PHILOSOPHY AND “ EVOLUTION ” : AN INQUIRY. 133 
relation of Derivation of one from another (antiquity being 
measurable by simplicity), or else a Derivation from some 
mysterious common stem. By “ theistic ” evolutionists the 
original or originals are said to be created by GOD ; by other 
■evolutionists they are unaccounted for. 
Experience negatives. — This Derivation hypothesis, undoubt- 
edly essential to evolutionism, is negatived by experience.* 
Spencerf thought it expedient, in view of irreconcilable facts, to 
bolster up the “ law ” of progressive evolution by an opposing 
“ law,” the law of dissolution, and to suppose an alternate 
.supremacy. 
Spencer takes refuge in a Dual principle. — Hence, the real 
unifying principle, whatever it may be, is not that of 
evolution. 
The evolution principle is besides in discord from our 
intuitions ; for it labels as “illusions” the beliefs in a conscious 
Self and personal Identity and Free-will — things which our 
intuitions tell us are facts and certainly true. The axioms — 
•“ Like (or same), Cause produces like (or same) Effect,” “ Like 
{or same) Effect is produced by like (or same) Cause ” — axioms 
with the authority of intuitions, lying at the basis of all 
experimental knowledge — are denied by evolutionism. 
The Causation Axioms. — The affirmation that one and the 
same animal has produced two such very different creatures as 
man and the “ anthropoid ” ape, denies the first axiom ; and the 
affirmation that the particular species of creature called the 
horse has been produced from two (or more) very different 
kinds of parentage, denies the second. 
Thus, evolution does not unify knowledge in accordance with 
our intuitions. 
The Inquiry Answered. — We are now in a position to answer 
the inquiry with which our investigation began. Is “ Evo- 
lution ” a Philosophy ? Does “ Evolution ” (unless theistic) 
account for the Origin of things ? Does any theory of 
“ Evolution ” Explain the facts of nature ? Does any theory of 
“ Evolution ” Unify knoivledge in accordance with our intuitions ? 
Taking fair note of the statements of evolutionists themselves, 
we have seen that the answer has, in each case, been in the 
negative. Judged by these three tests of a sound philosophy, “ Evo- 
lution ” must, on a fair review of the evidence, be condemned. 
* It is also of course, illogical. The argument is — all Derived things 
are (some) Similar things, therefore all Similar things are Derived, 
t First Principles. 
