vi Preface. 



which, though orderly, is infinitely varied, and adaptable to an 

 infinite variety of social conditions. 



It follows, therefore, that the a priori scheme of the social 

 reformer can never be made to exactly fit the actual conditions of 

 any given society. It may serve to stimulate thought, to promote 

 altruistic endeavor, to educate the individual: it cannot become a 

 practicable panacea for social ills. Abundant are the schemes of 

 this sort which are presented to-day for our consideration: Nation- 

 alism, the Single-tax, Socialism, Anarchism, Free-trade, Protec- 

 tion, Prohibition, and what-not? Evil will be the day when we 

 legislate any one of them into being, expecting thereby the 

 abolition of poverty and crime, or the speedy renovation of 

 society. 



Evolution Sociology points to the safer and wiser way of 

 individual enlightenment and moral education. It studies care- 

 fully the past history of man, that it may act wisely for the 

 amelioration of his present condition. It aims directly at the 

 improvement of individual character. It seeks not so much to 

 antagonize the schemes of social reformers as to subject them all 

 to the operation of the principle of Natural Selection: wisely to 

 choose what is instructive and good in each; wisely to take such 

 forward steps as are practicable and may be securely held; 

 to substitute the method of evolution for that of violent and 

 spasmodic change, and thus to promote, surely if slowly, the 

 permanent welfare of societies and individuals. 



If this book the thoughtful contribution of free individuals 

 working with no selfi.sh aims or conscious dogmatic or partisan 

 bias shall be of some slight service in forwarding this most 

 worthy and desirable end, in promoting scientific thought and 

 wise action on the pressing problems of social life, the labors 

 which have brought it into being will be abundantly rei)aid. 



