Elementary Morality 51 



privilege in regard to a knowledge of supernatural existence. 

 Such an existence and such a privilege are not the subjects 

 of this study except to observe whether they overrule the 

 natural law to such an extent as to reverse or annul it, 

 and that does not seem to be the case. Although there are 

 many things in which supernatural or Divine control appears 

 to act by means not in accord with natural law, these are 

 exceptional, and it seems that these exceptions, even if 

 their truth be admitted, are inadequate to show a reversal 

 or annulment of natural law. The mast that they appear 

 to show is a misunderstanding of or a temporary suspension 

 of, or emancipation from, established rules, and they only 

 reinforce the strength of these rules by the surprise caused 

 in the interference. 



Therefore it is necessary to accept as evidently true the 

 proposition that human conduct, although differing from 

 that of inferior nature, and enjoying privileges under laws 

 higher in grade, is still subject to fundamental laws of lower 

 grade, which govern and include humanity in the same 

 scheme with the rest of the universe. Thus the former 

 assumption that earlier laws persist and are supplanted but 

 not superseded is again supported. And it becomes clear that 

 the foundation of morality of the unconscious, instinctive 

 kind, lies in its usefulness and benefit; first for the indi- 

 vidual who secures in it support and assistance, and second 

 for the newer and larger units of activity which are the 

 associations of families or groups, which find themselves 

 flourishing because they have cultivated a system of co- 

 operation. 



In this original purpose human conduct is of the same 



