1 8 The Morality of Nature 



demonstration of the law of responsibility. For even in the 

 protozoon the power to move implies under certain condi- 

 tions the duty to move, and to move aright, and the responsi- 

 bility for moving aright, or not moving; and the manner of 

 meeting this responsibility is one of the beginnings of 

 conduct, the enforced law of living which tends to increase 

 benefits and reduce misfortunes according as it is good or 

 bad. The natural consequences of the conduct befall this 

 creature as inevitably for this simple decision, as they do the 

 most powerful beast or the most subtle human reasoner. 

 Higher in the scale of life, volition is seen to be much 

 more effective in enabling the creature to escape destruc- 

 tion or injury, for not only is the power to move more 

 effective, but many other capacities aid the animal in self- 

 preservation. The senses are acute, vision, even in early 

 development, assumes importance, and flight is thereby 

 made more effective, and hearing, taste and smell all warn 

 creatures of higher organization of danger. Armor, such 

 as shells, and cold resisting furs ; ponderous mass and 

 strength defend some against hurt, — and the use of these 

 things is always assisted by volition. The oyster shuts its 

 shell and opens it according to a judgment of its own, for 

 which it is responsible, and in which error may have seri- 

 ous consequences. And reascending the scale, some ani- 

 mals are found to be marvelously equipped in the higher 

 species. Birds which could not endure the rigors of a 

 frozen winter migrate to a warmer climate, affording a 

 wonderful example of the triumph of volition and power 

 for action over the catastrophe of nature. Beasts which 

 live in lands of hard winter contrive without migrating to 



