Ethical Considerations 
as a whole, even though it may be very partial and occur at a 
low level. Here I would like to ask a question: what is the 
implication of mental adaptation in the evolutionary sense? 
Men begin with erroneous scientific beliefs and erroneous reli- 
gious beliefs, but how far are these different universes of dis- 
course, how far are they different kinds of symbolization? We 
use symbols in science for certain purposes, and there are 
adequate methods of verification. What about the functions of 
other types of symbolization in life? The most obvious example 
is art, but are there other fields of discourse, other uses of 
symbols which do not conflict with science but supplement it, 
yet nevertheless are so different that we cannot translate the 
one into the other. If that is true, is there not scope for different 
sets of symbolic language, which are equally important in our 
relations with things as a whole? And if that is so, what is the 
part played by these systems in evolution? Is it a condition of 
man’s survival in the long run that he shall not adopt delusory 
ideas, either scientific or otherwise, but that he shall have some 
adequate form of symbolization which adjusts him to things in 
general and is associated with emotional satisfaction ? 
Finally, I would like to mention the point which Szent- 
Gyorgyi raised, namely, that we have reached the stage where 
we cannot understand the things we discover. I have the im- 
pression from what he said that it was rather that we cannot 
picture what we have discovered, but that we have other 
methods of understanding it. But does that apply elsewhere, 
does that apply in the sphere of ethics and action? Have we 
reached the stage now, at which man has evolved so that he 
can no longer control the things on which his future destiny 
depends? 
Bronowski: I resisted the temptation to reply earlier when 
Colin Clark made what I thought was an excessively provoca- 
tive statement about values. But since Lord Brain has raised 
the issue again, and related it so forcibly to our future conduct, 
I would like to make a statement about values as I think 
humanists see them, or at any rate as my kind of humanist sees 
them. I think it will be found that these human values can 
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