5i6 Orgams7ns Are Products of Heredity and Environment unit ix 



Fig. 465 The fire in the background was deliberately started by scientists so that 

 they might study it. Such experiments may save lives as well as dollars in the future. 

 Wisely used, science can make for greater human happiness, (u. s. forest service) 



satisfactory environment are almost im- 

 mediate; that is, they are produced within 

 one generation. Consider this problem by 

 doing Exercise i i. 



Many scientists are convinced that the 

 greatest hope of improving human beings 

 lies in improving the environment rather 

 than in tr>nng to breed better men. The 

 improvement of the human race through 

 improvement of the environment is 

 known as euthenics, in contrast to eu- 

 genics. 



Improvement of mankind through sci- 

 ence. Many of the improvements made 

 by man in his environment have come 

 about within recent years. Rapid prog- 

 ress came when man began to apply the 

 scientific method more generally. Thus 

 he learned to understand something of 

 his environment and of himself. He made 

 many discoveries and inventions that gave 



him better food, that protected him 

 against diseases, and that brought him 

 into closer touch with other men. He also 

 made countless discoveries and inventions 

 which brought more leisure and more 

 comfort in life. Science has given us 

 much more than the benefits just listed. 

 It has given us greater security; it has 

 taught us to banish certain fears and to 

 conquer superstition to a great extent. Do 

 Exercise 12. And it has shown us, if we 

 will but learn, how we can all use the 

 methods of science; how we must train 

 ourselves to seek out all the facts, to face 

 them squarely, to suspend judgment 

 while we weigh the facts carefully, to 

 reason accurately, and to report truth- 

 fully. While we do this we must learn 

 how to work with others, for progress is 

 greatest when men work together, shar- 

 ing information freelv, as scientists do. 



