CHAP, xvii METAPHYSICS OF NATURAL SELECTION 22$ 



some respects he has gone too near it, and has thus 

 exaggerated the mutual repulsiveness and exclusive- 

 ness of distinct types of ethical thought. 



But, after all, is not the main point here just the 

 one which Mr. Alexander (following Darwin) takes 

 for granted ? Whence come the new varieties ? In 

 dealing with morals, at any rate, this is all-important ; 

 and in dealing with morals, at any rate, this cannot be 

 answered. Even the victorious analysis of the evolu- 

 tionist is baffled here at the central point 



A spirit breatheth, and is still ; 

 In mystery our soul abides. 



What one can say about new and sound moral 

 ideas smacks painfully of platitude. Sometimes they 

 may be championed at first by moral eccentrics. 

 But usually the teacher will be well rooted in the 

 past, drawing from it his best strength, seeking not 

 to destroy, but to fulfil. Yet even he is likely to be 

 proscribed, insulted, hated, and perhaps killed. Not 

 till after his death will men recognise the truth of 

 his words; then they will quote them against his 

 successors. 



Mr. Sutherland deals not so much with the growth 

 of moral ideas as with the history of moral behaviour 

 and the growth of character. The doing of what is 

 right concerns him rather than the knowledge of it ; 

 these are distinct problems. His belief is that we 

 grow better because the vicious and sensual and vio- 

 lent die off leaving few children. If there is any 

 other evolutionary factor, it is so paltry in extent 

 that we may safely disregard it. Natural Selection 

 B is to smuggle in Natural Selection A concealed in 



