4 



70 The Biological Errors 



a biological law, but a moral obligation, and, as such, 

 an indispensable factor in civilization. ^ 



The steps of logic which the "social Darwinists" 

 disregard in making their definite analogies are 

 astonishing. It is necessary to prove first that the 

 evolution of species has been the result of the 

 combats which they have waged against other 

 species, a conclusion which is still subject to 

 doubt. Second, it is necessary to prove that 

 collective combats, is well as individual combats, 

 have contributed to biological progress. Passing 

 on then to the case of the ant, it is necessary to 

 prove that they have bettered their organization 

 and that they therefore have progressed as the 

 result of warfare waged between colonies of ants. 

 Finally it is necessary to demonstrate that what 

 is true of the ants is literally applicable to man. 



The ants of New Zealand cannot enter into 

 communication with the ants of England, while, 

 thanks to the telegraph, the New Zealanders are 

 in communication with the English. Ants cannot 

 exchange services and merchandise from ant 

 colony to ant colony. A scientific discovery 

 made in one colony is not communicated immedi- 

 ately to the other colonies of ants of the entire 

 world. The intelligence of the ants may be so 

 feeble that it is impossible for them to realize the 

 interests which extend outside of their own colony, 

 while men realize perfectly well the common 



^ Germany and the Next War, p. 24. 



