More Criticisms on Darwin, and Administrative Nihilism

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Appleton, 1872 - 85 pages

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Page 57 - But though men when they enter into society give up the equality, liberty, and executive power they had in the state of Nature into the hands of the Society, to be so far disposed of by the legislative as the good of the society shall require, yet it being only with an intention in every one the better to preserve himself, his liberty and property (for no rational creature can be supposed to change his condition with an intention to be worse...
Page 28 - ... be said to be the result of the molecular forces of the protoplasm which displays it. And if so, it must be true, in the same sense and to the same extent, that the thoughts to which I am now giving utterance, and your thoughts regarding them, are the expression- of molecular changes in that matter of life which is the source of our other vital phenomena.
Page 57 - ... legislative or supreme power of any commonwealth is bound to govern by established standing laws, promulgated and known to the people, and not by extemporary decrees; by indifferent and upright judges who are to decide controversies by those laws; and to employ the force of the community at home only in the execution of such laws, or abroad to prevent or redress foreign injuries, and secure the community from inroads and invasion. And all this to be directed to no other end but the peace, safety,...
Page 49 - Citizens, we shall say to them in our tale, you are brothers, yet God has framed you differently. Some of you have the power of command, and in the composition of these he has mingled gold, wherefore also they have the greatest honour; others he has made of silver, to be auxiliaries; others again who are to be husbandmen and craftsmen he has composed of brass and iron; and the species will generally be preserved in the children.
Page 78 - This interesting work — for it is intensely so in its aim, scope, and the ability of its author — treats of what the scientists denominate anthropology, or the natural history of the human species; the complete science of man, body and soul, including sex, temperament, race, civilization, etc.
Page 23 - In addition to the truth of the doctrine of evolution, indeed, one of its greatest merits in my eyes, is the fact that it occupies a position of complete and irreconcilable antagonism to that vigorous and consistent enemy of the highest intellectual, moral, and social life of mankind — the Catholic Church.
Page 66 - Nature into full flower." (Loc. cit. p. 148.) In these passages, as in others of this remarkable tract, Kant anticipates the application of the " struggle for existence " to politics, and indicates the manner in which the evolution of society has resulted from the constant attempt of individuals to strain its bonds. If individuality has no play, society does not advance ; if individuality breaks out of all bounds, society perishes.
Page 56 - But by safety here, is not meant a bare preservation, but also all other contentments of life, which every man by lawful industry, without danger or hurt to the commonwealth, shall acquire to himself.
Page 3 - The gradual lapse of time has now separated us by more than a decade from the date of the publication of the "Origin of Species" — and whatever may be thought or said about Mr. Darwin's doctrines, or the manner in which he has propounded them, this much is certain, that, in a dozen years, the "Origin of Species...
Page 33 - ... of an arithmetician to the calculating boy, because he did not know how he worked his sums. If mankind ever generally accept and act upon Mr. Mivart's axiom, they will simply become a set of most unendurable prigs ; but they never have accepted it, and I venture to hope that evolution has nothing so terrible in store for the human race. But if an action, the motive of which is nothing but affection or sympathy, may be deserving of moral approbation and really. good, who that has ever had a dog...

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