vi HEREDITY AND SOCIETY 



by themselves alone secure certain and corresponding 

 improvement in the inborn qualities of the race. 

 Selection also is needed. We have deliberately con- 

 centrated our attention chiefly on one side of a very 

 complex and involved problem. But it is not necessary 

 in actual life to disregard the effects of a better environ- 

 ment in order to realize the importance of the workings 

 of heredity ; and to point out that the present trend of 

 modern civilization produces certain dangers, is not to 

 discourage further attempts to improve the surroundings 

 of mankind, whatever may be felt on the subject by 

 impulsive philanthropists or unresting politicians. 



It is clear that social and legislative action is con- 

 tinually changing the average composition of every 

 race, for better or for worse ; yet, for the most part, 

 people are unconscious of the fact. The nation whose 

 rulers first grasp and act on the essential principles 

 of the new knowledge will surely assume a leading 

 position in the rivalry of states, and may quickly and 

 rightfully establish a predominant influence in the 

 realm of international affairs. From this aspect alone, it 

 is desirable to draw attention to the connection between 

 the structure of society and the workings of heredity. 



We desire to thank those correspondents, at home, 

 abroad and overseas, who have drawn our attention 

 to various facts bearing on our inquiries, who have 

 sent us pedigrees and notes of family history, and 

 have encouraged by their appreciation, criticism and 

 execration this new presentment of the ideas which we 

 have endeavoured to bring into more general notice. 



CAMBRIDGE, December 1911. 



