kwaidan-stories and studies of strange things(奇谈)-第27节
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individuals。。。 Neither the ant nor the bee can be supposed to have a sense
of duty； in the acceptation we give to that word； nor can it be supposed
that it is continually undergoing self…sacrifice； in the ordinary acceptation
of that word。。。 ＇The facts＇ show us that it is within the possibilities of
organization to produce a nature which shall be just as energetic in the
pursuit of altruistic ends； as is in other cases shown in the pursuit of
egoistic ends； and they show that； in such cases； these altruistic ends are
pursued in pursuing ends which； on their other face； are egoistic。 For the
satisfaction of the needs of the organization； these actions； conducive to
the welfare of others； must be carried on。。。
。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。
〃So far from its being true that there must go on； throughout all the
futur e； a condition in which self…regard is to be continually subjected by
the regard for others； it will； contrari…wise； be the case that a regard for
others will eventually become so large a source of pleasure as to overgrow
the pleasure which is derivable from direct egoistic gratification。。。
Eventually； then； there will come also a state in which egoism and altruism
are so conciliated that the one merges in the other。〃
VI
Of course the foregoing prediction does not imply that human nature
will ever undergo such physiological change as would be represented by
structural specializations comparable to those by which the various castes
of insect societies are differentiated。 We are not bidden to imagine a future
state of humanity in which the active majority would consist of semi…
female workers and Amazons toiling for an inactive minority of selected
Mothers。 Even in his chapter； 〃Human Population in the Future；〃 Mr。
Spencer has attempted no detailed statement of the physical modifications
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inevitable to the production of higher moral types； though his general
statement in regard to a perfected nervous system； and a great diminution
of human fertility； suggests that such moral evolution would signify a very
considerable amount of physical change。 If it be legitimate to believe in a
future humanity to which the pleasure of mutual beneficence will
represent the whole joy of life； would it not also be legitimate to imagine
other transformations； physical and moral； which the facts of insect…
biology have proved to be within the range of evolutional possibility？。。。 I
do not know。 I most worshipfully reverence Herbert Spencer as the
greatest philosopher who has yet appeared in this world； and I should be
very sorry to write down anything contrary to his teaching； in such wise
that the reader could imagine it to have been inspired by Synthetic
Philosophy。 For the ensuing reflections； I alone am responsible； and if I err；
let the sin be upon my own head。
I suppose that the moral transformations predicted by Mr。 Spencer；
could be effected only with the aid of physiological change； and at a
terrible cost。 Those ethical conditions manifested by insect…societies can
have been reached only through effort desperately sustained for millions
of years against the most atrocious necessities。 Necessities equally
merciless may have to be met and mastered eventually by the human race。
Mr。 Spencer has shown that the time of the greatest possible human
suffering is yet to come； and that it will be concomitant with the period of
the greatest possible pressure of population。 Among other results of that
long stress； I understand that there will be a vast increase in human
intelligence and sympathy； and that this increases of intelligence will be
effected at the cost of human fertility。 But this decline in reproductive
power will not； we are told； be sufficient to assure the very highest of
social conditions： it will only relieve that pressure of population which has
been the main cause of human suffering。 The state of perfect social
equilibrium will be approached； but never quite reached； by mankind
Unless there be discovered some means of solving economic problems；
just as social insects have solved them； by the suppression of sex…life。
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Supposing that such a discovery were made； and that the human race
should decide to arrest the development of six in the majority of its
young； so as to effect a transferrence of those forces； now demanded by
sex…life to the development of higher activities； might not the result be
an eventual state of polymorphism； like that of ants？ And； in such event；
might not the Coming Race be indeed represented in its higher types；
through feminine rather than masculine evolution； by a majority of
beings of neither sex？
Considering how many persons； even now； through merely unselfish
（not to speak of religious） motives； sentence themselves to celibacy； it
should not appear improbably that a more highly evolved humanity would
cheerfully sacrifice a large proportion of its sex…life for the common weal；
particular ly in view of certain advantages to be gained。 Not the least of
such advantages always supposing that mankind were able to control
sex…life after the natural manner of the ants would be a prodigious
increase of longevity。 The higher types of a humanity superior to sex
might be able to realize the dream of life for a thousand years。
Already we find lives too short for the work we have to do； and with
the constantly accelerating progress of discovery； and the never…ceasing
expansion of knowledge； we shall certainly find more and more reason to
regret； as time goes on； the brevity of existence。 That Science will ever
discover the Elixir of the Alchemists' hope is extremely unlikely。 The
Cosmic Powers will not allow us to cheat them。 For every advantage
which they yield us the full price must be paid： nothing for nothing is the
everlasting law。 Perhaps the price of long life will prove to be the price
that the ants have paid for it。 Perhaps； upon some elder planet； that price
has already been paid； and the power to produce offspring restricted to a
caste morphologically differentiated； in unimaginable ways； from the rest
of the species。。。
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VII
But while the facts of insect…biology suggest so much in regard to the
future course of human evolution； do they not also suggest something of
largest significance concerning the relation of ethics to cosmic law？
Apparently； the highest evolution will not be permitted to creatures
capable of what human moral experience has in all areas condemned。
Apparently； the highest possible strength is the strength of unselfishness；
and power supreme never will be accorded to cruelty or to lust。 There may
be no gods； but the forces that shape and dissolve all forms of being would
seem to be much more exacting than gods。 To prove a 〃dramatic tendency〃
in the ways of the stars is not possible； but the cosmic process seems
nevertheless to affirm the worth of every human system of ethics
fundamentally opposed to human egoism。
…＋…＋…＋…＋…＋…＋…＋…＋…＋…＋…＋…＋…＋…＋…＋…＋…＋…＋…＋…＋…＋…＋…＋…＋…＋…＋…
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Notes
THE STORY OF MIMI…NASHI…HOICHI ＇1＇ See my Kotto； for a
description of these curious crabs。 ＇2＇ Or； Shimonoseki。 The town is also
known by the name of Bakkan。 ＇3＇ The biwa； a kind of four…s
