The history of the religious formations and evolutions that have succeeded one another among mankind for seven thousand years shows that there exists no genetic bond, no necessary relation, between morals and mysticism. With nations as with individuals, the least moral personalities are often met among the most religious. In short, history proves that the development of morals in the world has been connected at the same time with science, from which it has proceeded; and with religions, which have rested upon it as one of their points of support. But no more from the external point of view of history than from that of internal consciousness have morals been the product of religions. The same representative illusion always appears, which transforms into the generative cause of certain ideas the notions that have issued from them.
The modern conception of morals is of a generous and universal character. It rises with the elevation of intelligence; its practical applications are more or less delicate, according to the sentiments variously developed by peoples and individuals. But it responds to-day, as it has always responded, to the condition of knowledge as it is more or less advanced according to time, places, and persons. Therefore it could not continue fixed in any decalogue. It undergoes gradual modifications with the continual discoveries of the physiological, psychological, and sociological sciences. Just as there exists by the side of positive science an ideal science, derived from it, moreover, but which precedes it and incites it forward, so there are ideal morals, which announce and precede the evolution of future morals. These ideas, this conception of modern morals, are becoming every day more preponderant, and if they have not yet been accredited by men as established science, it is because of the long religious servitude that has been imposed on education. Down to our own time it has been the practice to base the moral education of the people and the rules of conduct on the catechism—on theological doctrines and prescriptions—instead of establishing them upon positive data acquired from consciousness and the historical and natural sciences.
We now see every day how the application of scientific teachings to industry is continually adding to the wealth and prosperity of nations. The application of the same teachings to hygiene and medicine is constantly diminishing the pains and risks of disease, and increasing the mean duration of life. The history of the present century likewise demonstrates to what point the lot of all, including the poorest and most humble, has been ameliorated by the new ideas; while we must not lose sight of the fact that we are still far from having reached the degree of improvement that modern justice and morals demand, which we should all strive to attain. Such are some
