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T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
June 1926
the mental phenomena displayed by all creatures up to the highest, If one and all conform to the laws of evolution, then the necessary implication is that those phenomena of conduct in these highest creatures with which morality is concerned, also conform*’ ( “ Data of Ethics” ). While this chapter is briefly given it is enough to show the present-day trend of education in general and morality in particular. If the evolutionary hypothesis is only a guess and not a fact, then the foundations upon which the teach ings of education and ethich stand crumble to dust. And so the scarlet thread of naturalism is seen to run through not only modern books of science but history, lit erature, and sociology as well. Is it any wonder that col lege students should lose their faith in the Bible? We turn from the turmoil of the world, to forget about misery, and crime, and suffering, and war, to find a quiet hour with Him,— to experience that “ peace that passeth understanding." The concluding words in Dr. Machen’s book are appropriate h ere :' “ Is there no place where two or three can gather in Jesus' name, to forget for the moment all those things that divide nation from nation and race from race, to forget human pride, to forget the passions of war, to forget the puzzling problems of industrial strife, and to unite in over flowing gratitude at the foot of the Cross? If there be (Continued on page 368)
must be understood In terms of physical facts, and the education of the individual studied in relation to the whole evolutionary history of the race. Before criticizing adversely evolutionary education, 'I should like first to mention the teachings of ethics as a college subject of education. By "ethics” we mean the sum total of conduct “ which furthers or hinders in either direct or indirect ways, the welfare of self or others” (Herbert Spencer). With most writers, ethics is a product of. evolu tion; convictions of duty are determined by one’s environ ment. Therefore, ethics (conduit, or morality) is merely one result of evolution. Materialistic philosophy is readily seen in this statement of Warner Fite: “ The evolution of conduct is ultimately nothing more than a particular phase of that tendency toward adjust ment and equilibrium which governs the redistribution of matter and motion in the material world as a whole” ( “ Introductory Study of Ethics"). •Herbert Spencer thinks of ethics as the last stage in the evolution of conduct, which he traces up from the lowest to the highest biological forms. Acts are good or bad according as they are well or ill adjusted to ends. There fore good conduct is the more evolved conduct while bad conduct is relatively less evolved. Spencer’s conclusion is as follows: "If the entire visible universe has been evolved, if the solar system as a whole, the earth as 'a part of it,
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