PART II. 

 CHAPTER VIII. 



EVOLUTION AND SOCIALISM. 



The theory of universal evolution, which 

 apart from this or that detail more or less 

 debatable really characterises the vital 

 trend of modern scientific thought, has also 

 appeared to be in absolute contradiction to 

 the theories and practical ideals of socialism. 



Here the equivocation is evident. 



If we mean by socialism this vague 

 complexus of sentimental aspirations so many 

 times crystallised in artificial Utopian 

 creations of a new human world, which by a 

 magical power was to substitute itself in one 

 day for the world in which we live, then it 

 is perfectly true that the 'scientific theory of 

 evolution condemns the prejudices and 

 illusions of political artificialism, always 

 romantic whether reactionary or revolutionary. 



But, unfortunately for our adversaries, con- 

 temporary socialism is quite another thing 

 from the socialism that preceded the work of 

 Marx. Beyond the same sentiment of protest 

 against present iniquities and of aspirations 

 towards a better future there is nothing in 

 common between the two socialisms, either in 

 their logical structure or in their inductions, 



