CHAPTER XI 



JUSTICE IN DEATH 



In the wide range of possibilities made accessible by the 

 instrumentality of death there is such variety of compensa- 

 tion for conduct that a clue appears to guide us to an under- 

 standing of nature's justice. It begins to be evident that it 

 is not a justice which recognizes any paramount importance 

 of the mortal individual. If we give up this preconceived 

 idea, and try to perceive the actual working of nature, a new 

 idea emerges which still harmonizes with that human con- 

 ception of justice which has been found by instinct and 

 reason. This newer idea compels a reformed concept of the 

 object and purpose, to which justice applies. Let us examine 

 this proposition in detail, and to begin let us see how the 

 death which is so regardless of the individual is related to 

 the larger units — to the combinations and successions of 

 individuals. 



We see first that as the effects are broken up and dis- 

 tributed, conduct and consequence are better proportioned. 

 They no longer produce a superlative reward on the one 

 hand, and an irrevocable condemnation on the other; alter- 

 natives of life and death with no intermediate thing. Time 

 comes into the equation. There is revealed a variable dura- 

 tion of consequence. Life as a lease of privilege contingent 

 upon ability to hold it, is granted to one or to few or to 



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