106 BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF HUMAN PROBLEMS 



of self-preservation, and may be greatly exaggerated 

 under some conditions so as to show itself in the 

 hoarding of the miser and in other manifestations 

 that depend on overattention to that which has been 

 acquired. This sense of personal proprietorship 

 is by no means confined to the sphere of material 

 things, but is witnessed in the world of learning, 

 where the greatest jealousy may be shown in regard 

 to discoveries or priority in inventions, even where 

 these cannot be the direct source of material advan- 

 tage except in the sense of heightening general 

 prestige. 



That the effects of capitalization are in general 

 very distinctly advantageous to man is so obvious 

 a truth as to require no discussion, whatever may 

 be said against the abuses of the modern capitalistic 

 system. In fact, it may be successfully argued that 

 the employment of capital that is, accumulated 

 energy is an essential tool of human progress, 

 rendering possible an economic development which 

 permits a rapid growth of population under condi- 

 tions of increasing physical comfort. Still more 

 important, but inseparable from this material prog- 

 ress, is that individual leisure which is the most 

 precious fruit of capitalism. The intelligent use of 

 this leisure facilitates the higher kinds of thought 

 and so aids in the establishment of better ideals of 

 life. But while capital is an instrument for the 

 elevation of some, it is the undoing of others. For, 

 like all other forms of stored energy, capital may 



