266 The Morality of Nature 



treme, is extinction of life; and of wrong in lesser degrees 

 is a proportionate delay, or a lessening of power in the 

 contest with the hostile environment, in which the lineal life 

 may be numerically weakened ; or its term may be shortened 

 or threatened, pending relief by increase of virtue; and a 

 consequence of minor degree of wrong is the delaying of 

 the attainment of higher conditions. 



Twelfth, The lineal life in its immortality is thus the true 

 ego and subject of conduct. The race life, originally in uni- 

 son, and later divided into separate individuals as a result 

 of growth, is naturally allied in a primal community of in- 

 terest, which affords the foundation for altruistic associ- 

 ation, in successively higher organizations of cooperative 

 unity. 



Thirteenth, The limitation of opportunity, begetting in 

 growing communities a competition for advantage, causes 

 some to enter into destructive rivalry, and then into preda- 

 tory habit, in a struggle for survival, which, as a system 

 of conduct, may be temporarily successful. 



Fourteenth, In the progress consequent upon growth 

 predatory life is self -limited by its own destructiveness, while 

 altruistic life continually increases its adaptability, and en- 

 larges the capacity of its environment. 



Fifteenth, The primitive phase of parental devotion ex- 

 hibits that principle of preference of the lineal life before 

 that of the individual, which secures continuity of existence. 



The superior vitality of the altruistic type of the greater 

 or lineal life constitutes an ability for survival, which over- 

 balances the destructive value of the opposing system of 

 aggressive self -maintenance. 



