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CONTENTS
B4263 18
CHAPTER I.
EVOLUTION AND BEGINNINGS.
Evolution the working hypothesis of scientific men-
Evolution as a dogmatic faith-Truth of evolution-
The primitive nebulosity-Spectrum analysis-Star
systems-Professor Karl Pearson on lifeless chaotic
mass-Chaos unthinkable-Homogeneousness--Evo-
lution must commence somewhere-Its commence-
ment a relative unity.
CHAPTER II.
EVOLUTION AND LAW.
Nature is what is fixed, stated, settled-Law and hypo-
thesis-The nebular theory-Its plausibilities and its
difficulties-The nebular theory and evolution-It
involves a rational system-The theistic argument-
Continuity-Evolution a real process- "Instability
of the homogeneous "-Multiplication of effects—
"Is the effect more complex than the cause?"-
Criticism of this statement.
CHAPTER III.
NATURE AND INTELLIGIBILITY.
Additional factors-Transition from physics to chemistry-
Chemical elements--Their character, relations, adap-
tations, periodicity-Rational character of these rela-
tions-Nature is intelligible, and therefore related to
intelligence-Attempts at explanation-The chemical
elements exist in the unity of one system.
MRAGOCS
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CHAPTER IV.
THE STRIFE AGAINST PURPOSE.
Is the issue raised by evolution new or old?-Scope of
evolution-Is evolution self-explanatory ?-Fiske on
teleology, against and for-Order and purpose-
Efficient and final causes-Caprice-Spinoza on final
causes - Mathematics - Purposiveness-The same
facts and laws appear from the point of view of cause
and of purpose-Chance or purpose
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CHAPTER V.
EVOLUTION AND CREATION.
History of the earth-Evolution as seen in geologic eras
-Continuity of the process-Succession-Advance
and preparation for advance-Physics and geology—
Some unsettled questions-Professor Caird on evolu-
tion from two points of view-At the beginning or
at the end, which ?-Is the issue arbitrary arrange-
ment versus evolution ?-No: creation by slow process
is creation-Illustrations-Mechanics and purpose
once more
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CHAPTER VI.
ORGANIC EVOLUTION.
Statement by Professor Ray Lankester-New sets of terms
used in biology-Why are there new terms?---Dr.
Burdon Sanderson-Darwinism-Variation, struggle
for existence, natural selection, transmission—
Anthropomorphic character of the process-Malthu-
sianism-Utilitarianism-What is natural selection?
-Comparision with the process of denudation in
geology by Mr. J. T. Cunningham-Darwin on the
eye-Professor Huxley's reproduction of chance-
Organic evolution likely true, but its factors not yet
discovered.
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CHAPTER VII.
ORGANIC EVOLUTION (continued).
Biology before and after Darwin-Physical continuity of
life-Laws and conditions of life-Adequacy or
inadequacy of natural selection ?--Inter-relations of
life-Professor Geddes on anthropomorphism of the
nineteenth century and of the eighteenth-Weismann
-Natural selection is elimination of the unfit-
Oscillation between natural selection as negative
and as positive-Poulton, "that selection is examina-
tion”—Teleology run mad-Mimicry-Search after
utility—Mutual benefit of species in co-operation—
Illustration-Struggle for existence thus modified--
SUPER-ORGANIC EVOLUTION.
Controversy regarding heredity-Spencer and Weis-
mann-Machinery of evolution defective-Limits of
organic evolution-Man does not modify himself,
but modifies his environment-Survival of the fittest
explained by Huxley and by Spencer-Evolution
does not account for advance-Illustration of man's
power of modifying his environment-Results .
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CHAPTER IX.
EVOLUTION AND PSYCHOLOGY.
Human and animal intelligence-Rational self-con-
sciousness-Habit-Feelings, emotions, appetites in
rational beings and in irrational-Differences in
kind and in degree-Romanes and Spencer-Can
feelings make a consciousness ?-The self-Genesis
of self according to Romanes and Spencer-Unity
of human nature-Russel Wallace's deistic view-
Creation is continuous-Results
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CHAPTER X.
EVOLUTION AND ETHICS.
Ethics of evolution-Professor Huxley's ethical ideal-
Whence derived?-Not from cosmic process, not
from Greek or Roman ethics, nor from ordinary
human ethics-Ethical life: what it is-Struggle
for existence partial in cosmos; at its fiercest in
human life-Spheres of human conduct non-
moralised-Moral ideals-Moral obligation-The
Christian ethical ideal-Its acknowledged supre-
macy-Its character-Recognition of it-Not derived
from evolution-Christian ethics both test and goal
of ethical evolution
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CHAPTER XI.
EVOLUTION AND RELIGION.
The Christian religion-The Christian goal of life-
Fellowship with God-Christian religious ideal real-
ised in Jesus Christ-Immanence of God-Christ not
evolved-Evolution holds for all others-The ghost
theory of religion-Spencer's reconciliation of
science and religion-Criticism-Worship for an-
cestors distinguished from worship of ancestors—
Evolved conduct and evolved belief-Universality of
religion-Manifestations of religion--Correspond-
ence with reality-Eternal element in religious
emotion-Christianity and evolution-Analogy be-
tween evolution in all spheres and the evolution of
Christian life
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