evolution and ethics and other essays-第31章
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certain school to whom it affords still greater satisfaction。 Consider
what electioneering agents the captains of the Salvation Army；
scattered through all our towns； and directed from a political
〃bureau〃 in London； would make！ Think how political adversaries could
be harassed by our local attorney〃tribune of the people；〃 I mean；
and how a troublesome man； on the other side； could be 〃hunted ＇194＇
down〃 upon any convenient charge； whether true or false； brought by
our Vigilance…familiar！**
* See Letter VIII。
** See Letter II。
I entirely acquit Mr。 Booth of any complicity in far…reaching schemes
of this kind； but I did not write idly when； in my first letter； I
gave no vague warning of what might grow out of the organised force；
drilled in the habit of unhesitating obedience； which he has created。
＇195＇
INTRODUCTORY ESSAY。
THE STRUGGLE FOR EXISTENCE IN HUMAN SOCIETY。
＇1888＇。
The vast and varied procession of events； which we call Nature； affords
a sublime spectacle and an inexhaustible wealth of attractive problems
to the speculative observer。 If we confine our attention to that
aspect which engages the attention of the intellect； nature appears a
beautiful and harmonious whole； the incarnation of a faultless logical
process； from certain premises in the past to an inevitable conclusion
in the future。 But if it be regarded from a less elevated； though more
human； point of view； if our moral sympathies are allowed to influence
our judgment； and we permit ourselves to criticise our great mother as
we criticise one another； then our verdict； at least so far as
sentient nature is concerned； can hardly be so favourable。
In sober truth； to those who have made a study of the phenomena of life
as they exhibited by the higher forms of the animal world； ＇196＇ the
optimistic dogma； that this is the best of all possible worlds； will
seem little better than a libel upon possibility。 It is really only
another instance to be added to the many extant； of the audacity of a
priori speculators who； having created God in their own image； find no
difficulty in assuming that the Almighty must have been actuated by
the same motives as themselves。 They are quite sure that； had any
other course been practicable； He would no more have made infinite
suffering a necessary ingredient of His handiwork than a respectable
philosopher would have done the like。
But even the modified optimism of the time…honoured thesis of
physico…theology； that the sentient world is； on the whole； regulated
by principles of benevolence； does but ill stand the test of impartial
confrontation with the facts of the case。 No doubt it is quite true
that sentient nature affords hosts of examples of subtle contrivances
directed towards the production of pleasure or the avoidance of pain；
and it may be proper to say that these are evidences of benevolence。
But if so； why is it not equally proper to say of the equally numerous
arrangements； the no less necessary result of which is the production
of pain； that they are evidences of malevolence？
If a vast amount of that which； in a piece of human workmanship； we
should call skill； is ＇197＇ visible in those parts of the organization
of a deer to which it owes its ability to escape from beasts of prey；
there is at least equal skill displayed in that bodily mechanism of
the wolf which enables him to track； and sooner or later to bring
down； the deer。 Viewed under the dry light of science； deer and wolf
are alike admirable； and； if both were non…sentient automata； there
would be nothing to qualify our admiration of the action of the one on
the other。 But the fact that the deer suffers； while the wolf inflicts
suffering； engages our moral sympathies。 We should call men like the
deer innocent and good； men such as the wolf malignant and bad； we
should call those who defended the deer and aided him to escape brave
and compassionate； and those who helped the wolf in his bloody work
base and cruel。 Surely； if we transfer these judgments to nature
outside the world of man at all； we must do so impartially。 In that
case； the goodness of the right hand which helps the deer； and the
wickedness of the left hand which eggs on the wolf； will neutralize
one another： and the course of nature will appear to be neither moral
nor immoral； but non…moral。
This conclusion is thrust upon us by analogous facts in every part of
the sentient world； yet； inasmuch as it not only jars upon prevalent
prejudices； but arouses the natural dislike to that which is painful；
much ingenuity has been exercised in devising an escape from it。
From the theological side； we are told that ＇198＇ this is a state of
probation； and that the seeming injustices and immoralities of nature
will be compensated by and by。 But how this compensation is to be
effected； in the case of the great majority of sentient things； is not
clear。 I apprehend that no one is seriously prepared to maintain that
the ghosts of all the myriads of generations of herbivorous animals
which lived during the millions of years of the earth's duration；
before the appearance of man； and which have all that time been
tormented and devoured by carnivores； are to be compensated by a
perennial existence in clover； while the ghosts of carnivores are to
go to some kennel where there is neither a pan of water nor a bone
with any meat on it。 Besides； from the point of view of morality； the
last stage of things would be worse than the first。 For the
carnivores； however brutal and sanguinary； have only done that which；
if there is any evidence of contrivance in the world； they were
expressly constructed to do。 Moreover； carnivores and herbivores
alike have been subject to all the miseries incidental to old age；
disease； and over…multiplication； and both might well put in a claim
for 〃compensation〃 on this score。
On the evolutionist side； on the other hand； we are told to take
comfort from the reflection that the terrible struggle for existence
tends to final good； and that the suffering of the ancestor is paid
for by the increased perfection of the progeny。 There would be
something in this argument if； in ＇199＇ Chinese fashion； the present
generation could pay its debts to its ancestors； otherwise it is not
clear what compensation the Eohippus gets for his sorrows in the fact
that； some millions of years afterwards； one of his descendants wins
the Derby。 And； again； it is an error to imagine that evolution
signifies a constant tendency to increased perfection。 That process
undoubtedly involves a constant remodelling of the organism in
adaptation to new conditions； but it depends on the nature of those
conditions whether the direction of the modifications effected shall
be upward or downward。 Retrogressive is as practicable as progressive
metamorphosis。 If what the physical philosophers tell us； that our
globe has been in a state of fusion； and； like the sun； is gradually
cooling down； is true； then the time must come when evolution will
mean adaptation to an universal winter； and all forms of life will die
out； except such low and simple organisms as the Diatom of the arctic
and antarctic ice and the Protococcus of the red snow。 If our globe is
proceeding from a condition in which it was too hot to support any but
the lowest living thing to a condition in which it will be too cold to
permit of the existence of any others； the course of life upon its
surface must describe a trajectory like that of a ball fired from a
mortar； and the sinking half of that course is as much a part of the
general process of evolution as the rising。
From the point of view of the moralist the ＇200＇ animal world is on
about the same level as a gladiator's show。 The creatures are fairly
well treated； and set to fightwhereby the strongest； the swiftest；
and the cunningest live to fight another day。 The spectator has no
need to turn his thumbs down； as no quarter is given。 He must admit
that the skill and training displayed are wonderful。 But he must shut
his eyes if he would not see that more or less enduring suffering is
the meed of b
