60 



THE AUTHOE'S REPLY. 



I am gratified by the cordial references to my paper and the acceptance 

 of its chief positions by those who took part in the discussion. The 

 criticisms call for few remarks. Let me thank Mr. W. P. James for his 

 able and interesting review. The brevity of the paper and the narrowing of 

 the issue were both intentional. I agree with Mr. James that " order" 

 should have a place in the doctrine of " final causes." This is fundamental. 

 Had I been dealing with the general question, it would have been my 

 starting-point. My reference to Asa Gray was necessarily brief, but 

 no one well acquainted with Asa Gray's works can have a higher estimate 

 than I have of their great value and of the attractive thoughtfulnoss and 

 scientific ability of their author. I had only one point to speak to, and did 

 it. It seems almost absurd that at this time of day one should feel it neces- 

 sary to refer thus to a naturalist whom all scientific workers honour. The 

 Chairman refers to my use of the word " teleology ." I adhere to this. Much 

 confusion in popular apologetic literature has already arisen from employing 

 this word as the equivalent of final cause. Darwinians hold themselves the 

 authoritative exponents and illustrators of "Teleology"- — that is, fitnesses 

 between organs and functions, between different parts of individual features 

 of structure, between living forms and their environments, &c., while, 

 notoriously, they refuse to acknowledge " Final Cause,"— that is personal 

 prevision, purpose, and end. Perhaps in no recent book are there so many 

 illustrations of teleology as in Darwin's work on the Fertilisation of Orchids. 

 Did he believe in the Doctrine of Final Causes ? The Eev, J. James infers 

 that " I take it for granted there is a great deal in Evolution." Whereas, I 

 hoped the paper would show that I put no value on the Evolution pleaded 

 for in the scheme of Natural Selection. And I still think this has been 

 made sufficiently evident. 



