PARTIAL CONCILIATION OF THE NEW AND OLD ETHICS. 395 



deteriorated by a change for the worse in the composi- 

 tion of the cells and fibres of the brain, and these cannot 

 be suddenly or easily changed in the race, whatever 

 accidents they may be subject to in the individual. The 

 doctrine of heredity and continued development is on 

 the side of morality, and this doctrine is one of the most 

 assuring conclusions which recent science has given to 

 men. Further yet, the social exigencies more impe- 

 riously demand obedience to moral rules in modern com- 

 plex than in former simpler societies ; and, therefore, 

 there need be no fear of a relaxation of the social im- 

 perative as regards either legal or moral rules essential 

 to social existence and development, but only of those 

 which stand opposed, and which should, therefore, be 

 rather regarded as immoral than moral commands. 

 Until, then, the physical basis of the brain and nerves 

 is deteriorated in modern nations, men will not be less 

 moral; and unless the universal laws of life, and the 

 eternal requirements of every society are mutable, the 

 primary virtues the core of virtue will remain im- 

 mutable, while the growing body of virtue will be 

 mutable only in the sense of being more developed. 

 This is, or should be, the answer of evolution to those 

 who fear for the interests of morality. 



Morality will not be touched in essence, but it is 

 quite compatible with this and not unlikely that its 

 essential features may be in future more clearly recog- 

 nized, as also that there may be a new valuation of the 

 old virtues. It is quite possible that, on taking a new 

 inventory of our moral capital and moral practices, it 

 should be pronounced by a competent ethical valuator 

 that there was a change in the relative worth of some 

 moral habits and virtues ; that some had suffered deteri- 

 oration ; that others had improved in worth ; nay, even 



