THE 



GROWTH OF GROUPS 



CHAPTER I 

 INTRODUCTORY 



THE method of the origin of species is still an open ques- 

 tion. Although most biologists regard Natural Selection 

 as a creative agency, yet there are dissenters from the 

 accepted opinion who cannot justly be disregarded as 

 inexperienced. Dissent is the outcome of a difference 

 of judgment which is inherent in the dissenter. We do 

 not know which of the two conflicting opinions will 

 survive the other. Time will show. 



A book dealing with this question may be written in 

 one of three ways. It may support one or other opinion, 

 or it may support neither. The author may approach the 

 subject with an open mind and describe the various 

 observations which have been made, the various opinions 

 which have been held. Books of that kind are of value 

 to the student, with their help he may be able to form 

 an opinion for himself ; but they do less to hasten 

 the survival of one or other opinion than those of the 

 factional kind. 



It is easy to be deceived as to what constitutes fac- 

 tional writing. An author may claim to have examined 

 the evidence relating to a disputed question with an 

 open mind and to have formed a decided opinion in one 



B 



