evolution and ethics and other essays-第5部分

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a　result　of　the　cosmic　process　working　through　and　by　human　energy　and
intelligence；　and；　as　is　the　case　with　every　other　artificial　thing
set　up　in　the　state　of　nature；　the　influences　of　the　latter；　are
constantly　tending　to　break　it　down　and　destroy　it。　No　doubt；　the
Forth　bridge　and　an　ironclad　in　the　offing；　are；　in　ultimate　resort；
products　of　the　cosmic　process；　as　much　so　as　the　river　which　flows
under　the　one；　or　the　seawater　on　which　the　other　floats。
Nevertheless；　every　breeze　strains　the　bridge　a　little；　every　tide
does　something　to　weaken　its　foundations；　every　change　of　temperature
alters　the　adjustment　of　its　parts；　produces　friction　and　consequent
wear　and　tear。　　From　time　to　time；　the　bridge　must　be　repaired；　just
as　the　ironclad　must　go　into　dock；　simply　because　nature　is　always
tending　to　reclaim　that　which　her　child；　man；　has　borrowed　from　her
and　has　arranged　in　combinations　which　are　not　those　favoured　by　the
general　cosmic　process。

Thus；　it　is　not　only　true　that　the　cosmic　energy；　working　through　man
upon　a　portion　of　＇13＇　the　plant　world；　opposes　the　same　energy　as　it
works　through　the　state　of　nature；　but　a　similar　antagonism　is
everywhere　manifest　between　the　artificial　and　the　natural。　Even　in
the　state　of　nature　itself；　what　is　the　struggle　for　existence　but　the
antagonism　of　the　results　of　the　cosmic　process　in　the　region　of　life；
one　to　another？*

　　　　*　Or　to　put　the　case　still　more　simply。　When　a　man　lays　hold　of
　　　　the　two　ends　of　a　piece　of　string　and　pulls　them；　with　intent
　　　　to　break　it；　the　right　arm　is　certainly　exerted　in　antagonism
　　　　to　the　left　arm；　yet　both　arms　derive　their　energy　from　the
　　　　same　original　source。


　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　IV。

Not　only　is　the　state　of　nature　hostile　to　the　state　of　art　of　the
garden；　but　the　principle　of　the　horticultural　process；　by　which　the
latter　is　created　and　maintained；　is　antithetic　to　that　of　the　cosmic
process。　The　characteristic　feature　of　the　latter　is　the　intense　and
unceasing　competition　of　the　struggle　for　existence。　The
characteristic　of　the　former　is　the　elimination　of　that　struggle；　by
the　removal　of　the　conditions　which　give　rise　to　it。　The　tendency　of
the　cosmic　process　is　to　bring　about　the　adjustment　of　the　forms　of
plant　life　to　the　current　conditions；　the　tendency　of　the
horticultural　process　is　the　adjustment　of　the　conditions　to　the　needs
of　the　forms　of　plant　life　which　the　gardener　desires　to　raise。

The　cosmic　process　uses　unrestricted　multiplication　＇14＇　as　the　means
whereby　hundreds　compete　for　the　place　and　nourishment　adequate　for
one；　it　employs　frost　and　drought　to　cut　off　the　weak　and　unfortunate；
to　survive；　there　is　need　not　only　of　strength；　but　of　flexibility　and
of　good　fortune。

The　gardener；　on　the　other　hand；　restricts　multiplication；　provides
that　each　plant　shall　have　sufficient　space　and　nourishment；　protects
from　frost　and　drought；　and；　in　every　other　way；　attempts　to　modify
the　conditions；　in　such　a　manner　as　to　bring　about　the　survival　of
those　forms　which　most　nearly　approach　the　standard　of　the　useful　or
the　beautiful；　which　he　has　in　his　mind。

