1276 LIFE : OUTLINES OF GENERAL BIOLOGY 



apprehensive as to the consequences of a reckless perpetuation of 

 those who are in some way or other defectives. 



What is to be said in regard to artificial means of birth control ? 

 Our previous question was what benefit might be looked for through 

 a restriction of the size of the family ; now the question is what can 

 be said for or against so-called artificial birth control? No time 

 should be wasted over the word "artificial"; it is quite futile to 

 make a bogey of that idea. Civilised mankind is now "artificial" 

 through and through. Does anyone object to artificial respiration for 

 a man nearly drowned? Does am^one object to the use of thyroid 

 treatment for a child with a defective thyroid gland? Does any 

 one object to the artificial use of serum against diphtheria? The 

 objection based on artificiality will not work at all. It is an unfair 

 argument. 



Much more worthy of consideration is the objection that the 

 use of artificial means of birth control will make it easier, for those 

 so inclined, to have sex indulgence without responsibilities, and will 

 make it easier, for those so inclined, to have anti-social sex relations 

 without any social punishment. This is, obviously, a very serious 

 objection; but can one reall}^ believe that the type of person who 

 is constitutionally much inclined — of course, anyone may be swept 

 off his feet — to that sort of thing will be restrained at present by 

 any considerations at all ? If ethical considerations are not habitually 

 influential in the individual life, then "damn the consequences!" 

 expresses the animal surrender to the sex-urge. Another objection 

 is that the artificial use of contraceptives or some other method is 

 inartistic. It is undeniably a sort of mechanical incursion into a 

 sphere where one feels that passion and impulse should be allowed 

 a legitimate freedom. We cannot answer this objection, except that 

 the inartistic method may be worth while for the gain that may 

 result. 



Prof. Pembrey, a distinguished physiologist, has spoken very 

 strongly against artificial birth control, and his arguments must 

 be considered impartially and quietl\^ His chief point is that 

 artificial birth control methods will lessen the struggle which 

 engendered moral fibre and strength of character in the past. His 

 idea is that prudential and ethical restriction has engendered the 

 moral fibre of our folk. It is not very clear how there could be 

 much so-called ethical restriction without moral fibre, and if it be 

 said that the practice of sex restraint has increased the moral fibre, 

 it does not seem inconceivable that the moral fibre might be in- 

 creased by discipline in other directions. 



It is often said that artificial birth control is immoral. But what 

 is immoral? We must bear in mind that this practice, if it is to 

 become general, has to be deliberate, not random; and an action 

 that is thought over and resolved upon is never quite immoral. 



