MAN AND environment: loi 



This sensitiveness to and discovery of new objects and con- 

 ditions gave nature a new opening of attack in higher ani- 

 mals and most of all in man; it opened new environments in 

 a world of ancient objects and forces. Environment is evi- 

 dently something very different from a mass of surroundings, 

 all lumped together; it is not simply a resultant of forces; 

 it is to every man a new relation to a new combination. 



Surroundings are mostly the raw material out of which 

 every living being consciously or unconsciously, with or with- 

 out understanding, will or purpose, selects, or accepts certain 

 portions and out of these constructs its own environment ac- 

 cording to its own inherited structure and tendencies or ac- 

 quired character. This is his unique experiment by which he 

 stands or falls. 



A man may be known and measured by his environment, for 

 it is " the company he keeps." His position in the hierarchy 

 of life may be fairly accurately measured by it. It broadens, 

 deepens and towers in proportion to his development. The 

 lower animal changes his environment by his powers of lo- 

 comotion, moving from dangerous to advantageous surround- 

 ings; man accomplishes much the same result by shifting the 

 focal point of his attention. 



Certain parts of our environment seem irrevocably fixed for 

 at least some of us, so that we cannot escape them. So cli- 

 mate. The slum or a city palace is forced upon many children 

 so that they cannot escape. Neither is desirable; good and 

 brave men have risen from both. Early parental influence 

 and education may be, and often are, fatal to full and nor- 

 mal development. But these can and should be improved if 

 as many as possible are to be fitted to survive; man has 

 changed all these, and can and will improve them. Man mi- 

 grated northward into Europe. Its cold harsh climate had 

 direct invigorating effects. Its indirect effects were still more 

 important. He needed shelter; he discovered it in the mouth 

 of a cave or under an over-hanging cliff; then he built a hut. 

 He was chilled, and discovered fire and learned to use it. 

 He covered and protected himself with skins of animals. He 



