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from which it sprang； and； like it； endowed with the potentiality of
giving rise to a similar cycle of manifestations。 Neither the poetic
nor the scientific imagination is put to much strain in the search
after analogies with this process of going forth and； as it were；
returning to the starting…point。 It may be likened to the ascent and
descent of a slung stone； or the course of an arrow along its
trajectory。 Or we may say that the living energy takes first an upward
and then a downward road。 Or it may seem preferable to compare the
expansion of the germ into the full…grown plant； to the unfolding of a
fan； or to the rolling forth and widening of a stream； and thus to
arrive at the conception of 〃development；〃 or 〃evolution。〃 Here； as
elsewhere； names are 〃noise and smoke〃； the important point is to have
a clear and adequate conception of the fact signified by a name。 And；
in this case； the fact is the Sisyphaean process； in the course of
which； the living and growing plant passes from the relative
simplicity and latent potentiality of the seed to the full epiphany of
a highly differentiated type； thence to fall back to simplicity and
potentiality。
＇49＇ The value of a strong intellectual grasp of the nature of this
process lies in the circumstance that what is true of the bean is true
of living things in general。 From very low forms up to the highestin
the animal no less than in the vegetable kingdomthe process of life
presents the same appearance ＇Note 1＇ of cyclical evolution。 Nay； we
have but to cast our eyes over the rest of the world and cyclical
change presents itself on all sides。 It meets us in the water that
flows to the sea and returns to the springs； in the heavenly bodies
that wax and wane； go and return to their places； in the inexorable
sequence of the ages of man's life； in that successive rise； apogee；
and fall of dynasties and of states which is the most prominent topic
of civil history。
As no man fording a swift stream can dip his foot twice into the same
water； so no man can； with exactness； affirm of anything in the
sensible world that it is。＇Note 2＇ As he utters the words； nay； as he
thinks them； the predicate ceases to be applicable； the present has
become the past； the 〃is〃 should be 〃was。〃 And the more we learn of
the nature of things； the more evident is it that what we call rest is
only unperceived activity； that seeming peace is silent but strenuous
battle。 In every part； at every moment； the state of the cosmos is the
expression of a transitory adjustment of contending forces； a scene；
of strife； in which all the combatants fall in turn。 What is ＇50＇ true
of each part； is true of the whole。 Natural knowledge tends more and
more to the conclusion that 〃all the choir of heaven and furniture of
the earth〃 are the transitory forms of parcels of cosmic substance
wending along the road of evolution； from nebulous potentiality；
through endless growths of sun and planet and satellite； through all
varieties of matter； through infinite diversities of life and thought；
possibly； through modes of being of which we neither have a
conception； nor are competent to form any； back to the indefinable
latency from which they arose。 Thus the most obvious attribute of the
cosmos is its impermanence。 It assumes the aspect not so much of a
permanent entity as of a changeful process in which naught endures
save the flow of energy and the rational order which pervades it。
We have climbed our bean…stalk and have reached a wonderland in which
the common and the familiar become things new and strange。 In the
exploration of the cosmic process thus typified； the highest
intelligence of man finds inexhaustible employment； giants are subdued
to our service； and the spiritual affections of the contemplative
philosopher are engaged by beauties worthy of eternal constancy。
But there is another aspect of the cosmic process； so perfect as a
mechanism； so beautiful as a work of art。 Where the cosmopoietic energy
＇51＇ works through sentient beings； there arises； among its other
manifestations； that which we call pain or suffering。 This baleful
product of evolution increases in quantity and in intensity； with
advancing grades of animal organization； until it attains its highest
level in man。 Further； the consummation is not reached in man； the
mere animal； nor in man； the whole or half savage； but only in man；
the member of an organized polity。 And it is a necessary consequence
of his attempt to live in this way； that is； under those conditions
which are essential to the full development of his noblest powers。
Man； the animal； in fact； has worked his way to the headship of the
sentient world； and has become the superb animal which he is； in
virtue of his success in the struggle for existence。 The conditions
having been of a certain order； man's organization has adjusted itself
to them better than that of his competitors in the cosmic strife。 In
the case of mankind； the self…assertion； the unscrupulous seizing upon
all that can be grasped； the tenacious holding of all that can be
kept； which constitute the essence of the struggle for existence； have
answered。 For his successful progress； throughout the savage state；
man has been largely indebted to those qualities which he shares with
the ape and the tiger； his exceptional physical organization； his
cunning； his sociability； his curiosity； and his imitativeness； his
ruthless and ＇52＇ ferocious destructiveness when his anger is roused
by opposition。
But； in proportion as men have passed from anarchy to social
organization； and in proportion as civilization has grown in worth；
these deeply ingrained serviceable qualities have become defects。
After the manner of successful persons； civilized man would gladly
kick down the ladder by which he has climbed。 He would be only too
pleased to see 〃the ape and tiger die。〃 But they decline to suit his
convenience； and the unwelcome intrusion of these boon companions of
his hot youth into the ranged existence of civil life adds pains and
griefs； innumerable and immeasurably great； to those which the cosmic
process necessarily brings on the mere animal。 In fact； civilized man
brands all these ape and tiger promptings with the name of sins； he
punishes many of the acts which flow from them as crimes； and； in
extreme cases； he does his best to put an end to the survival of the
fittest of former days by axe and rope。
I have said that civilized man has reached this point； the assertion
is perhaps too broad and general； I had better put it that ethical man
has attained thereto。 The science of ethics professes to furnish us
with a reasoned rule of life； to tell us what is right action and why
it is so。 Whatever differences of opinion may exist among experts
there is a general consensus that the ape and ＇53＇ tiger methods of
the struggle for existence are not reconcilable with sound ethical
principles。
The hero of our story descended the bean…stalk； and came back to the
common world； where fare and work were alike hard； where ugly
competitors were much commoner than beautiful princesses； and where
the everlasting battle with self was much l