274 The Morality of Nature 



knowledge, the Inferences which concern us all. It is not a 

 study of geology or biology which is here desired, but a 

 study of morality, to which biology is a needed stepping 

 stone. 



The preceding analysis of conduct has shown a definable 

 natural system or order, which compensates voluntary ac- 

 tivity. It appears that the effect and purpose of conduct is 

 primarily the preservation of life, and secondarily, still to 

 this same end, the acquisition of abilities and powers suited 

 for the contest with a hostile environment. Upon these 

 main facts others depend which may be summarized as 

 follows. 



Changes in environment compel changes in conduct and 

 in equipment, and, for these purposes a process of renewal, 

 and of change, or evolution, of the physical organization is 

 acquired by the creature; these are the functions of propa- 

 gation in likeness, of variation, and selection, and of death. 



The break in that existence which is transmitted from 

 parent to offspring; is only a suspension of somatic activi- 

 ties, and not a break in the activity of the life plasm itself, 

 which is potentially immortal. The break is, for the soma- 

 tic body, bridged by heredity; and even in the physical 

 organization which does die, progress is continuous. The 

 conduct of this ever changing, ever progressing life is duly 

 compensated by its greater or lesser success in achievement 

 of racial fitness. The most fit races renew indefinitely their 

 lease of potential immortality, by reproduction of a suffi- 

 ciency of numbers ; and the less fit races suffer, by individual 

 weakness, and by extinction of life in many branches, in 

 the consequences of imperfect conduct. The transmission 



