I^] THEORIES OF NATURE AND NURTURE j^ 



3. Men who are largely aided by social advantages, are 

 unable to achieve eminence, unless they are endowed with high 

 natural gifts.^ 



Finally, Galton seeks to show that the great differences in 

 the achievement of nations are due almost solely to differ- 

 ences in the innate ability of their citizens. Nowhere does 

 he express this idea in a single sentence, but it is discussed 

 at length in a chapter on " The Comparative Worth of 

 Different Races." ^ There Galton contrasts whites with 

 negroes and ancient Greeks with modern Englishmen, ar- 

 guing in each case that superior achievement is due almost 

 entirely to superior natural ability. 



These brief quotations and statements serve to present 

 the most important part of Galton's theory, namely, that 

 irrespective of environmental conditions, innate ability ac- 

 counts chiefly for the appearance of leaders in nations and 

 for the superiority of one nation over another. 



In diametrical opposition to this point of view stands 

 the theory championed by Professor Lester F. Ward. He 

 believes that a favorable environment accounts almost en- 

 tirely for the appearance of genius.* To use his own 

 words : 



. . . So far as the native capacity, the potential quality, the 

 " promise and potency " of a higher life are concerned, those 

 swarming spawning millions, the bottom layer of society, 

 the proletariat, the working classes, the " hewers of wood 

 and drawers of water," nay, even the denizens of the slums 

 ... all these are by nature the peers of the boasted " aris- 

 tocracy of brains " that now dominates society and looks 



^ Francis Galton, o/>. cit., pp. 42-43- 



* Ibid., ch. XX. 



* Lester F. Ward, Applied Sociology (Boston, 1906). 



