EUGENICS 375 



of this matter because the responses on which ordinary judgment 

 is based must be analyzed in terms of hereditary quahties by the 

 eugenist. It requires very httlc insight to note that the expert 

 mechanic has a number of quahties in common with the skilful 

 surgeon. The keenness of senses, manual dextcrit}^, and nice 

 coordination demanded of each in the performance of his duty are 

 not at all different fundamentally. The knowledge which each 

 man uses and the training which has given him the al)ility to 

 express these inherited powers are very different. When such 

 basic similarity can exist between such remote walks of life, who 

 can determine what qualities, what activities, are the most valuable 

 in our social structure from among the many heritable fundamen- 

 tals? 



The Ultimate Goal. This is a matter which cannot fail to 

 concern us in a broad application of the principles of genetics 

 to our own future welfare. If we are to control our own destiny 

 our attempts should be directed toward the highest realization 

 of our powers and the maximum efficiency of our organization. 

 Such a program is at present too idealistic to be regarded as 

 practicable, but it is the only possible goal for eugenics. If we 

 are to succeed where other civilizations have failed, we must do 

 so through the elimination of their fatal errors from our own 

 racial lives and through the highest possible development of the 

 qualities that build civilizations. 



Present Possibilities. In this quest for betterment of the hu- 

 man species we are fortunately not limited to idealistic pur- 

 suits. They are fascinating, it is true, and have claimed all too 

 large a place in the popular literature of eugenics, but scientific 

 sponsors of the movement are not blind to their dangers. A few 

 things are clearly valuable steps toward l)etterment of the human 

 heritage and from these a sound foundation for eugenic prog- 

 ress can be built even with the limited knowledge now avail- 

 able. 



Since man's evolution has become almost entirely a matter of 

 intellectual development, mental capacity is of primary impor- 

 tance and the maintenance of a high level of intelligence is essential 

 to continued progress. Whatever may be the field of activity, 

 the individual with the greatest mental ability is certain to excel 

 in the performance of his duties, other factors being equal. The 

 details of such a generalization must be extremely varial)le; 



