388 The Morality of Nature 



that environment must be considered changed so as to call 

 for variation, when increase of numbers of living competi- 

 tors makes the struggle for survival keener, even though 

 the outer circumstances continue favorable. Thus even great 

 prosperity may require upward evolution, in a contest where 

 not merely the fit, but only the fittest, of races can continue 

 to exist. The great difference between the lower conduct 

 under this impulse, and the higher conduct of humanity, is, 

 that the former must venture into variations without any 

 conscious purpose or foresight, while man with his con- 

 sciousness of self and of motive, and of cause and effect, 

 and with his perception of moral consequences, can shape 

 his conduct according to a previously seen and probably 

 good course. 



It is not clear, however, that the unconscious variation 

 of the lower grade is mere accident. Although we do not 

 now fully perceive the law, there may well be one by which 

 the right activity in one circumstance, does give a beneficial 

 direction as well as increased energy to the variable heredity. 

 For humanity an indication of rightness evidently lies in the 

 moral perceptions, and this encourages a belief in this as the 

 only natural guide, which is not justified. Non-psychologi- 

 cal life without it, may be and probably is, advancing by 

 variations which are well ordered in a lower plane. 



One achievement of morality is the higher type of activ- 

 ity in the great units of human organization, in the nations 

 and races, and alliances of nations. This achievement con- 

 sists largely in the growth of freedom of conduct as com- 

 pared with compelled conduct. Political liberty is not merely 

 political. We have seen that it is a moral evolution, of 



