CHAPTER XLIV 

 HUMAN PROGRESS 



Past Progress the Realization of Inherent Possi- 

 bilities. — In the last chapter emphasis was placed upon 

 the fact that progress within historical times has not 

 consisted — to any large extent, at least — in the de- 

 velopment of fundamentally better human beings, but 

 in a partial realization of the possibilities inherent in 

 mankind, primitive as well as modern. It is obvious that 

 if every organism fully realizes its inherent possibilities 

 there can be no further progress except by improving 

 the race. This seems to be, generally speaking, the situa- 

 tion among all kinds of animals except man. Generation 

 by generation, they appear to realize approximately their 

 inherent possibilities. It is pertinent, therefore, to in- 

 quire what are the handicaps which delay man's progress 

 and the means by which they are to be overcome. 



Inherent Possibilities are not yet Fully Realized 

 because of difficulties imposed by the environment. It 

 is quite clear that if the environment were ideal in every 

 respect every individual would actually show all that he 

 is capable of. By the expression, ideal environment, is 

 meant one in which all the conditions of living and all 

 the sensory stimuli making up the basis of behavior are 

 those best suited to the welfare of the organism and the 

 race. 



Animals Exercise a Limited Control over the En- 

 vironment. — The study of animal behavior shows that 

 animals do comparatively little to bring about conditions 

 favorable to themselves. They may move from an ex- 

 posed spot to one that is sheltered, or from a region 



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