BIOLOGY IN HUMAN AFFAIRS 



dence have the impudence to claim that the Evolution 

 Concept is an undemonstrated hypothesis. 



Darwin showed how the chaotic series of facts relating 

 to the geological succession of organisms, to geographical 

 distribution of forms, to morphological similarities, to 

 persistence of vestigial organs, to the recurrence of embryo- 

 logical phases in such distinct groups as mammals, birds, 

 and reptiles, to change of form under domestication,were 

 each and all, individually and collectively, brought into 

 intelligible order only through the idea of evolution. Since 

 these biological facts number hundreds of thousands, since 

 they include the entire compendium of biological knowl- 

 edge, in truth, I venture to call Darwin's generalization 

 the greatest effort of the human mind. It is true that we 

 do not know all that we should like to know about the 

 way in which evolution took place, but that is another 

 story; of the phenomenon itself we are assured. 



The evolution concept stimulated every line of biological 

 work. Through its guidance thousands of problems — upon 

 which numerous observations had been made, but where 

 the meaning of these observations was obscure — were 

 problems no longer. Their solution was at hand. But these 

 results, despite their value, were not the most significant 

 effects. The impact of the idea upon the human mind is 

 what has really counted. When the notion of the genetic 

 unity of living things was once completely grasped, it 

 became apparent that the temptation to set apart certain 

 human problems as definitely beyond the reach of the 

 inquiring mind was simply a manifestation of the primitive 

 interdiction of taboo. Measured thus, the value of Darwin's 

 work became incalculable. Single-handed he had rent the 

 veil of mysticism which had impeded human progress from 

 the beginning of time. No longer was it possible to main- 

 tain a holy of holies into which the scientist was not 

 permitted to enter. It must be admitted that after sixty 



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