132 ANALYSIS OF THE FOUR PRINCIPLES (CONTINUED). 
III. DiscRIMINATE AND INDISCRIMINATE ACTION OF THE SEGREGATIVE 
PRINCIPLES. * 
1. Discriminate Action. 
Under each of these four segregative principles we may raise the 
question as to the difference in the results; first, when the principle 
under consideration is guided by some discriminative influence, 
continued from generation to generation, and, second, when it acts 
without discrimination and without cumulative results in successive 
generations. It is evident that discriminative survival, which is the 
same as selection, when continued in the same form for successive 
generations, must be cumulative in its effects. Dzscriminative iso- 
lation, that is, segregate intergeneration, arises whenever adapta- 
tion for appropriating certain resources brings together in one iso- 
lated group those that are by innate qualities and aptitudes the 
better adapted. In most of these cases it is not possible that another 
group should arise within this first group simply through being more 
highly endowed in the samerespect. Cumulative isolation is for the 
most part produced by the subdivision of groups that have already 
been established, and the agencies producing the successive divisions 
are likely to be different in their nature, and, therefore, not cumu- 
lative in their effects upon any one character. This, however, does 
not prevent each isolation from being more or less segregative in 
regard to some of the characters. 
Election, that is, the discriminate success of individuals through the 
attainment of certain habitudes and acquired characters, is likely to 
be cumulative in the effects produced on successive generations; for, 
as long as increased facility in the performance of certain acts is an 
advantage, both habitudes and aptitudes aiding in the performance 
will be combined in an increasing degree in each generation. 
Discriminate partition, that is, segregate association, arises when- 
ever adaptation for dealing with either the environment or the social 
conditions brings together in one separate group those that are by 
habitudes (that is, by acquired characters), the best adapted. It is 
manifest that among social organizations occasions producing such 
partition must often arise; and it seems probable that among even 
the least-endowed creatures great advantage must sometimes come to 
those who have in some degree acquired characters enabling them to 
meet new conditions in the environment, which come upon the spe- 
cies with a sweep that none who are unprepared can withstand. Such 
* See Table of ‘‘ Discriminate and Indiscriminate Forms,” page 136. 
