The Ethical Aspects of Evolution Regarded as the Parallel Growth of Opposite Tendencies (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1908. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER in VALUES AND FINAL CAUSES The foregoing argument has led to the conclusion that life, taken as a whole, and universally, and without reference to individual lives, or particular periods of history, comprises, at all stages of evolution, equal proportions of good and evil, whatever meaning we may give to those terms; and is not, therefore, in itself, and generally, of any value, whether positive or negative. But, it was pointed out, all are agreed that some lives are more valuable than others, and it follows that such lives must rise above the general level of indifference, and be worth living; whereas others, which fall below that level, are not worth living, and should be declined by every wise man, could he enter on them with a free choice, and with his eyes open. Our argument will have little practical use, unless we can determine what is understood by the term value. Perhaps the most commonly accepted definition is approximation to an ideal, and we may begin with an examination of this concept. Riickert tells us Vor jedem steht ein Bild des, das er werden soil; Solang er das nicht ist, ist nicht sein Friede voll. And if by this it is understood that every man strives to better himself after some pattern or another, the statement may be accepted as generally true. But it is not true that every man strives to improve himself after one and the same pattern. Even in the same age and the same society we find rival ideals contesting the field. The ideal of John Wesley was not the same as that of David Hume. There was, in fact, hardly a single point of resemblance; and between successive ages the discordance is yet more striking. We may quote Mr. Spencer as representative of the period we have barely left behind us: 'Bounding out of bed after an unb...