If　the　fruits　and　the　tubers；　the　foliage　and　the　flowers　thus
obtained；　reach；　or　sufficiently　approach；　that　ideal；　there　is　no
reason　why　the　status　quo　attained　should　not　be　indefinitely
prolonged。　So　long　as　the　state　of　nature　remains　approximately　the
same；　so　long　will　the　energy　and　intelligence　which　created　the
garden　suffice　to　maintain　it。　However；　the　limits　within　which　this
mastery　of　man　over　nature　can　be　maintained　are　narrow。　If　the
conditions　of　the　cretaceous　epoch　returned；　I　fear　the　most　skilful
of　gardeners　would　have　to　give　up　the　cultivation　of　apples　and
gooseberries；　while；　if　those　of　the　glacial　period　once　again
obtained；　open　asparagus　beds　would　be　superfluous；　and　the　training
of　fruit　＇15＇　trees　against　the　most　favourable　of　mouth　walls；　a
waste　of　time　and　trouble。

But　it　is　extremely　important　to　note　that；　the　state　of　nature
remaining　the　same；　if　the　produce　does　not　satisfy　the　gardener；　it
may　be　made　to　approach　his　ideal　more　closely。　Although　the　struggle
for　existence　may　be　at　end；　the　possibility　of　progress　remains。　In
discussions　on　these　topics；　it　is　often　strangely　forgotten　that　the
essential　conditions　of　the　modification；　or　evolution；　of　living
things　are　variation　and　hereditary　transmission。　Selection　is　the
means　by　which　certain　variations　are　favoured　and　their　progeny
preserved。　But　the　struggle　for　existence　is　only　one　of　the　means　by
which　selection　may　be　effected。　The　endless　varieties　of　cultivated
flowers；　fruits；　roots；　tubers；　and　bulbs　are　not　products　of
selection　by　means　of　the　struggle　for　existence；　but　of　direct
selection；　in　view　of　an　ideal　of　utility　or　beauty。　Amidst　a　multitude
of　plants；　occupying　the　same　station　and　subjected　to　the　same
conditions；　in　the　garden；　varieties　arise。　The　varieties　tending　in　a
given　direction　are　preserved；　and　the　rest　are　destroyed。　And　the
same　process　takes　place　among　the　varieties　until；　for　example；　the
wild　kale　becomes　a　cabbage；　or　the　wild　Viola　tricolor；　a　prize
pansy。

＇16＇


　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　V。

The　process　of　colonisation　presents　analogies　to　the　formation　of　a
garden　which　are　highly　instructive。　Suppose　a　shipload　of　English
colonists　sent　to　form　a　settlement；　in　such　a　country　as　Tasmania　was
in　the　middle　of　the　last　century。　On　landing；　they　find　themselves　in
the　midst　of　a　state　of　nature；　widely　different　from　that　left　behind
them　in　everything　but　the　most　general　physical　conditions。　The
common　plants；　the　common　birds　and　quadrupeds；　are　as　totally
distinct　as　the　men　from　anything　to　be　seen　on　the　side　of　the　globe
from　which　they　come。　The　colonists　proceed　to　put　an　end　to　this
state　of　things　over　as　large　an　area　as　they　desire　to　occupy。　　They
clear　away　the　native　vegetation；　extirpate　or　drive　out　the　animal
population；　so　far　as　may　be　necessary；　and　take　measures　to　defend
themselves　from　the　re…immigration　of　either。　In　their　place；　they
introduce　English　grain　and　fruit　trees；　English　dogs；　sheep；　cattle；
horses；　and　English　men；　in　fact；　they　set　up　a　new　Flora　and　Fauna　and
a　new　variety　of　mankind；　within　the　old　state　of　nature。　Their　farms
and　pastures　represent　a　garden　on　a　great　scale；　and　themselves　the
gardeners　who　have　to　keep　it　up；　in　watchful　antagonism　to　the　old
regime。　Considered　as　a　whole；　the　colony　is　a　composite　unit
introduced　into　the　old　state　of　nature；　and；　＇17＇　thenceforward；　a
competitor　in　the　struggle　for　existence；　to　conquer　or　be　vanquished。

Under　the　conditions　supposed；　there　is　no　doubt　of　the　result；　if　the
work　of　the　colonists　be　carried　out　energetically　and　with
intelligent　combination　of　all　their　forces。　On　the　other　hand；　if
they　are　slothful；　stupid；　and　careless；　or　if　they　waste　their
energies　in　contests　with　one　another；　the　chances　are　that　the　old
state　of　nature　will　have　the　best　of　it。　The　native　savage　will
destroy　the　immigrant　civilized　man；　of　the　English　animals　and　plants
some　will　be　extirpated　by　their　indigenou