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Evolution At The Bar by Philip Mauro
Chapter VIII
Evolution In Human Affairs
We come now to a matter of deepest interest and importance; for when we turn our attention to the realm of human affairs and activities, we observe a state of things which is in the greatest possible contrast to what is seen elsewhere among living species. It is exceedingly important, with a view to a right understanding of the theory of Evolution, that this contrast be noted, and its significance be comprehended.
Briefly stated the contrast lies in this, that Evolution is the method of working which prevails everywhere, and always has, in hitman affairs, whereas outside of human affairs there is not a trace of it to be found in all the universe. By "human affairs" we mean, those activities wherein man himself is the designer and agent. For there is a realm wherein man is the directing and controlling authority, wherein he has free scope to try out all his ideas, and to exert all his powers in every direction.
Man, in all his operations, and in every department of his diversified activities, is progressive. Other living creatures are absolutely unprogressive. Man develops arts, industries, social institutions, governments, etc., etc., by trying experiments, discovering defects and weaknesses, devising remedies, and so on, the changes being so rapid and so extensive that each generation lives in a different industrial, political, social and religious environment, to that of its predecessors.
In Society at large we find a typical illustration. It is one employed by Herbert Spencer. He says (First Principles ch. 14. Sec. 3) "In the social organism integrative changes are clearly and abundantly exemplified." And so beyond dispute they are.
Mr. Spencer cites the development of" Society," beginning with wandering families, then tribes, then stronger tribes formed by union with or subjugation of others, until the combinations became relatively permanent, and ultimately were evolved into States and Nationalities. Nor has this progression ceased; for since Spencer?s time there have been further combinations of nations, and finally a "League of Nations," which will undoubtedly eventuate in the Federation of Kingdoms, symbolically pictured as the Beast in Daniel and Revelation.
The same progression from simple and incoherent beginnings, to conditions relatively complex and coherent, may be traced in every department of human affairs. Whether we examine the industrial groups, the ecclesiastical, the military, the medical, the legal, etc., we find the same progressive development.
Let us consider a few illustrations of this striking law of humanity.
A few centuries ago the crudest implements served the farmer for preparing the soil and gathering his crops. From those simple beginnings have evolved the tractors, harvesters, and other modern wonders of farm-equipment; and the advance has been by slight, progressive changes. Here is Evolution sure enough, and precisely as described by Spencer and other materialists.
So likewise in the department of Locomotion and Transportation, it is easy to trace, between the wheel-barrow and ox-cart of by-gone days, and the auto-car and flying machine of the twentieth century, a connected line of evolutionary progress. And a similar line may be traced from the birch-bark canoe to the Transoceanic liner and the submarine.
If we look along other industrial lines, as milling, printing, paper making, communicating intelligence to distant points, weapons of war, etc., etc., we see the same thing, that is to say, a very crude and imperfect beginning, with a succession of forms, each an improvement upon its predecessors, and with never an end to the development.
Again in the literary field, we can readily trace the activity of man from a simple beginning in oral recitation and manuscript copies on vellum or papyrus, to the manifold present-day output of books, newspapers and other periodicals.
So with the religions of the world. The human element in these has undergone great and progressive changes, both in ideals and in forms and observances; and the progress still continues. Here we have again an instructive contrast; for we can readily compare the development of the religions of the world with the progressive Revelation of the Truth of God. The former follows, like everything else which is under the control of man, a strictly evolutionary course, every new stage involving the destruction of what preceded. The latter is, like everything that comes from God, perfect (as far as it goes) from the start. And, though His Revelation has been given at sundry times and in many distinct parts, yet there is not a trace of Evolution in it; for every part of God?s Revelation remains forever true; and all the parts together unite in perfect agreement to constitute a complete and harmonious system of Truth.
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