ii6 The Morality of Nature 



a deficiency or negation or absence of good in accomplished 

 fact. Purpose is only an activity preparatory to other chief 

 activity, and, so, as conduct, it is in a subordinate grade to 

 that of achievement. All conduct will purpose the achieve- 

 ment of a certain desired effect; and the desire, if sane and 

 successful, will be for, and will achieve, a beneficial effect 

 in some part; although there may be another part of the 

 consequences which is bad but undesired, and which is per- 

 petrated, and its effects incurred, in order to reach the chief 

 aim. Now this undesired part taken alone might be seen 

 as injurious and therefore as bad; and yet it may in the 

 volition of the actor be justified by the net value of the result. 

 Therefore good conduct may evidently be compounded of 

 its positive or plus goodness, and a negative or minus quan- 

 tity, to be deducted therefrom. And to further confuse the 

 issue, it appears possible to foresee only imperfectly the 

 consequences of any act, and the extent of such foresight 

 differs in different invididuals, so there are many acts doubt- 

 ful in value, and often there is no possibility of deciding 

 absolutely whether a doubtful act is good or bad. The con- 

 sequences will decide and award compensation accordingly, 

 but even this award will not be definitely ascertainable or 

 perceptible. It may be argued with some advantage that 

 all sanely conceived conduct which succeeds is to that degree 

 good, and that its goodness is proportionate to the wisdom 

 of its successful purpose; and that badness of conduct is 

 found in unsuccessful action; and that evil only exists as 

 the action of unbalanced volition or insanity. It is well to 

 realize that in the natural final test fitness, and success in the 

 ultimate achievement of benefit are the only standards, and 



