My interpretation, in the context text that precedes this quote, "exalted object" is referring to the creation of nature / design of nature.

I believe object is being used to mean:

From Cambridge English Dictionary

 

the result that is wanted from an activity

 

In today's session, the object of the exercise is to improve your interpersonal skills.

In your sentence on part of the object = the production of the higher animals rather than the higher animals themselves.

Most of Western World, where Darwin was from, at the time believed that "higher animals" aka "humans" as well as nature and all the complex interactions that take place in nature were the result of an intelligent designer (as most would call it now) or a God.

He is stating that if he follows his theory of natural selection to its conclusion, the same result could occur in nature without a deity.

To sum up: the object = evolution by natural selection

My interpretation, in the context text that precedes this quote, "exalted object" is referring to the creation of nature / design of nature.

I believe object is being used to mean:

From Cambridge English Dictionary

the result that is wanted from an activity

In today's session, the object of the exercise is to improve your interpersonal skills.

In your sentence on part of the object = the production of the higher animals rather than the higher animals themselves.

Most of Western World, where Darwin was from, at the time believed that "higher animals" aka "humans" as well as nature and all the complex interactions that take place in nature were the result of an intelligent designer (as most would call it now) or a God.

He is stating that if he follows his theory of natural selection to its conclusion, the same result could occur in nature without a deity.

To sum up: the object = evolution by natural selection

My interpretation, in the context text that precedes this quote, "exalted object" is referring to the creation of nature / design of nature.

I believe object is being used to mean:

From Cambridge English Dictionary

the result that is wanted from an activity

In today's session, the object of the exercise is to improve your interpersonal skills.

In your sentence on part of the object = the production of the higher animals rather than the higher animals themselves.

Most of Western World, where Darwin was from, at the time believed that "higher animals" aka "humans" as well as nature and all the complex interactions that take place in nature were the result of an intelligent designer - a deity.

He is stating that if he follows his theory of natural selection to its conclusion, the same result could occur in nature without a deity.

To sum up: the object = evolution by natural selection

My interpretation, in the context text that precedes this quote, "exalted object" is referring to the creation of nature / design of nature.

I believe object is being used to mean:

From Cambridge English Dictionary

the result that is wanted from an activity

In today's session, the object of the exercise is to improve your interpersonal skills.

In your sentence on part of the object = the production of the higher animals rather than the higher animals themselves.

Most of Western World, where Darwin was from, at the time believed that "higher animals" aka "humans" as well as nature and all the complex interactions that take place in nature were the result of an intelligent designer (as most would call it now) or a God.

He is stating that if he follows his theory of natural selection to its conclusion, the same result could occur in nature without a deity.

To sum up: the object = evolution by natural selection