significance of the free-will controversy ... ... 118 



2. Theory of the man-machine, with consciousness superadded as 



spectator ... ... ... ... ... ... 119 



3. Portion of truth in the theory. Futility and irrelevance of the 



theory 123 



4. Theory of Mill and Bain : our volitions determined by conscious 



motives referring to pleasure and pain ... ... ... 125 



5. Substantial truth of the theory. Corrections suggested. Con- 



scious motives governed by unconscious causes. Variation 



in the strength of conscious motives apparently the same 128 



