Morality and the Expansion of Life 357 



the biological process by which the parts compos- 

 ing the association obtain the maximum of vital 

 intensity. Everything which contributes towards 

 the re-inforcement of association is moral because 

 association is life. Everything which makes for 

 dissociation is immoral because dissociation is 

 death. In consequence of this the breaking of the 

 bonds of association is a crime solely because it is 

 disadvantageous for the individual. If the rup- 

 ture of association could be useful for the individual, 

 this rupture would cease to be a crime immediately. 

 The triumph of right and the maximum of vital 

 intensity are synonymous terms. My right is the 

 totality of the acts which my fellows ought to 

 perform in order to permit me to attain the maxi- 

 mum of vital intensity. But, from another point 

 of view, my right is also the totality of the acts 

 which I ought to perform in order not to diminish 

 the vital intensity of my fellows, because this 

 intensity of life for others is the indispensable con- 

 dition of vital intensity for me. To respect the 

 rights of others then (that is, to act according to 

 morality) is my fundamental interest, — morality 

 and self-interest are identical. 



It is necessary to understand this clearly. In 

 many cases the impulse which leads a man to act 

 morally cannot be self-interest. This is not in 

 contradiction to the statement that the action can 

 only be beneficent if it conforms to his interest, 

 because if the impulse to do good results in evil 

 for the individual who commits an action, this 



