tion of the Darwinian theory, comparing and contrasting it with the more general doctrine of evolutionism, whose history and meaning are also briefly traced. Then follow chapters on the philosophical interpretation and the ethical bearings of Darwinism. The fifth chapter is devoted to an examination of the ethical speculations which Darwin grafted upon his biological science. These chapters confirming the conclusion reached in the first chapter, that a scientific, as opposed to a speculative, ethic can be constructed only by adopting the historical method, the last chapter has to show what light may be thrown upon ethical problems by tracing the actual development of moral ideals and institutions, of which, for obvious reasons, the domestic virtues are here taken as typical illustration. The work is primarily the outcome of my own reflective needs. It has cleared up in my own mind the confusion between guesses and facts, which is "the Great Bad" in evolutionary ethics. I am not without hope that it may also prove clarifying to other minds. Not, of course, that I would presume to instruct trained philosophical experts; but I have in view the increasingly large number of intelligent men and women who, without making a special study of philosophy, would fain comprehend the significance for morals of that evolutionary theory which has revolutionized modern science and culture. This alone would have been sufficient motive for the avoidance of obscure and technical phraseology and the cultivation of a popular style; but, apart from that consideration, I hold that the first duty of any philosophical writer is to make himself generally intelligible, and I am of the opinion that there is no theory, or criticism, or system (not even Kant's or Hegel's), that cannot be clearly expressed in a language which in Locke's hands was strong and homely, in Berkeley's rich and subtle, in Hume's easy, graceful, and finished, and in all three alike plain, transparent, and unmistakable. This study of Darwinism in ethics being so largely of a reflective character, reference to other works has not in general been considered necessary. I wish here, however, to acknowledge especially my indebtedness to Darwin, whose ethical speculations, illusory as I now hold them, I have found more stimulating than any other similar work since the time of Kant. CORNELL UNIVERSITY, August 22, 1887. J. G. S. CONTENTS. METHODS OF ETHICS, EVOLUTIONARY AND OTHER. Diversity of Ethical Theories-Need of a Critique of Ethics as a Science-Is Ethics a Science of the same Type as Logic? It has not in general been so regarded-Locke's Conception of Ethics as a Demonstrative Science, like Mathematics, rests on a Misunderstanding of the Procedure of Mathe- matics, and it assumes, besides, Theological First Principles-Ethics as a Natural Science-Spen- cer's Reconstruction of Ethics on the Law of Uni- versal Causation, after the Model of Astronomy, an Illusion-Is Ethics, then, if not a Deductive, at least an Empirical, Physical Science ?-Its Limita- tions in Comparison with Biology-Ethics, as a Science, is a Branch of History-What passes for the "Science of Ethics" is a Medley of Specula- tions—The Highly Speculative Character of Cur- rent Naturalistic, Evolutionary Ethics-An Under- standing with Darwinism the Preliminary to a "The Origin of Species "-Popular View of Darwin- Five Points of the Modern Theory anticipated by the Greeks -Introduction of the Notion of Evolu- tion into Modern Science by Kant, Goethe, Eras- mus Darwin, Saint Hilaire, Lamarck, and Lyell— The Problem of Darwin-Importance of his Ob- servations on the Formation of Domestic Breeds by Man's Conscious Selection-Natural Selection suggested by Malthus's Essay-Fecundity of Or- ganisms-Struggle for Life-Survival of Favored Individuals begins the Formation of Species- Man's Relation to the Apes--Darwinism distin- guished from Evolutionism-How regarded by Helmholtz, Virchow, Wallace, and Huxley-Net PAGE Darwin gives a Scientific Explanation of the Origin of fessed Theism-His Mechanical Philosophy- Teleology and Darwinism-Evolutionism for- merly Teleological-Has the Instinct of the Cuckoo a Fortuitous Origin ?—Natural Selection, not a Creative, but a Sifting Process-Does not explain the Formation of the Eye-Variations PAGE The Problem-The Moment of Utility in Natural Se- lection-The Utility of Intelligence and Morality -Evolutionary Biology leads to Utilitarian Ethics -Utilitarianism Old and New-Evolutiono util- itarianism explains the Innateness, Simplicity, Universality, and Obligation of Moral Laws-What Evolutiono-utilitarianism assumes: first, the Derivative Character of Morality; secondly, the Ultimateness of Pleasure or some other End; thirdly, the Fortuitous Origin of Morality through a Process purely Mechanical-Man an Automaton, with Intelligence and Conscience as Accidents-Speculative Objections—Practical Ob- jections drawn from our Sense of Duty and Right -But this Sense explained away by Spencer and Guyau-Fallacy in their Theory of its Origin and Future Decline-Mechanical Metaphysics, not Evolutionary Science, their Basis-Darwinism compatible with a Non-mechanical and Non-for- tuitous Theory of Conscience-Evolution not Revolution-Conscience compared with the Eye and with the Intellect-All Useful because |
