Criticisms of Theory of Natural Selection. 335 
concealed under the clothes, and parading in the mask, 
of mental purpose. The word ‘natural’ suggests 
Matter, and the physical forces. The word ‘selection’ 
suggests Mind, and the powers of choice.” This, how- 
ever, is a mere quarrelling about words. Darwin 
called the principle which he had discovered by the 
name natural selection in order to mark the analogy 
between it and artificial selection. No doubt in this 
analogy there is not necessarily supposed to be in 
nature any counterpart to the mind of the breeder, nor, 
therefore, to his powers of intelligent choice. But 
there is no need to limit the term sc/ectéon (se and lego, 
Gr. Aéyw) to powers of intelligent choice. As previously 
remarked, a bank of sea-weed on the sea-shore may be 
said to have been selected by the waves from all the 
surrounding sand and stones. Similarly, we may say 
that giain is selected from chaff by the wind in the 
process of winnowing corn. Or, if it be thought that 
there is any ambiguity involved in such a use of the 
term in the case of “ Natural Selection,” there is no 
objection to employing the phrase which has been 
coined by Mr. Spencer as its equivalent—namely, 
“ Survival of the Fittest.” The point of the theory is, 
that those organisms which are best suited to their 
surroundings are allowed to live and to propagate, 
while those which are less suited are eliminated ; and 
whether we call this process a process of selection, or 
call it by any other name, is clearly immaterial. 
A material question is raised only when it is asked 
whether the process is one that can be ascribed to 
causation strictly natural. It is often denied that 
such is the case, on the ground that natural selection 
does not originate the variations which it favours, 
