Last and First Men · Chapter
III: Slow Conquest explained
The chapter traces the slow and gradual evolution of humanity on Neptune, from the primitive Tenth Men through the Fourteenth, Fifteenth, and Sixteenth species, culminating in the Last Men.
What happens
The chapter traces the slow and gradual evolution of humanity on Neptune, from the primitive Tenth Men through the Fourteenth, Fifteenth, and Sixteenth species, culminating in the Last Men. It describes the cultural and biological progress, the abolition of five great evils by the Fifteenth Men, the creation of the Sixteenth Men with telepathy and improved senses, and their eventual quest to create a higher human type, leading to the Seventeenth and Eighteenth (Last) species. The narrative emphasizes the immense timescales, the recurring cycles of civilization and decline, and the persistent philosophical problems of time, mind, and the meaning of existence.
Themes in this chapter
Human Nature and Evolution
The chapter details the biological and cultural evolution of multiple human species on Neptune, highlighting the slow progress toward full humanity and the recurring cycles of civilization and decline.
The Limits of Knowledge
The Sixteenth Men are haunted by unsolved mysteries of time and mind's relation to the world, and their philosophical delving only finds 'shifting sands of mystery.'
Immortality and Death
The chapter discusses the racial purpose of life as 'embattled against death' and the desire to create a higher type to gain insight into existence, reflecting on mortality and transcendence.
Suffering and Redemption
The Sixteenth Men are dismayed by the 'huge volume of eternal misery in the past' and conceive a 'crusade to liberate the past,' seeking to redeem past suffering.
Characters to notice
- The Tenth Men
Primitive Neptunian species, spread wicker huts and bone implements, later demolished by a microorganism.
- The Fourteenth Men
Imperfectly human species on Neptune, conceived ideals they could not attain, cycled through civilizations for 300 million years.
- The Fifteenth Men
Highest form of natural man on Neptune, first to conceive enduring racial purpose to remake human nature, abolished five great evils.
- The Sixteenth Men
New species designed by the Fifteenth, with telepathy and improved senses, gained control of planet's orbit, sought to create higher type.
- The Seventh Men
Mentioned as a type analogous to the ancient Fifth, which colonized Venus, but not directly featured in this chapter.
- The Last Men
The Eighteenth and final human species, whose world fulfills all earlier cultures, as described in the chapter's conclusion.
Key passages
“But never again, seemingly, was it to be routed and crushed into mere animality.”
It appeared that humanity would never again be reduced to a purely animal state.
Reflects the theme of human progress and the irreversible advance toward higher consciousness.
“Myriads of individuals, each one unique, live out their lives in rapt intercourse with one another, contribute their heart’s pulses to the universal music, and presently vanish, giving place to others.”
Countless unique individuals live in deep connection, contribute to the collective experience, and then die, making way for new generations.
Highlights the transient nature of individual lives within the vast cosmic timeline.
“The Fifteenth Men first set themselves to abolish five great evils, namely, disease, suffocating toil, senility, misunderstanding, and ill-will.”
The Fifteenth Men aimed to eliminate five major problems: disease, exhausting labor, old age, misunderstanding, and hostility.
Shows the species' proactive effort to improve the human condition.
“Egoistic impulses, whenever they refused to be subordinated, were henceforth classed as symptoms of insanity.”
Selfish urges that could not be controlled were now considered a form of mental illness.
Illustrates the extreme measures taken to achieve social harmony.
“They told themselves that the past was calling to them for help, and that somehow they must prepare a great “crusade to liberate the past.””
They believed the past was asking for their aid, and they felt compelled to undertake a mission to free it from suffering.
Reflects the theme of suffering and redemption, and the desire to transcend temporal limitations.
