146 The Morality of Nature 



higher quaHty, before the distinctly best mode of action was 

 pointed out by increasing frequency of its survival. The 

 chief element of value to determine this survival seems to 

 be capacity for association, the same natural impulse seen 

 long before among some animals, but in man advanced to a 

 higher degree. And the distinguishing characteristic of this 

 advancement in humanity appears to be conscious altruism. 

 The ability to organize in largest units, and to establish com- 

 munities of greatest power, is developed not by the selfish 

 method of destroying rivals, but by the constructive method 

 of increasing the acting unit of force. While the aggressive 

 races cultivate strength by destroying the weak, and so 

 promote those who can best destroy their fellows, the gre- 

 garious prefer those who will tolerate others, even in weak- 

 ness, and promote those who can effect the most organization 

 for the common good. And so of human kind the blood- 

 thirsty tribe proceeds with its development in the way of self- 

 destruction, and the gentle tribe by its way of multiplying 

 preservation, each in its own sphere. It is not necessary that 

 they should come into collision to make the comparison 

 effective, yet if collision occurs the organization of the 

 pacific unit does generally prevail against the disruptive im- 

 pulses of the other. Nor is it necessary that there should be 

 any knowledge or conscious selection in the conduct. Na- 

 ture awards her compensations for deeds and not for inten- 

 tions. The actions prompted by unreflecting instinct are, 

 when right, equally effective with those reasoned by intellect ; 

 in fact we may often suspect as ancient philosophy did, that 

 they are even more moral and acceptable, because of their 

 seat in mere unreasoned faith. 



