9HMKJM - The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

EVOLUTIONARY TELEOLOGY. 375
may be attributed. The error, as we suppose, lies in
the combination of the principle of design with the
hypothesis of the immutability and isolated creation of
species. The latter hypothesis, in its nature unprovable,
has, on scientific grounds, become so far improbable
that few, even of the anti-Darwinian natu-
once have
ralists, now hold to it ; and, whatever may
been its religious claims, it is at present a hinderance
rather than a help to any just and consistent teleology.
By the adoption of the Darwinian hypothesis, or
something like it, which we incline to favor, many of
the difficulties are obviated, and others diminished.
In the comprehensive and far-reaching teleology
which may take the place of the former narrow con-
ceptions, organs and even faculties,
useless to the
individual, find their explanation and reason of being.
Either they have done service in the past, or they
may do service in the future. They may have been
essentially useful in one way in a past species, and,
though now functionless, they may be turned to useful
account in some very different way hereafter. In
botany several cases come to our mind which suggest
such interpretation.
Under this view, moreover, waste of life and ma-
terial in organic Nature ceases to be utterly inexplicable,
because it ceases to be objectless.
It is seen
to be a part of the
"
general economy of Nature," a
phrase which has a real meaning. One good illustration
of it is furnished by the pollen of flowers. The
seeming waste of this in a pine-forest
It gives rise to the so-called " showers of sulphur,"
is enormous.
which every one has heard of. Myriads upon myri-