28 MARXISM AND DARWINISM. 



careful of this theory," he said to the Darwinists, "for 

 this theory is very nearly related to the theory that 

 caused so much dread in our neighboring country." 

 This allusion to the Paris Commune, made in the 

 year famous for the hunting of Socialists, must have 

 had a great effect. What shall be said, however, about 

 the science of a professor who attacks Darwinism 

 with the argument that it is not correct because it is 

 dangerous ! This reproach, of being in league with 

 the red revolutionists, caused a lot of annoyance to 

 Haeckel, the defendant of this theory. He could not 

 stand it. Immediately afterwards he tried to demon- 

 strate that it is just the Darwinian theory that shows 

 the untenableness of the Socialist demands, and that 

 Darwinism and Socialism "endure each other as fire 

 and water." 



Let us follow Haeckel's contentions, whose main 

 thoughts re-occur in most authors who base their 

 arguments against Socialism on Darwinism. 



Socialism is a theory which presupposes natural 

 equality for people, and strives to bring about social 

 equality; equal rights, equal duties, equal possessions 

 and equal enjoyments. Darwinism, on the contrary, 

 is the scientific proof of inequality. The theory of 

 descent establishes the fact that animal development 

 goes in the direction of ever greater differentiation or 

 division of labor; the higher or more perfect the ani- 

 mal, the greater the inequality existing. The same 

 holds also good in society. Here, too, we see the great 

 division of labor between vocations, class, etc., and 

 the higher we stand in social development the greater 

 become the inequalities in strength,';ability and faculty. 

 The theory of descent is therefore to be recommended 



