50 SYMBIOSIS 



Again, as regards Darwin's term " the struggle for existence," 

 I would point out that the definition leaves a loophole for an 

 interpretation free from the false bias against the " natural 

 process " which the term has unfortunately engendered. The 

 definition, be it remembered, contains the factor of " mutual 

 relations " as an important component though a mysterious 

 one, a big X in the problem. 



I use this term (says Darwin in the Origin) in a large and metaphorical 

 sense including dependence of one being on another, and including (which 

 is more important) not only the life of the individual, but success in leaving 

 progeny. The mistletoe is dependent on the apple and a few other trees, 

 but can only in a far-fetched sense be said to struggle with these trees, 

 for, if too many of these parasites grow on the same tree, it languishes 

 and dies. In these several senses, which pass into each other, I use for 

 convenience sake the general term of " struggle for existence." 



It is not difficult to perceive that all depends again upon 

 " mutual relations." Given, in any particular case, a symbiotic 

 nexus, and Darwin's metaphorical blend means nothing more 

 than progress through peaceful work. Given, on the other hand, 

 a predatory habit, and it means the law of battle. 



As regards " success in leaving progeny," I do not think it 

 deserves so high a place as that accorded to it by Darwin. The 

 maintenance of a tolerable degree of evolved Symbiosis in the 

 world of life matters much more than the expansion or even the 

 preservation of a particular species, and this in so far as the 

 welfare of the tout ensemble must always take precedence of all 

 other things. Reproduction per se is no criterion of success. 

 On the contrary, it is frequently, i.e., where redundant, a symptom 

 of decline. We may consider it as part of the constitution of 

 things that all organisms are, normally, under some restraint 

 as regards multiplication. 



Success " in leaving progeny," therefore, is a factor that needs 

 qualification, and we cannot possibly, as consistent qualitative 

 Biologists, assign to it that unqualified importance attributed 

 to it by Darwin. 



Reproduction being thus relegated to a second place, it becomes 

 obvious that pride of place in Darwin's formula anent the 

 " Struggle for Existence " must be accorded to the X factor, 

 i.e., " mutual relations." And, the significance of X being 

 normally " Government and Co-operation," as the " Laws of 

 Life in all things," it follows further that the orthodox meaning 



