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moral idealism is but temporary； and that something better than virtue；
better than kindness； better than self…denial； in the present human
meaning of those terms； might； under certain conditions； eventually
replace them。 He finds himself obliged to face the question whether a world
without moral notions might not be morally better than a world in which
conduct is regulated by such notions。 He must even ask himself whether the
existence of religious commandments； moral laws； and ethical standards
among ourselves does not prove us still in a very primitive stage of social
evolution。 And these questions naturally lead up to another： Will humanity
ever be able； on this planet； to reach an ethical condition beyond all its
ideals； a condition in which everything that we now call evil will have
been atrophied out of existence； and everything that we call virtue have
been transmuted into instinct； a state of altruism in which ethical
concepts and codes will have become as useless as they would be； even now；
in the societies of the higher ants。
The giants of modern thought have given some attention to this question；
and the greatest among them has answered it partly in the affirmative。
Herbert Spencer has expressed his belief that humanity will arrive at some
state of civilization ethically comparable with that of the ant：
〃If we have； in lower orders of creatures； cases in which the nature is
constitutionally so modified that altruistic activities have become one
with egoistic activities； there is an irresistible implication that a
parallel identification will； under parallel conditions； take place among
human beings。 Social insects furnish us with instances completely to the
point； and instances showing us； indeed； to what a marvelous degree the
life of the individual may be absorbed in subserving the lives of other
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 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。
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 man