EVOLUTION AND SOCIOLOGY 67 



intellect had any opportunity of realizing the full 

 transforming effect in the higher regions of thought, 

 and, more particularly, in the department of soci- 

 ology, of that development of biological science 

 which began with Darwin, which is still in full 

 progress, and to which Professor Weismann has 

 recently made the most notable contributions." ^ 

 Whether Mr. Spencer's ignorance or his science has 

 been at the bottom of the escape, it is at least a 

 lucky one. For if Mr. Kidd had realized " the 

 full transforming effect" of the following para- 

 graph, much of his book could not have been 

 written. " The most general conclusion is that in 

 order of obligation, the preservation of the species 

 takes precedence of the preservation of the in- 

 dividual. It is true that the species has no exist- 

 ence save as an aggregate of individuals ; and it 

 is true that, therefore, the welfare of the species 

 is an end to be subserved only as subserving the 

 welfare of individuals. But since disappearance of 

 the species, implying absolute disappearance of all 

 individuals, involves absolute failure in achieving 

 the end, whereas disappearance of individuals, 

 though carried to a great extent, may leave out- 

 standing such numbers as can, by continuance 

 of the species^ make subsequent fulfilment of the 

 ^ Op. cit., p. 80, 



