Preface 



knowledge second-hand to be the pioneers of 

 biological science. 



We fear that this book will come as a rude shock 

 to many scientific men. By way of consolation 

 we may remind such that they will find them- 

 selves in much the same position as that occupied 

 by theologians immediately after the appearance 

 of the Origin of Species. 



At that time theological thought was cramped 

 by dogma. But the clergy have since recon- 

 sidered their position, they have modified their 

 views, and thus kept abreast of the times. 

 Meanwhile scientific men have lagged behind. 

 The blight of dogma has seized hold of them. 

 They have adopted a creed to which all must 

 subscribe or be condemned as heretics. Huxley 

 said that the adoption of a creed was tantamount 

 to suicide. We are endeavouring to save biology 

 in England from committing suicide, to save 

 it from the hands of those into which it has 

 fallen. 



We would emphasise that it is not Darwinism 

 we are attacking, but that which is erroneously 

 called Neo- Darwinism. Neo-Darwinism is a 

 pathological growth on Darwinism, which, we 

 fear, can be removed only by a surgical 

 operation. 



Darwin, himself, protested in vain against the 

 length to which some of his followers were push- 

 ing his theory. On p. 657 of the new edition 



ix 



