334 PROBLEMS OF HUMAN EVOLUTION 



high order. Can we expect that an occasional giant will arise 

 amid a race of only very moderate stature ? If we were speak- 

 ing of physical stature, it would be unlikely that a man would 

 arise who stood head and shoulders above all other men of the 

 same nation. But. in intellectual matters it is difficult to speak so 

 positively. Even in physique the differences between man and 

 man in a tribe or nation are very considerable. The corresponding 

 differences in intellect are, as I have shown, enormously multiplied. 

 The man of high ability enters into the whole rich heritage that 

 great thinkers have bequeathed to the human race, and from this 

 the inferior man is to great extent debarred. This is very largely 

 true of literary men, of men of science it is completely and ob- 

 viously true. It is as if we were to take two children, one weak, 

 the other strong, feed the strong one on the best possible food, 

 while the weak one was allowed only a poor and meagre diet. It 

 is easy to imagine how enormously the innate superiority of the 

 stronger would be increased by the time maturity was reached. 

 Summary I will now briefly summarise my conclusions as far as I have 

 been able to arrive at definite results. 



(1) We must assume that in the lowest organisms there exist 

 in rudimentary form all the faculties of the highest. From such 

 rudiments intellect has been evolved without the implanting of 

 any new powers from without. 



(2) Though natural capacity in man varies enormously, yet the 

 gulf between the highest intellectual attainment of civilised man 

 and that of the lowest savage, is largely due to education and 

 environment. This makes the evolution of the highest intel- 

 lectual capacity conceivable. Great as it is, it is no greater than, 

 developed only by the scanty means of culture at his disposal, 

 might be needed by a barbarian or even a savage. 



(3) There is much more selection in civilised communities for 

 moral qualities than for intellectual power. An occasional man 

 of genius is necessary to a nation, if it is to make progress, but 

 this does not necessitate a high average of intellect among the 

 citizens. Hence 



(4) intellectual advance is mainly due to the accumulation of 

 knowledge and improvement in methods of study. 



