CHAP, xiv REACTION FROM DARWINISM: HUXLEY 153 



cases the most moral are the strongest. So far as 

 that is true of states or of individuals, the " blind " 

 cosmic process does not oppose morality, but acts in 

 its service. The difficulty is at least attenuated. 



A fuller answer to Huxley's perplexities regarding 

 the moral bearings of evolution is to be found in a 

 better view of reason. Morality is a new thing in 

 the creation with the advent of rational man, yet not 

 wholly new. It is the transformation and perfecting 

 of animal ethics not the simple inversion of the 

 cosmic process. But it is a highly significant trans- 

 formation. Pain also is transformed by the advent 

 of reason. Even in the animal world, presumably, 

 pain is outweighed by pleasure, Huxley himself being 

 witness. In man, however, pain assumes a new mean- 

 ing. It becomes an element in moral development. 

 How then can the presence of pain brand the cosmos 

 as evil? The kindred charge, that struggle is alto- 

 gether evil from the moral point of view, will come 

 before us again in the next and subsequent chapters ; 

 we trust there are reasons for repelling that charge 

 also. Lastly, we observe that a more intelligent con- 

 ception of reason corrects Huxley's position as to the 

 supremacy of man. Mastery of the animals is natural 

 to mankind. It is no mere accident, due to man's 

 share in the cruel cosmic struggle. It is man's right. 

 It forms part of his equipment for that which lies 

 before him, the moral struggle to which the cosmic 

 struggle gives place, the moral advance and moral 

 achievement which are to crown the long and strange 

 story of this earth. 



