 The idea is that, for animals, things that have value are usually those that will further the survival of the species, such as food. Animals whose interests do not help to maintain their existence succumb under the conditions of their existence, and “leave the field” for others. In this way, natural selection provides a history of value. More on this can be found in Alexander’s “Naturalism and Value” (reprinted in Alexander 1939). This integration of the theory of evolution into Alexander’s aesthetics should come as no surprise to us, being as it is a theme in Alexander’s larger work.