The Theory of Natural Selection. 273 
the argument would not have involved the fallacy 
which we are now considering. But, as it stands, the 
argument reverts to the teleology of pre-Darwinian 
days—or the hypothesis of a “purpose” in the literal 
sense which sees the end from the beginning, instead 
of a “ purpose” in the metaphorical sense of an adap- 
tation that is evolved by the very modifications which 
subserve it 4, 
Another very prevalent, and more deliberate, fallacy 
connected with the theory of natural selection is, ad 
it follows deductively from the theory itself that the 
principle of natural selection must be the sole means 
of modification in all cases where modification is of 
an adaptive kind,—with the consequence that no 
other principle can ever have been concerned in the 
production of structures or instincts which are of any 
use to their possessors. Whether or not natural 
selection actually has been the sole means of adaptive 
modification in the race, as distinguished from the 
individual, is a question of biological fact?; but it 
1 Since the above was written Prof. Lloyd Morgan has published a 
closely similar notice of the passage in question. ‘ This language,” he 
says, ‘‘seems to savour of teleology (that pitfall of the evolutionist). 
The cart is put before the horse. The recognition-marks were, I 
believe, not produced to prevent intercrossing, but intercrossing has 
been prevented because of preferential mating between individuals 
possessing special recognition-marks. To miss this point is to miss 
an important segregation-factor.”—(Animal Life and Intelligence, p. 
103.) Again, on pp. 184-9, he furnishes an excellent discussion on the 
whole subject of the fallacy alluded to in the text, and gives illustrative 
quotations from other prominent Darwinians. J should like to add 
that Darwin himself has nowhere fallen into this, or any of the other 
fallacies, which are mentioned in the text. 
2 Of course adaplive modifications produced in the individual life- 
time, and not zzherited, do not concern the question at all. In this and 
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