400 The Morality of Nature 



sophical aspect. We may close it by a recognition of the 

 ideal of free altruistic democracy, as the highest aspiration, 

 and its existing experimental organization as the highest 

 examples, of the process of evolution, by which matter (and 

 in the present study living matter) progresses in function 

 from simplicity and generality, to complexity and specialty; 

 while at the same time consciousness advances from a 

 passive response to an active volition, and to intelligent 

 control of the matter it inhabits, and so restores unity by 

 progress in organization. 



