84 The Universe and Life 



a destructive bacterium, the choice is obvious. In 

 many other cases, it is equally obvious. But situations 

 occur in which the choice is not obvious, in which the 

 only recourse is for the individual to use his best 

 judgment as applied to that particular situation. So 

 far as it is clear which is indeed the higher, which the 

 lower, representative of hfe, the matter is settled. So 

 far as there is necessary a choice between man and 

 another organism of our earth, this principle justifies 

 giving the preference to man. But in applying this 

 principle, it is not to be forgotten that its essence is 

 the promotion of life, and that one kind of life is to 

 be sacrificed to another only when this is inevitable. 



Where the difi5culties become acute is in the appli- 

 cation of this principle to diversities that are but 

 shght or doubtful. In man there are differences of 

 type, of race. Are some of these higher, others lower ? 

 And if this question is to be answered Yes, are the 

 interests of the lower types of man to be sacrificed to 

 those of the higher? Are the lower to be cut off and 

 replaced by the higher? 



Again, in any given group of men, in any na- 

 tion or community, there are individuals that differ 

 greatly; differ in their very constitutions, their in- 

 heritance. It cannot be denied that in some life is 

 fuller and more adequate — ^higher — than in others. 

 Is the higher individual to promote his life at the ex- 

 pense of his humbler neighbor? Is the lower indi- 

 vidual or family to be sacrificed to the higher one? 

 Does the study of biology lead to the divine right of 

 the aristocrat? 



