, 1879-05-03
MICHIGAN PHILOSOPHY.

A DOCUMENT LIKELY TO PROVOKE DISCUSSION
10 The Editor af The Tribune
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich, April 2B.-Here follows
full answer to every question ever debated in
The Home, and plain guide for correctly
predicting the general social acceptance or re-
lection Of anything whatsoever
Grant the assumption that every conscious
existence desires perpetuation-
The corollary that society, which is an aggre-
cation Of conscious existences, rejects annihila-
ton and desires pcrpetuatlou, is obvious.
Again, that which does not desire perpetua-
ton soon disappears; constant effort is needed
for the continuance OF individual existence;
whatever does not exert itself to that end soon
lacks means of existence and consequently per-
iGhes.
An unyarylng experience, dating from the
first drath to the present time, proves the
certainty OF the death of the Individual; hence
tho desire for continued individual existence,
baked By the certainty Of death, is metamor-,
phosed into two simila1s-the desire for spirit
ual existence Of the individual after physical
death, and the desire for the perpetuation Of
kind By and through direct descendants.
The first similar gives rise to religion. which is
founded in faith, conviction, and revelation, and
lcu. Is wholly outside the domain OF reason.
and consequently not to be touched here.
The second similar, however, has an actual
realization to which every infant oear8 lntanGl-
ble Witness.
Hence, clearly, the universal and dominant de-
sire OF tie whole human race, that Of continued
existence, finds its only certain aud tangible
qualification in reproduction.
Coudcusng aud transposlng gives The
Descendant as the chief desire Of the human
race.
For the sake OF au arbitrary significance. let us
say tile Universal Babe.
~ e$
The child must be such as is best calculated to
sustain itself, and hence reproduce itself.
Grant these axior:s. Like begets Hike. The
human race Is supported By agriculture. Tha.
which dies before maturity cannot REPRODUCE
itself These give Immediately the following:
Only such individuals as eau lire oy farming, OF
through the wants Of the farmer, can exist.
The brcvity OF this article forbids anplihcat'on
results must follow reasoning without A!nstra-
ton. We hare, then, for the first inevitable
menta, trait Of Inc Universal Babe, q desire and
capacity for useful iabor.
III tie production Of the Babe very old laws
SRI followed. Society is hence, hrst OF AL, con-
seryaysc. Genius creates new things. Con-
servutl5m opposes new things Hence the sec
ond inevitable mental Characteristic of the Uni"
vcreul Babe, an ordinary and commonplace
mind, as opposed to mind extraordinary II
some direction, which gives the unusual deyel
opueut known as genius.
Genius does not favor reproduction; the dt
rec: line Of genius expires at farthest in three
generations, and these generations are moi
Eeniuses.
Ne have therefore US the absolutely ccrtair
characteristics OF the Universal Babe dlspo
sito1 To industry. average mental powers no'
INCREASING in successive generations, aud gen
crai inclination to follow lawful pursuits.
The social characteristics OF the Universal
Babe will be, for the male, admiration for the
female, disposition to attach himself to sin
Gle one Of the opposite sex, aud concealed in
fidelity to that one II the attachment be uisde
perpetual BY social decree.
Since like begets like, it follows that the malt
will nave IN admiration for the Whole female
r,;e. irrespective OF individuals; but II this ad
1niratiou be not coupled with precisely op
posed disposition to attach himself to Ont