MORALS AND THE EVOLUTION
OF MAN


Morals and the
Evolution of Man

 

By

Max Nordau

 

A Translation of
"Biologie der Ethik"

By
MARIE A. LEWENZ, M.A.
Fellow of University College, London

 

CASSELL AND COMPANY, LTD
London, New York, Toronto and Melbourne
1922


TO MY DEAR WIFE ANNA (née Dons),

the sunshine of my life in happy days, my brave
comrade in the storms of the world-catastrophe, with
love and gratitude I dedicate this book which helped
both her and me to endure the dark years when we
were homeless wanderers.

Madrid, September 26th, 1916


CONTENTS

CHAPTERPAGE
1. The Phenomenon of Morality1
2. The Immanence of the Concept of Morality46
3. The Biological Aspect of Morality84
4. Morality and Law115
5. Individual Morality and Collective Immorality144
6. Freedom and Responsibility185
7. Morality and Progress215
8. The Sanctions of Morality247

MORALS AND THE
EVOLUTION OF MAN


[Pg 1]

CHAPTER I

THE PHENOMENON OF MORALITY

A very well-known experiment in animalpsychology was once made by Möbius. Anaquarium was divided into two compartmentsby means of a pane of glass; in one of these a pikewas put and in the other a tench. Hardly had theformer caught sight of his prey, when he rushed tothe attack without noticing the transparent partition.He crashed with extreme violence again the obstacleand was hurled back stunned, with a badly batterednose. No sooner had he recovered from the blowthan he again made an onslaught upon his neighbour—withthe same result. He repeated his efforts afew times more, but succeeded only in badly hurtinghis head and mouth. At last a dim idea dawned uponhis dull mind that some unknown and invisible powerwas protecting the tench, and that any attempt todevour it would be in vain; consequently from thatmoment he ceased from all further endeavours tomolest his prey. Thereupon the pane

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