The Theories of Darwin and Their Relation to Philosophy, Religion, and Morality | Page 3

his work all the carefulness of
inquiry, and all the conscientiousness of reasoning, which belong to a
singularly candid and patient mind.
ARGYLL.
INVERARY CASTLE, SCOTLAND, September, 1882.
* * * * *
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NOTE BY THE TRANSLATOR.
The consideration which this work has received from the leaders of
religious and philosophic thought in Germany, and, indeed, wherever it
has been read in its original form, has led the translator to believe that
an English version of it would be acceptable. Especially in America,
where religious problems and religious thought are so intimately
connected with the processes of scientific and philosophic investigation,
and where the agitation of these problems is so peculiarly active and
violent, it has seemed that a work marked by so much scholarship,
profundity, and comprehensiveness and originality of treatment, must
serve an important purpose to the cause of religious no less than of
scientific truth. It may be explained here, that the author resided for
some years in the family of the Duke of Argyll, and there breathed, to a
certain extent, the scientific air of Darwinism in its very origin; and
thus his familiarity with all the results of modern scientific research,
added to his theological and philosophical acquirements, enable him,
with a most admirable blending of the spirit of fairness and toleration
with logical severity of treatment, to bring these different domains into
their proper relation with each other and to establish between them that
essential harmony in which consists the solution of these most
profound and vital problems of man's welfare.
Of the translation it may properly be said that, while the aim has been
to give the work the clearest possible form consistent with that strict

fidelity to the original which is {8} especially demanded by the
character of its material, the translator has not hoped to make the work
altogether "easy" reading. Peculiarities of the author's style have been,
it is believed, largely preserved; and occasional difficulties of
apprehension are no doubt to be expected, both from the method of
treatment and from the profound and abstruse character of the topics
treated. The translator will be well satisfied if it shall be found that he
has succeeded in performing his task without adding unduly to the
seeming obscurities of certain passages--obscurities which, however,
will no doubt vanish before that degree of mental application without
which such works may not be read at all intelligibly.
Acknowledgments are properly due and are gladly rendered to George
C. Dawson, Esq., of Chicago, and to Mr. Francis F. Browne, editor of
The Dial, for valuable assistance in revising and perfecting this version.
G. A. Z.
CHICAGO, October, 1882.
* * * * *
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CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTION ... 17
PART FIRST: THE DARWINIAN THEORIES.
BOOK I. THE PURELY SCIENTIFIC THEORIES.
The Scientific Problem, ... 23
CHAPTER I.
RISE OF THE DARWINIAN THEORIES.
§1. Direct Predecessors, ... 30 §2. Indirect Preparations, ... 33

CHAPTER II.
HISTORY OF THE DARWINIAN THEORIES.
§1. Darwin, ... 38 §2. The Followers of Darwin.--Ernst Häckel, ... 45 §3.
Modifications of the Theory.--Moriz Wagner. Wigand, ... 52
CHAPTER III.
PRESENT STATE OF THE DARWINIAN THEORIES.
§1. The Theory of Descent, ... 61 §2. The Theory of
Evolution.--Archæology, Ethnography, Philology, ... 77 §3. The
Theory of Selection, ... 100
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BOOK II. THE PHILOSOPHIC COMPLETIONS AND
CONSEQUENCES OF THE DARWINIAN THEORIES.
The Philosophic Problems, ... 108
CHAPTER I.
THE NATURO-PHILOSOPHIC SUPPLEMENTS OF THE
DARWINIAN THEORIES.
§1. The Origin of Self-Consciousness and of Free Moral
Self-Determination, ... 115 §2. The Origin of Sensation and of
Consciousness, ... 127 §3. The Origin of Life, ... 132 §4. The Elements
of the World; the Theory of Atoms, and the Mechanical View of the
World, ... 140
CHAPTER II.
METAPHYSICAL CONCLUSIONS DRAWN FROM THE
DARWINIAN THEORIES.

§1. Elimination of the Idea of Design in the World.--Monism, ... 158
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PART SECOND: THE POSITION OF THE DARWINIAN THEORIES
IN REFERENCE TO RELIGION AND MORALITY.
BOOK I. HISTORICAL AND CRITICAL.
Plan of Treatment, ... 185
A. THE DARWINIAN THEORIES AND RELIGION.
CHAPTER I.
MORE OR LESS NEGATIVE POSITION IN REFERENCE TO
RELIGION.
§1. Extreme Negation: L. Büchner and Consistent Materialism, ... 188
§2. Replacement of Religion Through a Religious Worship of the
Universe.--Strauss. Oskar Schmidt. Häckel, ... 190 §3. Pious
Renunciation of the Knowability of God. Wilhelm Bleek. Albert Lange.
Herbert Spencer, ... 193 §4. Spinoza and Hegel in the Garb of
Darwin.--Carneri, Ed. von Hartmann, ... 203 §5. Reëcho of Negation on
the Side of the Christian View of the World, ... 206
CHAPTER II.
REFORM OF RELIGION, OR AT LEAST OF THE SCIENCE OF
RELIGION, THROUGH DARWINISM.
§1. Heinrich Lang. Friedrich Vischer. Gustav Jäger, ... 210
CHAPTER III.
PEACE BETWEEN RELIGION AND DARWINISM.
§1. Darwin. Wallace. Owen. Asa Gray. Mivart. McCosh. Anderson. K.

E. von Baer. Alexander Braun. Braubach, and others, ...