NATURE, HISTORY, AND ETHICS 413 



To give another instance, let us suppose that a race 

 has acquired by tradition such admirable political and 

 juridical forms that its co-operation is lifted to a higher 

 level. If a neighbouring race lives under worse political 

 and juridical conditions, it is probable that the first race 

 will conquer when war breaks out, because its more 

 coherent nature leads to more energetic and harmonious 

 operations on the part of its army. If the law of the 

 conquerors is forced upon the losers, this survives, while 

 the inferior law disappears. 



The struggle of traditionary benefits may, of course, 

 be peaceful ; the best acquirement may conquer without 

 strife or blood-shed. Suppose, for instance, that the 

 excellent position of a state leads to the prolific multiplica- 

 tion of its citizens ; this constantly increasing community 

 will gradually oust its neighbours in the most peaceful 

 way. With it survives its political system. 



Thus it is possible to trace the probable course of the 

 evolution of civilisation and ground it on scientific laws. 

 Opinions will differ as to the value of the attempt. On 

 the one hand it will not be entirely convincing because 

 it is no more than probable ; on the other hand it will 

 be very difficult to provide it with a purely scientific 

 foundation. Words like " improve," " valuable " and 

 " progress " will be only too apt to creep into it, and 

 these meanings will involuntarily be imputed to the laws 

 of evolution. We are accustomed enough to regard 

 nature in the light of what is " valuable " and " valueless," 

 and will be much more apt to use these terms in dealing 

 with civilisation. It is a question if we can ever speak 



