SCIENCE AND DEMOCRACY 401 



ethical and bio-economic problems of evolution, and in failing 

 to elucidate the "slippery basis of metabolism" most 

 dreaded of all biological problems. 



We can discover the same pathetic discomfiture even in 

 quite recent writings of another school. Thus we find a great 

 and sympathetic scientist, who for a generation has given him- 

 self up lovingly to the study of insect-life, bringing to light 

 its manifold wonders, the veteran, Henri Favre, now happily 

 of world-fame, disconsolately exclaiming: "I am haunted 

 by a gloomy thought : the weal of one means the woe of 

 another." He speaks of aspera fata, of the stupid and 

 ferocious law (?) that sacrifices a worker for the idler's benefit. 

 " What have we done, we and the insects, to be ground with 

 sovran indifference under the millstone of such wretchedness? 

 Oh, terrible, what heart-rending questions the mason-bee's 

 misfortunes would bring to my lips if I gave free scope to my 

 sombre thoughts." Thus Henri Favre, moved by his con- 

 templation of the "Tribulations of the Mason Bee," the 

 Chalicodoma of the walls, a mason-bee who builds on the 

 stone or pebbles and who, according to him, " may fairly boast 

 of being an industrious workwoman." He pronounces a kind 

 of "lasciate ogni speranza voi ch'entrate " on the mere con- 

 sideration of parasitism. "I should be reduced to the gloomy 

 lucubrations of a Schopenhauer if I once let myself begin on 

 parasitism" (English Review, Sept., 1914). 



Favre, who otherwise cheerfully informs us that among 

 the mason-bees themselves right is might, is thus at one with 

 the majority of evolutionists in leaving bio-economic problems 

 well alone. 



Und der Mensch versuche die Gotter nicht, 

 Und begehre nimmer und nimmer zu schauen, 

 Was sie gnadig bedecken mit Nacht und Grauen. 



But will the human spirit for ever remain satisfied with 

 such admissions of incompetence? Will it not boldly 

 challenge the doctrine that seems to involve such direful con- 

 clusions? I feel sure that it will, and I hope I have indicated 

 the path of successful attack. 



