THE PARALLEL GROWTH OF OPPOSITES 39 



of the mice. Should that be true, it would be necessary to 

 go to the germ itself for the principles which determine the 

 course of evolution, and explain why one race gains in com 

 plexity and power, while another loses. 



We are now in a position to recapitulate. The proposi 

 tions in current theories of evolution which have a direct 

 bearing on the theory of human conduct are the following : 



That evolution always consists in increased adaptation 

 and decreased misadaptation ; that it is always identical 

 with increased size and complexity of structure ; and that 

 increased complexity is the criterion of fitness to survive. 

 We have given reasons for dissenting from each of these 

 propositions. That the misadaptations of the higher organ 

 isms greatly exceed, both in number and in degree, those of 

 the lower is so plain a fact as to be beyond the reach of 

 discussion ; evolution is not always in the direction of 

 increased complexity, but often in the direction of increased 

 simplicity of structure ; and, finally, increased complexity 

 is no criterion of fitness to survive. Victims are drawn 

 from all levels in the scale of evolution, and, as we have no 

 other criterion (complexity being rejected) of fitness to 

 survive and as there can be no choice without a criterion 

 natural selection, in the sense in which that term is used 

 by Mr. H. Spencer, is what that author calls a pseud-idea ; 

 that is, a concept, which has no counterpart in the world 

 of experience. 



We have gone on to show that there is a sense in which 

 nature can, without any outrage on the meaning of words, 

 be said to select. When, however, nature chooses, it is 

 always with the intent to destroy, and the criterion for 

 destruction is incomplete adjustment between the organisms 

 and the environment. All organisms, from the amoeba to 

 the man, are equally well adapted to their environment, 

 so long as they persist ; their mere existence is proof that 

 the adjustment is sufficiently complete, and an adjustment 

 that is more than that is an absurdity. This adjustment 

 may be dislocated by one or both of two causes a change 

 in themselves, or a change in the environment ; and a serious 



