222 BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF HUMAN PROBLEMS 



would operate with still greater force under the social- 

 istic measures which propose to leave their case to 

 the state. It is difficult to picture a less intelligent 

 and more grossly antibiological idea than that 

 which would separate parents and children. An 

 equally antisocial measure can hardly be conceived, 

 for to separate a family from the people naturally 

 best endowed to rear them would be to rob the 

 community of the human qualities that make most 

 strongly for the civilization based on individual de- 

 velopment, since there can be no doubt that most 

 of the best social traits are those developed through 

 family relations. But it is only fair to say that this 

 insane idea is far from being a representative tenet 

 of socialism. 



II 



Is it possible to regulate human reproduction in 

 such ways as will inure to the advantage of a com- 

 munity or nation or race? To what extent and 

 under what conditions can human reproduction be 

 controlled? These questions are so involved as to 

 invite evasion. Yet it is certain that no discussion 

 of the sex instinct can afford to ignore a matter of 

 such fundamental importance. If we are unable to 

 reach final conclusions on the main issues which the 

 questions suggest, we may at least examine some of 

 their biological aspects. 



The physiology of reproduction is so well under- 



