CAUSES OF SCIENTIFIC KXOU'LEDGE 273

has been due to what we must call chance that is, not to

any rational cause. The essence of the hypothesis is the

origin of species by the fortuitous action of the destructive

forces of nature on individuals which differ by innate,

indefinite, haphazard variations in all directions. Purposeless

energy is conceived as the cause of the variations, and the

selection of certain kinds is also conceived of as due to

the chance action of physical forces and of other organisms.

By this expression we mean, of course, that the cause of

variation is thus deemed to be not only unknown, but to be

due to no definite law which is the outcome of any kind or

sort of intelligent energy. By this system, then, unreason

may be regarded as practically lord of the universe, and

the source of all the beauties and harmonies which exist in

organic nature.

The above philosophical conception, which underlies the

Darwinian theory, has a very distinct though indirect bear-

ing on Epistemology, as we shall see later on.

We must now return to the consideration of the asserted

genesis by " Natural Selection " of the inevitable character

of our perceptions of an external, extended world. The

main answer to this objection is the answer which we shall

shortly give to all the theories concerning the origin of

human knowledge. It consists in pointing out that what

is supremely important is not the origin of knowledge but

the grounds of knowledge the reasons why it should and

must be confided in and trusted. It is strange that so many

persons should be blind to this fact, which, in our eyes, is

so obvious a truth.

But, putting aside for the present this reply, let us con-

sider whether we possess any knowledge which could not

have been due to the action of "Natural Selection" upon

minute variations in the clearness and extent of our per-

ceptions.

has been due to what we must call chance that is, not to

any rational cause. The essence of the hypothesis is the

origin of species by the fortuitous action of the destructive

forces of nature on individuals which differ by innate,

indefinite, haphazard variations in all directions. Purposeless

energy is conceived as the cause of the variations, and the

selection of certain kinds is also conceived of as due to

the chance action of physical forces and of other organisms.

By this expression we mean, of course, that the cause of

variation is thus deemed to be not only unknown, but to be

due to no definite law which is the outcome of any kind or

sort of intelligent energy. By this system, then, unreason

may be regarded as practically lord of the universe, and

the source of all the beauties and harmonies which exist in

organic nature.

The above philosophical conception, which underlies the

Darwinian theory, has a very distinct though indirect bear-

ing on Epistemology, as we shall see later on.

We must now return to the consideration of the asserted

genesis by " Natural Selection " of the inevitable character

of our perceptions of an external, extended world. The

main answer to this objection is the answer which we shall

shortly give to all the theories concerning the origin of

human knowledge. It consists in pointing out that what

is supremely important is not the origin of knowledge but

the grounds of knowledge the reasons why it should and

must be confided in and trusted. It is strange that so many

persons should be blind to this fact, which, in our eyes, is

so obvious a truth.

But, putting aside for the present this reply, let us con-

sider whether we possess any knowledge which could not

have been due to the action of "Natural Selection" upon

minute variations in the clearness and extent of our per-

ceptions.