114 



THE SEX-COMPLEX 



Individua- 

 tion and 

 evolution. 





.. 



Mental 

 processes a 

 factor in 

 evolution. 



individual parts : each is as independent as is the modern 

 worker of the organizing capitalist who employs those 

 under him. At the same time, just as the worker 

 often acting unconsciously, no doubt is essential to 

 the furtherance of his employer's schemes, while living 

 himself an independent life which, be it noted, probably 

 often accounts for his value to his master so, too, are 

 the functions of the mind and body, perfected by 

 apparently individual life, necessary for the advancement 

 of the whole scheme of evolution through the channels of 

 reproduction. 



I say " apparently ", for although individuation is 

 accentuated in the secondary reproductive functions 

 of Man, yet it so obtains for the benefit of evolution 

 rather than of the individual. It is, of course, certain 

 that in the lower forms of life too great a degree of 

 individuation may lead to a decrease in fertility 1 , but 

 at present there is little evidence of this in regard to the 

 human race 2 . If, however, this were to be true from a 

 general standpoint without regard to sex, it would be of 

 importance to our argument, for undoubtedly the largest 

 strain in connexion with the processes of reproduction 

 falls upon the woman. Individuation to the extent seen 

 normally in a man may, therefore, not be strictly com- 

 patible with the reproductive functions of a woman. 



The ultimate object of all mental processes is the 

 same evolutionary progress, of which reproduction is 

 an essential, if indirect, factor. Mental aspirations are 

 the aspirations of the controlling factors of evolution, 

 even though they appear to be the selfish ambitions of 

 the individual. Nature adroitly furthers her scheme of 

 evolution by teaching Man, before whom, but unknown 

 to him, she places inducements to improve himself ; 



1 Spencer, Herbert, The Principles of Biology, 1867, vol. ii, p. 470. 



2 It appears to me that, however positive may be the evidence 

 concerning the relation of individuation to infertility in the lower 

 forms of life, all discussions of this subject in the case of Man are 

 inconclusive because they fail to take into account the difference 

 between physiological infertility and voluntary suppression of pro- 

 creation, 



