Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-03-04
Science and Morality.

6oldwln Smith in The Contemporary Review.
heroic physcian-we remember to have
come across the case in some Italian history
finding that a new and mysterious plague is
ravaging his city, deyotes himself to the preser-
walton of his fellow-citizens, shuts himself up
with subject, takes his observations, consigns
them to writing and feeling the poison in his
own veins, goes calmly to the hospital to die
On the other hand, man, between whom anlha
great fortune there stands single life. takes
that life in such way as to escape suspicion,
gets possession of the fortune, and instead of a
life of dru dgery to which he would otherwise
have been doomed passes his days in the healthy
development of all his faculties, in the enjoy
ment of every pleasure. intellectual and social.
as well as physical amidst the troops of friends
and grateful dependents with which his hOspi-
tally and muniticence surround him, and after
an existence prolonged by comfort ease and
immunity from care, dies universally honored
and lamented. Why is the first man happy and
the second miserable? Theism, on it's own
hypothesis. has an answer ready What is the
answer of AgnOStc science? We must prefix an
epithet, because without it distinction drawn
between Science and Theism begs the question.
A rational Theist maintains that Theism is
Science.
We are likely to find the answer, if anywhere.
in the data of Ethics" by Mr.. Herbert Spen-
cer-a book belonging to a series which has
earned for its author. from Darwin himself the
title OF ''our great philosopher" and which
everyone, whether he accepts its general con-
cusions or not will allow to exhibit powers of
acute criticism, and to be written in most
lucid and attractive style.
MI. Spencer commences, as might have been
expected. not with humanity but with the mol
fuses, and treats men simply as the last Che saws
the highest but we have caredt to enter
against that phrase) of the evolutionary series
His tests OF right and wrong in the actions of
the most evolved of animals, as in the case of
the least evolved, are pleasure and pain-peas-
.ure denOtng that the action is favorable, pain
that it is unfavorable. to the vitality of the
organism. His supreme end" is Increased
DURATION" together, if we understand his
phraseology rightly, with increased intensity,
"of hfe An authoritative conscience. duty.
virtue. obligation, principle, and recttude of
motive, no more enter into his definitions or
form parts OF his system than does the religious
sanction of that which constitutes moral
beauty he has no word. Actions of kind purely
pleasant are absolutely right The highest in
stance of right conduct is mother sucking
her child, because there is at once to the mo-
ther qualification. and to the child satisfaction
OF appetite.-a satisfaction which accompanies
furtherance OF life, growth. and increasing en-
loyiGent That the action is mere perform
ance OF function of nature. Involving the ex-
ertion OF no high quality, does not lower its
place in the scale. Conduct. even the nobIest
and most heroic, which has any cOncomitant of
pain or OF painful consequence, is, to that ex-
tent, wrong and the highest claim to be made
for such conduct is that it is the least wrong
which under the conditions is possible We
need not shrink from the hypothesis, or even
commit ourselves to the rejection OF it. Posi-
o!y the conclusion ultimately reached may be
that man is nothing but the highest mammal.
and in that case the hypothesis will be true.
me present question is, whether it atfOrdsa new
basis for morality
Applying the test then. to the cases men
toned, we find that the action of the Italian
physician is at least partly wrong; it gives hun
pain, and instead of prOlonging or intensifyino.
terminates his own life; it is officially inferior to
that OF kaflir woman sucking her child. On
the other hand, the action of the murderer is at
least partly right: to himself it is unuuestiOn-
ably productive of great deal of pleasure and
by releasing him from toll which might have
been injurious to his health, it very likely pro-
longs his life, and certainly ntensiies his enjoy
lnent. The benefit extends to his family, and
to all those who will profit by his judicious and
liberal use OF the wealth which comes into his
hands If the murdered man was a fool. Mig
gard or selfish voluptuary, who would have
made no use of his riches or have used them ill,
1t really may be said that all the visible and cal
culable consequences of the action are good
One human life, indeed, is sacrificed, but
from Mr.. Spencer's point of view nothing
can be said about the indefeasbe sac
redness OF human life. Sacredness in general
and the sacredness of human life in particular
place in his philosophy. Man may be the ''high-
est OF mammals but is there any assignable
reason why you should not put him. as well as
any other announcement mammal. out of your
way1 When stag cores his fellowship to |
death, that he may have exclusive possession of
the does, we do not think that he does anything |
wrong. but, on the contrary, regard his action |
as Il striking instance of the law of natural Sc
lection carried into effect through the struggle
for existence. Mr.. Spencer may say and does |
say, that few icons hence, by the progress of
evolution. or, to use his own formula, by ''our |
advance toward heterogeneity," matters will be |
SO adjusted, and men will have become SO sensi- |
bic OF atrustc pleasure that it will be not less
disagreeable to you to kill your neighbor than |
to be killed yourself. But the murderer. if this |
is pressed upon him. will say: "a few aons |
hence shall be out of the way: will do that |
which, as it brings me present pleasure, with |
increased duration and intensity of fe is. as far !
as am concerned, right" 1t is not very ap- !
parent what answer could be made.
Brother Gardner on Averaging.
'What was gwine to remark" said Brother
Gardner, as the back end of Paradise Hall grew
quiet, was to say to you dat de pussOn who
expects to enjoy dis life must make up his
mind to strike de world ON de gineral average
He who neglects to do so will meet wild daily
sorrows and disapiRtments. Doan' expect dat