CHAPTER IX. The Ideal and the Way of Its Attainment

THE IDEAL AND THE WAY OF ITS ATTAINMENT

Criticism of Stephen's assertion that the ideal cannot be determined--The necessity of the choice between evils, under present social conditions--The argument for individual gratification of "natural desire"--Dangers of Utilitarianism--Moral right of the minority and the ethical demand for compensation to the minority--The contest between Individualist and Socialist--Criticism of Spencer on personal vice--Individualistic errors--Socialistic pessimism--The idea of a "return to Nature"--The Socialistic glorification of the laborer--The agitation against machinery--The agitation against luxury--The abolition of luxury and the population question--The proposed change of social "environment"--Socialism at the present date--Arbitrary character of many Socialistic ideas--Criticisms of Bellamy--The idea of a Revolution--Conclusions--The education of the child--The right of the child to state protection--The advantages of parental control--The education of women--The question of prostitution--Monogamy or polygamy?--Temporary contracts--Divorce--The argument that the freedom of women must involve the forfeiture of chivalric feeling in men--The respect for age--Desirable changes in criminal law--Criticism of Bellamy on Crime--The question of Capital Punishment--Arguments for--Arguments against--Conclusions--The conflict between justice and mercy--The supreme arbiter--The courage of Moral Sincerity--Heroic characters--The final destruction of the human species--The loss of belief in personal immortality--The human and earthly ideal 529-581

A REVIEW OF EVOLUTIONAL ETHICS