284 The Morality of Nature 



as a science, it is the least stable of all sciences, always sub- 

 ject to change, in anything and everything except only its 

 basic principle, which is life dependent upon right doing. 



The laws under which evolution erects upon this basis, 

 consequences of accumulating value, are evidenced therefore 

 in a process which is comparative rather than exact, and 

 aspiring rather than wise. The right doing by which a 

 creature continues to live while environment varies, results 

 in a growth in experience, which is imperfect knowledge, 

 of an unstable, fast changing nature; and in this growing 

 knowledge, the possible upward progress shows no depen- 

 dence upon exactness, and no tendency to become fixed. A 

 philosophy which pretends in the light of any day's knowl- 

 edge, to define or declare the value of the abolute good, is 

 evidently absurd; for tomorrow will always add new ex- 

 perience and knowledge, and leave the old imperfect. And 

 a philosophy which seeks benefit only in things which are 

 provable, is more absurd ; because it ignores the greater part 

 of human motives; which are not conclusions, but are only 

 desires taking effect in hope or in faith. A philosophy which 

 can help humanity to live, cannot afford to deal with only 

 a part of human impulses, it must treat of all, and must 

 give the due consideration to every factor. 



This truth becomes more clear when the higher con- 

 sequences of conduct are viewed, in the progress of evo- 

 lution of life forms, as they rise adapting themselves to 

 conditions, by continued increase of efficiency. This rise 

 is being accomplished now as always before. It is being 

 achieved by civilized man and by barbaric man; and by 

 living creatures, in world's known and unknown; by vege- 



