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＇1＇ The record of the Roman Catholic Church has been sadly Callous and inhuman in this matter of the animals。
＇2＇ See The Art of Creation； by E。 Carpenter。
XVII。 CONCLUSION
In conclusion there does not seem much to say； except to accentuate certain points which may still appear doubtful or capable of being understood。
The fact that the main argument of this volume is along the lines of psychological evolution will no doubt commend it to some； while on the other hand it will discredit the book to others whose eyes； being fixed on purely MATERIAL causes； can see no impetus in History except through these。 But it must be remembered that there is not the least reason for SEPARATING the two factors。 The fact that psychologically man has evolved from simple consciousness to self…consciousness； and is now in process of evolution towards another and more extended kind of consciousness； does not in the least bar the simultaneous appearance and influence of material evolution。 It is clear indeed that the two must largely go together； acting and reacting on each other。 Whatever the physical conditions of the animal brain may be which connect themselves with simple （unreflected and unreflecting） consciousness； it is evident that these conditionsin animals and primitive manlasted for an enormous period； before the distinct consciousness of the individual and separate SELF arose。 This second order of consciousness seems to have germinated at or about the same period as the discovery of the use of Tools （tools of stone； copper； bronze； &c。）； the adoption of picture…writing and the use of reflective words （like 〃I〃 and 〃Thou〃）； and it led on to the appreciation of gold and of iron with their ornamental and practical values； the accumulation of Property； the establishment of slavery of various kinds； the subjection of Women； the encouragement of luxury and self…indulgence； the growth of crowded cities and the endless conflicts and wars so resulting。 We can see plainly that the incoming of the self…motive exercised a direct stimulus on the pursuit of these material objects and adaptations； and that the material adaptations in their turn did largely accentuate the self…motive； but to insist that the real explanation of the whole process is only to be found along one channelthe material OR the psychical is clearly quite unnecessary。 Those who understand that all matter is conscious in some degree； and that all consciousness has a material form of some kind； will be the first to admit this。
The same remarks apply to the Third Stage。 We can see that in modern times the huge and unlimited powers of production by machinery； united with a growing tendency towards intelligent Birth…control； are preparing the way for an age of Communism and communal Plenty which will inevitably be associated （partly as cause and partly as effect） with a new general phase of consciousness； involving the mitigation of the struggle for existence； the growth of intuitional and psychical perception； the spread of amity and solidarity； the disappearance of War； and the realization （in degree） of the Cosmic life。
Perhaps the greatest difficulty or stumbling…block to the general acceptance of the belief in a third （or 'Golden… Age'） phase of human evolution is the obstinate and obdurate pre…judgment that the passing of Humanity out of the Second stage can only mean the entire ABANDONMENT OF SELF…CONSCIOUSNESS； and this people sayand quite rightly is both impossible and undesirable。 Throughout the preceding chapters I have striven； wherever feasible； to counter this misunderstandingbut I have little hope of success。 The DETERMINATION of the world to misunderstand or misinterpret anything a little new or unfamiliar is a thing which perhaps only an author can duly appreciate。 But while it is clear that self…consciousness originally came into being through a process of alienation and exile and fear which marked it with the Cain…like brand of loneliness and apartness； it is equally clear that to think of that apartness as an absolute and permanent separation is an illusion； since no being can really continue to live divorced from the source of its life。 For a period in evolution the SELF took on this illusive form in consciousness； as of an ignis fatuusthe form of a being sundered from all other beings； atomic； lonely； without refuge； surrounded by dangers and struggling； for itself alone and for its own salvation in the midst of a hostile environment。 Perhaps some such terrible imagination was necessary at first； as it were to start Humanity on its new path。 But it had its compensation； for the sufferings and tortures； mental and bodily； the privations； persecutions； accusations； hatreds； the wars and conflictsso endured by millions of individuals and whole raceshave at length stamped upon the human mind a sense of individual responsibility which otherwise perhaps would never have emerged； and whose mark can now be effaced； ultimately； too； these things have searched our inner nature to its very depths and exposed its bed…rock foundation。 They have convinced us that this idea of ultimate separation is an illusion； and that in truth we are all indefeasible and indestructible parts of one great Unity in which 〃we live and move and have our being。〃 That being so； it is clear that there remains in the end a self…consciousness which need by no means be abandoned； which indeed only comes to its true fruition and understanding when it recognizes its affiliation with the Whole； and glories in an individuality which is an expression both of itself AND of the whole。 The human child at its mother's knee probably comes first to know it HAS a 'self' on some fateful day when having wandered afar it goes lost among alien houses and streets or in the trackless fields。 That appalling experiencethe sense of danger； of fear； of lonelinessis never forgotten； it stamps some new sense of Being upon the childish mind； but that sense； instead of being destroyed； becomes all the prouder and more radiant in the hour of return to the mother's arms。 The return； the salvation； for which humanity looks； is the return of the little individual self to harmony and union with the great Self of the universe； but by no means its extinction or abandonmentrather the finding of its own true nature as never before。
There is another thing which may be said here： namely； that the disentanglement； as above； of three main stages of psychological evolution as great formative influences in the history of mankind； does not by any means preclude the establishment of lesser stages within the boundaries of these。 In all probability subdivisions of all the three will come in time to be recognized and allowed for。 To take the Second stage only； it MAY appear that Self…consciousness in its first development is characterized by an accentuation of Timidity； in its second development by a more deliberate pursuit of sensual Pleasure （lust； food； drink； &c。）； in its third by the pursuit of mental gratifications （vanities； ambitions； enslavement of others）； in its fourth by the pursuit of Property； as a means of attaining these objects； in its fifth by the access of enmities； jealousies； wars and so forth； conseq