30 DARWINIAN AND SPENCERIAN 



The contrast between the methods of the two founders 

 so strikingly brought out by these extracts receives, so 

 to speak, official sanction by Spencer's analysis of his 

 own disposition : — 



' But I must not forget another trait of nature — 

 a relative Uking for thought in contrast with a relative 

 aversion to action. My physical constitution did not 

 yield such overflow of energy as prompts some natures to 

 spontaneous activity. In many directions action was 

 entered upon rather reluctantly ; while thinking was 

 a pleasure. Obviously this predominant tendency to 

 contemplation has been a factor in my career.' ^ 



No further evidence than that furnished by the fore- 

 going extracts is required to prove that the influence of 

 Darwin and Spencer respectively has been determined 

 entirely by the difference in the method of attack adopted 

 by the-^:cuitemporary foundgrS-Ofinodern Evolution. It 

 is also clear fiiaOIie"difference in the effects of the two 

 modes of treatment upon the scientific world involves the 

 consideration of the fundamental question of validity of 

 method. It is no disparagement of Darwin to say that 

 he was working at a lower level than Spencer, because 

 his foundation was thereby made more secure ; nor is it 

 an exaltation of Spencer to say that he was working at 

 a higher level than Darwin, because his foundation was 

 thus rendeired less secure. The question that posterity 

 will have to decide is, I venture to think, not whether 

 the scientific method is valid — ^because on that point 

 there is no doubt — but how far jthe abstract or philo- 

 sophical methodjs kgitimate as a means for the advance- 

 ment of science. We have, during the Victorian age, been 

 provided with the unique example of two of the most 

 powerful intellects of the time arriving at the same great 

 generalization by different methods. Spencer arrived 

 at Evolution as a^prijticiple from the consideration of 

 a certain number of very diverse groups of phenomena, 

 aiid based a system of philosophy upon his generalization ; 



' ' Filiation of Ideas,' p. 536. 



