CHAP, xvii METAPHYSICS OF NATURAL SELECTION 205 



Regarding Darwinism and chance then we have 

 decided as follows: First, Darwinism asserts chance 

 (co-existence) in the same way in which [finite] science 

 ordinarily asserts it, by a mechanical view of the uni- 

 verse ; secondly, Darwinism has also assumed the pos- 

 sibility of random [non-purposeful] variations; and 

 on analysis this seems to point back once more to the 

 same scientific assumption of distinct co-operating 

 forces. So far then as Darwinism really or neces- 

 sarily implies chance, it is not discredited as a 

 science among sciences. All of them do something 

 similar. There are, of course, further questions as to 

 the ultimate validity of the scientific analysis, but 

 these questions belong to the domain of philosophy. 

 Thirdly, however, Darwin's phrase, " natural selec- 

 tion," lays greater stress upon the element of chance 

 than his own facts warrant. He speaks as if the 

 eliminating agency of a disconnected environment 

 were the one thing valuable. In a sense he may be 

 said to have made it probable that an element of 

 chance (co-existence) enters into the evolutionary 

 process. But that gives him no right to say that 

 evolution is " due to " chance co-existence. A spark, 

 along with fitting proportions of oxygen and hydro- 

 gen, produces water; but you would throw little 

 light upon the nature of water by isolating one of the 

 factors in its production, and by describing the liquid 

 as "due to" a spark. Salt improves soup, but it 

 would be a fool's enterprise to set about making 

 soup from salt. 



