252- THE CONTEOL OF LIFE 



bigger results than in the old days of lijie-boats, and we 

 cannot retrace our steps. But we must not brush aside 

 as irrelevant the question : Is it fostering as fine a set 

 of men ? Turning to a biological case, we are assured 

 by those who know, that the miseries inflicted on inno- 

 cent women and children by venereal diseases are so 

 appalling that no one can venture to do anjrbhing which 

 would retard the curing of men who by indulgence are 

 primarily infected. But it cannot be said that this 

 disposes of the question of the consequences of readily 

 annulling the penalities of anti-social conduct. Hesita- 

 tion in regard to this question may not warrant any 

 relaxation in combating venereal diseases, but it sug- 

 gests the urgent need for moral as well as biological 

 therapeutics and prophylaxis. On the more positive 

 side, it is easy to think of liberties which might be con- 

 doned biologically, but which would probably be very 

 detrimental socially. The principle is to judge opera- 

 tions in a part of Man's kingdom not only by the criteria 

 especially relevant there, but also by those which are 

 known to hold good in higher fields. So, returning to 

 the question. How are we to criticise social selection ? 

 we know the answer to be that the criticism must 

 ultimately refer to what we hold as our highest ideals — 

 the true, the beautiful, and the good. 



We all know a little about the true, the beautiful, 

 and the good. We know that when we are at our best 

 we set great store on them. The best in us desires them 

 as rewards in themselves. The best in us, which some 

 philosophers call our spirit, has intellectual, aesthetic, 



