1434 LIFE : OUTLINES OF GENERAL BIOLOGY 



simpler observation of life. We can, of course, see the interest of 

 (say) a maze-experiment, on one hand; and on the other we would 

 fain know more of sensing, experiencing, feeling and conating, and 

 what not ; and even follow, as from Sherrington's elaborate elucida- 

 tions of the reflex action, onwards to what we imagine may be some- 

 thing like Herbert Spencer's upbuilding of his Principles of Psy- 

 chology, upon the contemporary spiral or other sweep of ascent. 

 We see, too, the interest as well as the practical value of (say) 

 Munsterberg's testings for tram-drivers, and of the like develop- 

 ments for aviators: but we feel dubious when Behaviourism fruits 

 into fresh advertising devices. And yet more when American chem- 

 ical employers, as in their recent labour-troubles, call in the psy- 

 chologist to investigate their "turn-over", and to verify experi- 

 mentally — what surely everybody knew already — that the leaders 

 are more intelligent than the led, and those who ignore their appeals 

 are apt to be least so — and when his prescription is next brought 

 over — and by the leading American representative to the recent 

 British Congress of Chemical Industry, and apparently with their 

 approval — as "Select stupidity, and train it!" For here is Robot- 

 breeding outspokenly proposed, and as their new form of quasi- 

 eugenic policy, for application to the masses. 



In such applications of psychologic or other sciences, the scientific 

 mind is no doubt active and alert, just as for the current "improve- 

 ment" of war-gases; yet are not most of us oJd-fashioned enough to 

 prefer following in such directions as those of Pasteur's and Lister's 

 life-aiding labours, and of kindred ones in progress at this day? 

 We cannot but maintain that science and its arts are for life, and 

 not these for bodily death or for mind degradation; and hence we 

 look for the increasing moral rebound of all women and men of good 

 will against such prostitutions of knowledge and of power. And even 

 confidently for their approaching and definite eliminative selection, 

 with the advance of evolutionary thought and spirit, throughout 

 their correspondingly advancing world. 



As naturalists, we have no occasion to make painful experi- 

 ments on animals, though for teaching purposes we have been 

 responsible for deaths, albeit with due economy of these; yet we 

 cannot but approve at least of many, if not all experiments now 

 being made under the Vivisection Act, since essentially in the 

 interest of physiology towards medicine, and preferable to human 

 tests, as for new remedies, etc. Yet, with the great majority of such 

 experimental workers, we accept and approve that this should be 

 done under due regulation and its inspection : for we know that the 

 excitement of the public which invoked these was not entireh^ with- 

 out foundation, since there are records of painful experiments we 

 cannot but think futile in conception, and even of certain ones more 

 or less approaching the sadistic; and which afforded the main 



