CHAPTER V 



RACIAL DEGENERATION AND THE NECESSITY FOR 

 RATIONALIZATION OF THE MORES 



Racial decay in modem society ; Purely " moral " control 

 dysgenic in civilized society ; New machinery for 

 social control ; Mistaken notion that reproduction is 

 an individual problem ; Economic and other factors in 

 the group problem of reproduction. 



From 'the discussion in the preceding chapter, 

 it becomes apparent that for the half of the 

 female element in a savage society possessing 

 the most vigor and initiative to turn away from 

 reproduction would in the long run be fatal to 

 the group. Yet this is what occurs in large 

 measure in modern civilized society. Repro- 

 duction is a biological function. It is 

 non-competitive, as far as the individual is 

 concerned, and offers no material rewards. 

 The breakdown of the group's control over the 

 detailed conduct and behaviour of its members 

 is accompanied by an increasing stress upon 

 material rewards to individuals. So with grow- 

 ing individualism, in the half of the race which 

 can both bear children and compete in the 

 social activities offering rewards, i.e., the women 



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