CHAPTER XX 



SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 



Self-contradictions Comte is arbitrary Biology has been reinforced 

 by evolutionary theories, yielding different forms of sociological doc- 

 trine I. Analogy, without struggle; Stephen 2. Continuity, 

 without struggle ; Spencer, Alexander (partly) 3. Analogy of 

 Darwinism; Bagehot, Alexander, Ritchie (?) 4. Continuity of nat- 

 ural selection; Sutherland, Drummond (?), Kidd None of these 

 wholly succeed ; old authorities will return ! Or idealism, which is 

 compatible with the old authorities, may give us a more satisfying 

 doctrine of evolution What have we been taught? (i) A social 

 organism exists Idealism reinforces this lesson (2) Struggle has 

 been useful; "will it not be? as discussion? as competition? In 

 light of idealism this seems possible Of fact, probable Must not 

 exaggerate its place; it is subordinate in life of reason [Mallock] 

 Finally, does progressiveness of evolution make it a guide to con- 

 duct? Difficulties in biology ; environment constant? Some forms 

 have stopped ! Some never started ! Differentiation plainer here 

 than progress Reason makes for progress in history Is it all- 

 sufficient? (Mill, Buckle) Ancient civilisation failed Morality 

 and Christianity must safeguard modern civilisation 



AT the close of our wanderings, we propose to hold 

 a stock-taking of the wisdom which we have picked 

 up by the way. In other words, we shall run rapidly 

 over the suggestions that have been brought before 

 us, and try to estimate their value. We must note 

 once again in how many voices and in how contra- 

 dictory a fashion our teachers speak. Scientific soci- 

 ology is still a hope rather than a fact ; the " ethics 



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