510 PROGRESS OF SCIENCE IN THE CENTURY. 



Humboldt : — '^ The final and highest truths of the 

 geographical sciences are included in the statement 

 that the structure of the earth's surface, and the 

 differences of climate dependent upon it, visibly rule 

 the course of development for our race, and have de- 

 termined the paths for the changes of the seats of 

 culture; so that a glance at the earth's surface per- 

 mits us to see the course of human history as deter- 

 mined (or, one may say, purposed) from the begin- 

 ning, in the distribution of land and water, of plains 

 and heights." 



In this section, we are dealing with the interpreta- 

 tion of peculiarities in various societary forms. It 

 may be difficult to decide whether a characteristic 

 should be compared to an ^' environmental modifica- 

 tion " (i.e., the direct effect of external influence, 

 producing a change which transcends the limits of 

 elasticity and therefore persists), or to an environ- 

 mental adaptation resulting more indirectly from 

 the selection of " variations." But in either case it 

 has to be interpreted in relation to the environment. 

 It is hardly necessary to say that this line of inter- 

 pretation is not restricted to physical features, but 

 applies to the whole character of the societary form. 

 Thus, without pressing the point, we may simply 

 allude to the thesis that morality is closely correlated 

 to the environmental conditions. 



To sum up: The environmental influences in the 

 widest sense cannot he overlooked in social interpre- 

 tations. They affect both body a7id mind, both the 

 individual and the group. But it should be noted 

 that they are conditions rather than causes of social 

 evolution. " Outer nature," Keasbey says tersely, 

 "may determine the form, but cannot account for 

 the fact of society." 



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