ANTI-NATURALISM IN EXTREMIS
37
To represent naturalistic morals as if they involved denial
of tlie existence and the legitimacy of any sort of regulative end
and standard is but another case of translation of a position into
the terms of the position of its opponents. The idea that unless
standards and rules are eternal and immutable they are not rules
and criteria at all is childish.
If
there is anything confirmed by
observation it is that human beings naturally cherish certain things
and relationships, they naturally institute values. Having desires
and having to guide themselves by aims and purposes, no other
course is possible. It is also an abundantly confirmed fact of
observation that standards and ends grew up and obtained their
effectiveness over human behavior in all sorts of relatively acci–
dental ways. Many of them reflect conditions of geographical
isolation, social segregation, and absence of scientific methods.
These conditions no longer obtaining, it requires a good deal of
pessimism to assume that vastly improved knowledge of nature,
human nature included, cannot be employed or will not be em–
ployed to render human relationships more humane, just and
liberal. The notion that such knowledge and such application, the
things for which naturalism stands, will increase misunderstanding
and conflict is an extraordinary "reversed charge" of results pro–
duced by dogmatic absolutism in appeal to extra-natural authority.
Reference to the pessimism which is involved reminds one
of the chorus of voices now proclaiming that naturalism is com–
mitted to a dangerously romantic, optimistic, utopian view of
human nature. This claim might be looked at as a welcome varia–
tion of the charge that' naturalism looks upon everything human as
"merely" animal. But it happens also to be aside from the mark.
It
is probably "natural" for those who engage in sweeping ration–
alistic generalizations to match their own pessimism by attributing
an equally unrestrained optimism to their opponents. But since
naturalists are committed to basing conclusions upon evidence,
they give equal weight to observed facts that point in the direction
of both non-social behavior and that of amity and cooperation.
In neither case, however, are facts now existing taken to be final
and fixed. They are treated as indications of things to be done.
Naturalism is certainly hopeful enough to reject the view
expressed by Cardinal Newman when he said "She (the Church)
regards this world and all that is in it, as dust and ashes, compared
with the value of a single soul. . . .She considers the action of
