394 THE FUTUKE OF RELIGION AND MORALS. 



social man of to-day, so far as relates to action. They 

 exist now in his breast, and man as naturally acts from 

 their impulse as physical forces act to produce their 

 proper effects. But, should they do so ? is the disquiet- 

 ing doubt and question raised by the evolution moralist 

 and sociologist, Herbert Spencer. Are they wise in so 

 passionately following their political and social impulses, 

 so foolishly and thoughtlessly their philanthropic and 

 benevolent ones ? It matters not ; since wise or im- 

 prudent they will so act, even in spite of his moderating 

 gospel. For such a being social man is to-day, in this 

 the latest stage of his natural history. At present, ideas, 

 which may prove illusions, urge him to act for their 

 fuller realization. That such social and spiritual forces 

 are necessary, is shown by the fact of their existence ; 

 and in spite alike of the despairing pessimism of Hart- 

 mann, which treats them as illusions, or the qualified 

 optimism of Spencer, which expects nothing from them, 

 but all from time and natural selection, man will still be 

 governed, naturally and necessarily, by ideals, and the 

 species will still be urged forward by aspirations within 

 its breast. Neither, then, shall ideal aims be destroyed 

 by scientific analysis or research, nor yet virtue, as some 

 are apprehensive. For if we look at the subject from 

 another and a more strictly scientific point of view, 

 virtue is safe. It is safe because its foundation and 

 source lies in a region inaccessible to hurt, impregnable 

 alike to external assault or to internal sap. Morality, 

 virtue, is safe in its essence, however its accidents be 

 affected, because its essence resides in the inmost struc- 

 ture and essence of the nerves and cells of the developed 

 brain of the species, which has been developed with even 

 a more special reference to the moral than to the intel- 

 lectual or material needs of men. Morality can only be 



