42 WHAT IS DARWINISM? 



or animalcule, have been brought about by un- 

 intelligent physical causes. On this point he 

 leaves us in no doubt. He defines nature to be 

 " the aggregate action and product of natural 

 laws ; and laws are the sequence of events as 

 ascertained by us." It had been objected that 

 he often uses teleological language, speaking of 

 purpose, intention, contrivance, adaptation, etc. 

 In answer to this objection, he says : " It has 

 been said, that I speak of natural selection as 

 a power or deity ; but who objects to an author 

 speaking of the attraction of gravity as ruling 

 the movements of the planet ? " He admits that 

 in the literal sense of the words, natural selec- 

 tion is a false term ; but " who ever objected to 

 chemists, speaking of the elective affinities of 

 various elements ? — and yet an acid cannot 

 strictly be said to elect the base with which it 

 in preference combines." (p. 93) We have 

 here an affirmation and a negation. It is af- 

 firmed that natural selection is the operation 

 of natural laws, analogous to the action of grav- 

 itation and of chemical affinities. It is denied 

 that it is a process originally designed, or 

 guided by intelligence, such as the activity 

 which foresees an end and consciously selects 

 and controls the means of its accomplishment. 



