Relation to Animate Nature 31 



share. It must not be supposed that this argument denies 

 the rightness of altruistic acts — on the contrary unselfish 

 conduct is often of the highest benefit to the doer as well 

 as to the intended beneficiary. It facilitates cooperation and 

 organization for united action. It is in fact an activity of 

 the larger associated unit, working to the advantage of that 

 unit, even when to the sacrifice of the individual. 



But even in the higher phases of conduct when the 

 mystery of altruism is concerned there remains apparent the 

 isolation of the individual in his own aura and in the meshes 

 of his own web of consequences, from which even love 

 and self-sacrifice, cannot remove him. Individual responsi- 

 bility is seen to be at the base of the law of conduct and 

 to persist in its entire structure. 



