INTRODUCTORY 155 



verse, so that the knowledge of both is required before 

 we can dogmatize as to the fundamental principles 

 which in their working explain the continuity of things. 

 This premise, to which I shall return at a later stage 

 in this lecture, is opposed to the philosophy of natural- 

 ism, but is entirely consistent with physical science, 

 properly so called. It is, indeed, frankly accepted 

 by some of the most eminent physical scientists of our 

 day. 



Before proceeding further, let me define side by side 

 the two propositions with which we are concerned. 

 They are in substance as follows: 



1. Cathohc doctrine teaches that man's primitive 

 state was such that he was able to avoid both sin and 

 physical death, this abihty being due to supernatural 

 endowments and conditions. 



2. Modern biological science teaches that man's 

 physical organism is a product of natural evolution, 

 and that its specific characters are determined by suchl 

 origin. Among these characters our purpose requires] 

 us to notice brutish impulses and physical mortality. 



These two propositions are thought by certain theo- 

 logical writers, as well as by many physical scientists, 

 to be irreconcilable; and the view which is taken by 

 those who prefer to be guided by biological science 

 rather than by theological doctrine is substantially 

 as follows: We can "find the ground of the possibiHty 

 and occasion for sin in our natural constitution regarded 

 as the perfectly normal result of a process of develop- 

 ment through which the race has passed previously to 



