

716 Studies in the Theory of Descent. 



point out that even from this side there appears to 

 me no obstacle in the way of a purely mechanical 

 conception of the processes of the universe. The 

 naturalist may be excused if he attempts to pene- 

 trate into the region of philosophy ; it arises from 

 the wish to be able to contribute a little towards 

 the reconciliation of the latest knowledge of the 

 naturalist with the religious wants of the human mind 

 towards the aim striven for by both sides, viz. a 

 satisfactory and harmonious view of the universe, 

 according with the state of knowledge of our time. 



I believe that I have shown that the theory 

 of selection by no means leads as is always 

 assumed to the denial of a teleological Universal 

 Cause and to materialism, and I thereby hope 

 that I have cleared the way for this doctrine, the 

 importance of which it is scarcely possible to over- 

 estimate. Many, and not the most ill-informed, 

 do not get so far as to make an unbiassed examin- 

 ation into the facts, because they are at the outset 

 alarmed by the to them inevitable consequence of 

 the materialistic conception of the universe. Me- 

 chanism and teleology do not exclude one another, 

 they are rather in mutual agreement. Without 

 teleology there would be no mechanism, but only 

 a confusion of crude forces; and without mechanism 

 there would be no teleology, for how could the 

 latter otherwise effect its purpose ? l- 



Von Hartmann correctly says : " The most 

 10 See Von Hartmann, loc. fit. p. 158. 



