132 THE MENDEL JOURNAL 



valueless are determined by heredity. Environ- 

 ment cannot affect them, but it can select and 

 encourage the individuals with the best qualities 

 by means of getting rid of the unfit. Hence social 

 reformers are grievously and dangerously wrong in 

 attempting to alter the natural environment of any 

 class in society." I propose to examine succes- 

 sively the three parts of this text, beginning at 

 the end."'' 



1. — "Let Environment alone." 



I have found much difficulty in understanding 

 the author's conception of Nature on the one hand, 

 and of interference with Nature on the other. 

 " Those best fitted to survive," he tells us, " will 

 do so by purel}^ natural processes, without any 

 artificial and compulsory interference or help. And 

 we may be sure that these processes are benign ; 

 biological teaching is clear on that point. By these 

 processes, throughout the whole realm of nature, 

 the maximum amount of happiness and vigour is 

 attained, with the minimum amount of misery or 

 pain. Human interference but decreases the former, 

 while increasing the latter. It is better, in the 

 faith of the greater religions, to accept our destiny." 



Metaphysicians who hold that this world, in 

 popular language, is the best of all possible worlds, 



* My criticism deals with only a small part of the paper. I do not 

 touch, for instance, on the author's plea that the unfit ought to be 

 killed off. not maintained in workhouses, asylums, etc. It is conceiv- 

 able that in a more enlightened age we should deliberately kill more 

 people. I only wish to urge that in such an age we shall not so trust 

 the workings of Nature in a slum environment as to leave her to do 

 the selection and the killing for us. 



