14 THE THEOKY OF EVOLUTION 



(b) With regard to the genetic connection of the later 



(higher) groups with the earlier (lower) ones. 



(c) With regard to the eventual changes within 



such groups. 



If the so-called higher groups follow the lower but 

 do not arise through them then we have no higher 

 evolution in the narrow sense of the word, because 

 then the entire transformation effects itself within the 

 same plane of organization, for example, within the 

 same order. 



If we come to a definite conclusion regarding these 

 three questions, then, and not before, can we think of 

 formulating an hypothesis which will explain or make 

 comprehensible that which has been demonstrated or 

 accepted as probable. 



Whoever accepts the genetic connection of all living 

 things 1 must seek for an ' hypothesis of descent/ and 

 since with the genetic connection a transformation is 

 essential, also an ' hypothesis of transformation ' must 

 be sought for. Whoever in addition accepts a higher 

 development needs an ' hypothesis of evolution ' if 

 he will explain everything. In point of fact the 

 expressions ' evolution/ ' transformation/ ' descent ' 

 become less strictly separated. Furthermore the terms 



1 It is naturally here an entirely general question whether we can 

 accept, as a rule, a connection between present types and those of earlier 

 times of different appearance. To inquire which organisms thereby come 

 under consideration is a matter for the palaeontologist. For man, by 

 reason of his essentially higher elevation over the whole of the rest of living 

 beings (the spirituality of the soul), there must be accepted, in any case, a 

 special intervention of God. For man, if he be taken as a whole, no 

 beast can be regarded as ancestor, however highly it may be developed. 



