CHAPTER IX.. The Relation of Evolution to the Problem of Evil.

THE RELATION OF EVOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF EVIL.

The difficulty of the problem--The light on it by evolution-- Evil must be based on the constitution of Nature and therefore universal--Some of its forms 365

(1) Physical evil in animal kingdom--Condition of organic evolution is struggle with an apparently inimical environment --In its course it seems evil--Looking back from the end it is good. 365

(2) Physical evil in relation to man--Necessary condition of social evolution is also struggle with a seeming evil environment--But looking back from the end this evil is also seen to be good--Without it man would never have emerged from animality. 366

(3) Organic evil--Disease--This also is the necessary condition of acquisition of knowledge of organic Nature--In the course of evolution it seems evil, but from the end it is seen to be good--In the physical world, laws of Nature are beneficent in their general operation, and only evil in their specific operation through our ignorance. 367

(4) Moral evil--Moral disease--Difference between this and other forms of evil--Can this also be transmuted into good?--This is only the highest form of evil, and therefore subject to the same laws of evolution--Here also elevation comes only through knowledge and power, and these only through struggle with apparent evil--In course it seems evil, looking back from end it is seen to be good to the race-- In all, therefore, the individual is sacrificed to the race, but impossible here--A way of escape found in the nature of a moral being--In this case not only final victory for the race, but also within the power of the individual--In this case success is in proportion to honest effort in right spirit --Roots, of evil in the necessary law of evolution--It is the necessary condition of all progress--Without it a moral being is impossible--From philosophic point of view things are not good and evil, but only higher and lower--All things good in their places--Evil is discord--Good is due relation --Action and reaction of higher and lower is the necessary condition of true virtue 369