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nection with the realms of pathology, its extreme liability to infection, hyper- 

 parasitism, etc., etc.), and that thus the economically and bio-socially inferior are 

 also seen as the physiologically inferior, i.e. as the least fit in genuine survival. 

 I have been taken to task before for holding this view, but I have not yet come 

 across one single solid argument that would invalidate my view. Neither can it 

 be maintained, I believe, that the distinction between physiology and pathology 

 has as yet been so clearly established as not to permit at least of two (divergent) 

 opinions on the subject. 



The real issue is between the relative importance attached to work and 

 co-operation on the one hand or perpetual idleness and depredation (rank 

 " militarism ") on the other. I presume it is best at least to preserve an open 

 mind, and likewise to remember Huxley's pregnant warning that " what we call 

 rational grounds for our beliefs are often extremely irrational attempts to justify 

 our instincts." In my opinion the claims of competition and of warfare as factors 

 in evolution have been sufficiently urged, whilst those of co-operation (mutuality, 

 symbiosis, etc.) have not had anything like deserving attention paid to them. 

 Once this is seen, it will not be a far cry to the rehabilitation of "evolutionary 

 ethics." 



I am glad your reviewer sees a chance of my thesis securing " a patient and 

 attentive hearing," once it is worked out more amply and more systematically. 

 I hope shortly to publish a fairly large volume in expansion of my theory, and 

 I trust it will prove satisfactory on that score. Perhaps you will kindly allow me 

 to add that a number of leading men of all sections of thought have already 

 expressed approval of my main thesis, and that a terse and accurate statement of 

 my views is to be found in a review in the British Medical Journal, April 24, 191 4. 



Believe me, Sir, 



Yours faithfully, 



Hermann Reinheimer. 



