536 LAWS OF MULTIPLICATION. 



regions, where they can lead unrestrained lives though lives 

 of hardship. Recognizing as we must the probability that 

 in common with all other things, humanity will continue to 

 differentiate and produce a more heterogeneous assemblage 

 of types, we must infer that only in some of the highest of 

 these will the antagonism of individuation and genesis have 

 the anticipated effects. 



Restricting ourselves to these, then, we may conclude 

 that in the end, pressure of population and its accompany- 

 ing evils will almost disappear; and will leave a state of 

 things requiring from each individual little more than a 

 normal and pleasurable activity. Cessation in the decrease 

 of fertility implies cessation in the development of the 

 nervous system; and this implies a nervous system which 

 has become equal to all that is demanded of it — has not to do 

 more than is natural to it. But that exercise of faculties which 

 does not exceed what is natural, constitutes gratification. 



The necessary antagonism of Individuation and Genesis, 

 not only, then, fulfils the a priori law of maintenance of 

 race, from the monad up to Man, but ensures final attainment 

 of the highest form of this maintenance — a form in which 

 the amount of life shall be the greatest possible and the 

 births and deaths the fewest possible. From the beginning 

 pressure of population has been the proximate cause of pro- 

 gress. It produced the original diffusion of the race. It 

 compelled men to abandon predatory habits and take to 

 agriculture. It led to the clearing of the Earth's surface. 

 It forced men into the social state; made social organiza- 

 tion inevitable; and has developed the social sentiments. It 

 has stimulated to progressive improvements in production, 

 and to increased skill and intelligence. It is daily thrusting 

 us into closer contact and more mutually-dependent relation- 

 ships. And after having caused, as it ultimately must, the 

 due peopling of the globe, and the raising of its habitable 

 parts into the highest state of culture — after having perfected 

 all processes for the satisfaction of human wants — after 



